The Blue Castle Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

CHAPTERI

Ifithadnot

geregend

rainedonacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.

Shewouldhavegone,withtherestofherclan,to

Tante

AuntWellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.

Butitdid

regende

rainandyoushallhearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.

Valancywakened

vroeg

early,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.

Shehadnotsleptverywell.

Onedoesnotsleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,andunmarried,inacommunityandconnectionwheretheunmarriedare

simpelweg

simplythosewhohavefailedtogetaman.

DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.

ButValancyherselfhadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,littlehopethatRomancewouldcomeherwayyet—never,untilthiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedtothefactthatshewastwenty-nineandunsoughtbyanyman.

Ay,therelaythesting.

Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.

Afterall,shethought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanUncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,orevenanUncleHerbert.

Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.

Nomanhadeverdesiredher.

Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.

She

durfde

darednotletherselfcryashardasshewantedto,fortworeasons.

Shewasafraidthat

huilen

cryingmightbringonanother

aanval

attackofthatpainaroundtheheart.

Shehadhadaspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rather

erger

worsethananyshehadhadyet.

Andshewasafraidhermotherwould

opmerken

noticeherredeyesat

ontbijt

breakfastandkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.

“Suppose,”thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“Iansweredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iam

huil

cryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamedeverydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”

Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.

“Itisnot,”Valancycouldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorial

stem

voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”

Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehada

gevoel

senseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.

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

picturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.

Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedriving

regen

rain!

Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoorandlethimin?

Theother

foto

picturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingof

Koningin

QueenLouisecomingdownastairway,which

Tante

AuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenth

verjaardag

birthday.

Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatitandhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfied

Koningin

QueenLouise.

Butshenever

durfde

dareddestroyitorremoveit.

Motherand

Neef

CousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehadafit.

Everyroominthehousewas

lelijk

ugly,ofcourse.

Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.

Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.

Valancysometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedonesomethingforherroomherself,evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.

ButhermotherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.

Valancyneverpersisted.

Shewasafraidto.

Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.

Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordaysifoffended,withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.

TheonlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnightto

huilen

cryifshewantedto.

But,afterall,whatdiditmatterifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexceptsleepingand

kleden

dressingin,wereugly?

Valancywasneverpermittedtostayaloneinherroomforanyotherpurpose.

Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingand

Neef

CousinSticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.

Butherroominthe

Blauwe

BlueCastlewaseverythingaroomshouldbe.

Valancy,socowedandsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreallife,waswonttoletherselfgo

nogal

rathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.

NobodyintheStirlingclan,oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallhermotherand

Neef

CousinStickles.

TheyneverknewthatValancyhadtwohomes—theuglyredbrick

doos

boxofahome,onElmStreet,andthe

Blauwe

BlueCastleinSpain.

Valancyhadlivedspirituallyinthe

Blauwe

BlueCastleeversinceshecouldremember.

Shehadbeenaverytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.

Always,whensheshuthereyes,shecouldseeitplainly,withitsturretsandbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,

blauwe

blueloveliness,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

whoseglancemendied.

Allthatsupportedherthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthehopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnight.

Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorroriftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancydidinher

Blauwe

BlueCastle.

Foronethingshehadquiteafewloversinit.

Oh,onlyoneatatime.

Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardourofthe

tijdperk

ageofchivalryandwonherafterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,andwasweddedtoherwithpompandcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapelofthe

Blauwe

BlueCastle.

Attwelve,thisloverwasafairladwithgoldencurlsandheavenly

blauwe

blueeyes.

Atfifteen,hewastalland

donker

darkandpale,butstillnecessarilyhandsome.

Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.

Attwenty-five,hehadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,andaface

sterk

strongandruggedratherthanhandsome.

Valancynevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinher

Blauwe

BlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—her

held

herohadhadreddish,tawnyhair,atwisted

glimlach

smileandamysteriouspast.

Idon’tsayValancydeliberately

vermoordde

murderedtheseloversassheoutgrewthem.

One

gewoon

simplyfadedawayasanothercame.

Thingsareveryconvenientinthis

opzicht

respectinBlueCastles.

But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancycouldnotfindthe

sleutel

keyofherBlueCastle.

Reality

drukte

pressedonhertoohardly,barkingatherheelslikeamaddeninglittledog.

Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withnopastandno

toekomst

future.

Asfarasshecouldlookback,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotonesinglecrimsonorpurple

vlek

spotanywhere.

Asfarasshecouldlook

naar voren

forwarditseemedcertaintobejustthesameuntilshewasnothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.

Themomentwhenawomanrealisesthatshehasnothingtolivefor—neitherlove,

plicht

duty,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessofdeath.

“AndIjusthavetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’tstop.

Imayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.

“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.

Itsickensmetothinkofit.”

Shewas

blij

gladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwas

regende

raining.

Therewouldbenopicnicthatday.

Thisannualpicnic,whereby

Tante

AuntandUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementatapicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,averitablenightmaretoValancy.

Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthesamedayasher

verjaardag

birthdayand,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,nobodyletherforgetit.

Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.

There

leek

seemedtobenothingoftherevolutionaryinher

aard

nature.

Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewouldsaytoheratthepicnic.

UncleWellington,whomshedislikedanddespisedeventhoughhehadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”wouldsaytoherinapig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarriedyet,mydear?”

andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.

Tante

AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snewchiffon

jurk

dressandCecil’slastdevoted

brief

letter.

Valancywouldhavetolookaspleasedand

geïnteresseerd

interestedasifthedressand

brief

letterhadbeenhersorelse

Tante

AuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.

AndValancyhadlongago

besloten

decidedthatshewouldratheroffendGodthan

Tante

AuntWellington,becauseGodmight

vergeven

forgiveherbutAuntWellingtonneverwould.

Tante

AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablehabitofalwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifheweretheonlymalecreatureintheworld,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeenagreat

schoonheid

beautyinheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallow

huid

skin—.

“Idon’tknowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.

WhenIwasagirlmy

huid

skinwasrosesandcream.

IwascountedtheprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”

PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orperhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”

Andtheneverybodywould

lachte

laughovertheexcessivelyhumorousideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.

Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedbut

respecteerde

respectedbecausehewasreputedtobeverycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprobablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“I

veronderstel

supposeyou’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”

AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhisabominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.

“Whatisthe

verschil

differencebetweenDossandamouse?

“ThemousewishestoharmthecheeseandDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”

Valancyhadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimesandeverytimeshewantedto

gooien

throwsomethingathim.

Butsheneverdid.

Inthefirstplace,theStirlings

gewoon

simplydidnotthrowthings;

inthesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasawealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthe

angst

fearandadmonitionofhismoney.

Ifsheoffendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.

ValancydidnotwanttobecutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.

Shehadbeenpoorallherlifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.

Sosheenduredhisriddlesandevensmiledtorturedlittlesmilesoverthem.

Tante

AuntIsabel,downrightanddisagreeableasaneast

wind

wind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,for

Tante

AuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shefoundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoueverytime.

Tante

AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.

Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.

CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesofallrelativesandfriendswhohaddiedsincethelastpicnicand

afvragen

wonder“whichofuswillbethefirsttogonext.”

Oppressivelycompetent,

Tante

AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.

Forthesamereason,

Neef

CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,

volgens

accordingtothestrictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thinladywhoadmittedshehadasensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.

AndOlive,thewondergirlofthewholeStirlingclan,whohadeverythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldshowoffher

schoonheid

beautyandpresumeonherpopularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofloveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.

Therewouldbe

niets

noneofallthistoday.

Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.

ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancyand

Neef

CousinStickles.

Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfrom

Tante

AuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.

Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.

Its

geