The Blue Castle | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

The Blue Castle | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

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CHAPTERI
Ifithadnot
geregend
rained
onacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.
Shewouldhavegone,withtherestofherclan,to
Tante
Aunt
Wellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.
Butitdid
regende
rain
andyoushallhearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.
Valancywakened
vroeg
early
,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.
Shehadnotsleptverywell.
Onedoesnotsleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,andunmarried,inacommunityandconnectionwheretheunmarriedare
simpelweg
simply
thosewhohavefailedtogetaman.
DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.
ButValancyherselfhadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,littlehopethatRomancewouldcomeherwayyet—never,untilthiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedtothefactthatshewastwenty-nineandunsoughtbyanyman.
Ay,therelaythesting.
Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.
Afterall,shethought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanUncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,orevenanUncleHerbert.
Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.
Nomanhadeverdesiredher.
Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.
She
durfde
dared
notletherselfcryashardasshewantedto,fortworeasons.
Shewasafraidthat
huilen
crying
mightbringonanother
aanval
attack
ofthatpainaroundtheheart.
Shehadhadaspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rather
erger
worse
thananyshehadhadyet.
Andshewasafraidhermotherwould
opmerken
notice
herredeyesat
ontbijt
breakfast
andkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.
“Suppose,”thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“Iansweredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iam
huil
crying
becauseIcannotgetmarried.’HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamedeverydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”
Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.
“Itisnot,”Valancycouldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorial
stem
voice
asserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”
Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehada
gevoel
sense
ofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.
Forthatmatter,therewereagoodmanythingsaboutValancythatnobodysuspected.
Butherlaughterwasverysuperficialandpresentlyshelaythere,ahuddled,futilelittle
figuur
figure
,listeningtotherainpouringdownoutsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,mercilesslightcreepingintoherugly,sordidroom.
Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewitandhatedit.
Theyellow-painted
vloer
floor
,withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythebed,withagrotesque,“hooked”dogonit,alwaysgrinningatherwhensheawoke;
thefaded,dark-red
papier
paper
;
theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaksandcrossedbycracks;
thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;
thebrown-paperlambrequinwithpurplerosesonit;
thespottedoldlooking-glasswiththecrackacrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;
thejarofancientpotpourrimadebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;
theshell-covered
doos
box
,withoneburstcorner,whichCousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;
thebeadedpincushionwithhalfitsbeadfringegone;
theonestiff,yellowchair;
thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimoldface;
theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfromtheroomsbelow.
Therewereonlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.
One,anoldchromoofapuppysittingonarainydoorstep.
That
foto
picture
alwaysmadeValancyunhappy.
Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedriving
regen
rain
!
Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoorandlethimin?
Theother
foto
picture
wasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingof
Koningin
Queen
Louisecomingdownastairway,which
Tante
Aunt
Wellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenth
verjaardag
birthday
.
Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatitandhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfied
Koningin
Queen
Louise.
Butshenever
durfde
dared
destroyitorremoveit.
Motherand
Neef
Cousin
Stickleswouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehadafit.
Everyroominthehousewas
lelijk
ugly
,ofcourse.
Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.
Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.
Valancysometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedonesomethingforherroomherself,evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.
ButhermotherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.
Valancyneverpersisted.
Shewasafraidto.
Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.
Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordaysifoffended,withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.
TheonlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnightto
huilen
cry
ifshewantedto.
But,afterall,whatdiditmatterifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexceptsleepingand
kleden
dressing
in,wereugly?
Valancywasneverpermittedtostayaloneinherroomforanyotherpurpose.
Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingand
Neef
Cousin
Sticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.
Butherroominthe
Blauwe
Blue
Castlewaseverythingaroomshouldbe.
Valancy,socowedandsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreallife,waswonttoletherselfgo
nogal
rather
splendidlyinherday-dreams.
NobodyintheStirlingclan,oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallhermotherand
Neef
Cousin
Stickles.
TheyneverknewthatValancyhadtwohomes—theuglyredbrick
doos
box
ofahome,onElmStreet,andthe
Blauwe
Blue
CastleinSpain.
Valancyhadlivedspirituallyinthe
Blauwe
Blue
Castleeversinceshecouldremember.
Shehadbeenaverytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.
Always,whensheshuthereyes,shecouldseeitplainly,withitsturretsandbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,
blauwe
blue
loveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofafairandunknown
land
land
.
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.
Jewelsthatqueensmighthave
gedragen
worn
;
robesofmoonlightandfire;
couchesofrosesand
goud
gold
;
longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingupanddownthem;
courts,marble-pillared,whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessangamongthemyrtles;
hallsofmirrorsthatreflectedonlyhandsomeknightsandlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofall,for
wiens
whose
glancemendied.
Allthatsupportedherthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthehopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnight.
Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorroriftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancydidinher
Blauwe
Blue
Castle.
Foronethingshehadquiteafewloversinit.
Oh,onlyoneatatime.
Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardourofthe
tijdperk
age
ofchivalryandwonherafterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,andwasweddedtoherwithpompandcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapelofthe
Blauwe
Blue
Castle.
Attwelve,thisloverwasafairladwithgoldencurlsandheavenly
blauwe
blue
eyes.
Atfifteen,hewastalland
donker
dark
andpale,butstillnecessarilyhandsome.
Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.
Attwenty-five,hehadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,andaface
sterk
strong
andruggedratherthanhandsome.
Valancynevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinher
Blauwe
Blue
Castle,butrecently—veryrecently—her
held
hero
hadhadreddish,tawnyhair,atwisted
glimlach
smile
andamysteriouspast.
Idon’tsayValancydeliberately
vermoordde
murdered
theseloversassheoutgrewthem.
One
gewoon
simply
fadedawayasanothercame.
Thingsareveryconvenientinthis
opzicht
respect
inBlueCastles.
But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancycouldnotfindthe
sleutel
key
ofherBlueCastle.
Reality
drukte
pressed
onhertoohardly,barkingatherheelslikeamaddeninglittledog.
Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withnopastandno
toekomst
future
.
Asfarasshecouldlookback,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotonesinglecrimsonorpurple
vlek
spot
anywhere.
Asfarasshecouldlook
naar voren
forward
itseemedcertaintobejustthesameuntilshewasnothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.
Themomentwhenawomanrealisesthatshehasnothingtolivefor—neitherlove,
plicht
duty
,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessofdeath.
“AndIjusthavetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’tstop.
Imayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.
“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmetothinkofit.”
Shewas
blij
glad
itwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwas
regende
raining
.
Therewouldbenopicnicthatday.
Thisannualpicnic,whereby
Tante
Aunt
andUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementatapicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,averitablenightmaretoValancy.
Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthesamedayasher
verjaardag
birthday
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,nobodyletherforgetit.
Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.
There
leek
seemed
tobenothingoftherevolutionaryinher
aard
nature
.
Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewouldsaytoheratthepicnic.
UncleWellington,whomshedislikedanddespisedeventhoughhehadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”wouldsaytoherinapig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarriedyet,mydear?”
andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.
Tante
Aunt
Wellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snewchiffon
jurk
dress
andCecil’slastdevoted
brief
letter
.
Valancywouldhavetolookaspleasedand
geïnteresseerd
interested
asifthedressand
brief
letter
hadbeenhersorelse
Tante
Aunt
Wellingtonwouldbeoffended.
AndValancyhadlongago
besloten
decided
thatshewouldratheroffendGodthan
Tante
Aunt
Wellington,becauseGodmight
vergeven
forgive
herbutAuntWellingtonneverwould.
Tante
Aunt
Alberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablehabitofalwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifheweretheonlymalecreatureintheworld,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeenagreat
schoonheid
beauty
inheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallow
huid
skin—
.
“Idon’tknowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.
WhenIwasagirlmy
huid
skin
wasrosesandcream.
IwascountedtheprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orperhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”
Andtheneverybodywould
lachte
laugh
overtheexcessivelyhumorousideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.
Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedbut
respecteerde
respected
becausehewasreputedtobeverycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprobablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“I
veronderstel
suppose
you’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”
AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhisabominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.
“Whatisthe
verschil
difference
betweenDossandamouse?
“ThemousewishestoharmthecheeseandDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”
Valancyhadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimesandeverytimeshewantedto
gooien
throw
somethingathim.
Butsheneverdid.
Inthefirstplace,theStirlings
gewoon
simply
didnotthrowthings;
inthesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasawealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthe
angst
fear
andadmonitionofhismoney.
Ifsheoffendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.
ValancydidnotwanttobecutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.
Shehadbeenpoorallherlifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.
Sosheenduredhisriddlesandevensmiledtorturedlittlesmilesoverthem.
Tante
Aunt
Isabel,downrightanddisagreeableasaneast
wind
wind
,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,for
Tante
Aunt
Isabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shefoundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoueverytime.
Tante
Aunt
Isabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.
Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.
CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesofallrelativesandfriendswhohaddiedsincethelastpicnicand
afvragen
wonder
“whichofuswillbethefirsttogonext.”
Oppressivelycompetent,
Tante
Aunt
MildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.
Forthesamereason,
Neef
Cousin
Gladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,
volgens
according
tothestrictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thinladywhoadmittedshehadasensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.
AndOlive,thewondergirlofthewholeStirlingclan,whohadeverythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldshowoffher
schoonheid
beauty
andpresumeonherpopularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofloveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.
Therewouldbe
niets
none
ofallthistoday.
Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.
ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancyand
Neef
Cousin
Stickles.
Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfrom
Tante
Aunt
Wellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.
Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.
Its
geest
ghost
appearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.
Oh,yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeandsheblessedthe
regen
rain
thathadsavedherfromit.
Therewouldbenopicnicthisyear.
If
Tante
Aunt
Wellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldhavenocelebrationatall.
Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.
Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,ifthe
regen
rain
heldupinthe
middag
afternoon
,shewouldgouptothelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.
Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.
Theywere“naturebooks”—sothelibrariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allaboutthewoodsandbirdsandbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”
SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidentthatshe
genoot
enjoyed
themtoomuch.
Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,toreadtoimproveyourmindandyourreligion,butabookthatwasenjoyablewas
gevaarlijk
dangerous
.
Valancydidnotknowwhetherhermindwasbeingimprovedornot;
butshefeltvaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearsagolifemighthavebeenadifferentthingforher.
They
leken
seemed
tohertoyieldglimpsesofaworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,thoughthedoorwasforeverbarredtohernow.
ItwasonlywithinthelastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenawell-knownwriterforseveralyears.
“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancyhadasked.
“Nobodyknows.
FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,butnomore
informatie
information
canbehad.
Hispublisherswon’tsayaword.
QuitelikelyJohnFosterisanomdeplume.
Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeoplefindinthemtoraveover.”
“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.
“Oh—well—”
MissClarkson
glimlachte
smiled
inapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.
ButcertainlyFoster
lijkt
seems
toknowallthereistoknowaboutthem.”
Valancydidn’tknow
of
whether
shecaredmuchforbugseither.
ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeof
wilde
wild
creaturesandinsectlifethatenthralledher.
Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysteryneverrevealed—somehintofagreat
geheim
secret
justalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’s
magie
magic
wasindefinable.
Yes,shewouldgetanewFosterbook.
Itwasa
maand
month
sinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.
Valancyhadreaditfourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.
And—shealmostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueer
pijn
pain
aroundtheheart.
Ithadcomerather
vaak
often
lately,andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.
Butcouldshegotoseehimwithouttellinganyone?
Itwasamostdaringthought.
Geen
None
oftheStirlingseverconsultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.
Then,theywenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedSecond
Neef
Cousin
AdelaideStirling.
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.
And,besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,withoutbeingtakenthere.
Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowaboutherheart.
Therewouldbesuchafussmadeandeverymemberofthefamilywouldcomedownandtalkitoverandadviseherandcautionherandwarnherandtellherhorribletalesofgreat-auntsandcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”
Tante
Aunt
IsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalwayssaidDosslookedlikeagirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;
andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasa
persoonlijke
personal
insult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;
andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,dearlittleDossisn’tlongforthisworld,I’mafraid”;
andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventohaveaheart;
andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“WhyallthisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”
Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’ttellanybodyunlessshehadto.
Shefeltquitesuretherewasnothingatall
ernstig
seriously
wrongwithherheartandnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensueifshe
noemde
mentioned
it.
ShewouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trentthatveryday.
Asforhisbill,shehadthetwohundreddollarsthatherfatherhadputinthe
bank
bank
forherthedayshewas
geboren
born
.
Shewasneverallowedtouseeventhe
rente
interest
ofthis,butshewouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.
Dr.
Trentwasagruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,evenifhewereonlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.
Dr.Trentwasoverseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretiresoon.
Niemand
None
oftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohimsincehehadtoldCousinGladys,tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.
Youcouldn’tpatroniseadoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewasaPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglican
kerk
church
.
CHAPTERII
WhenCousinStickles
klopte
knocked
atherdoor,Valancyknewitwashalf-past
zeven
seven
andshemustgetup.
Aslongasshecouldremember,
Neef
Cousin
Stickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-past
zeven
seven
.
CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsince
zeven
seven
,butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.
Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.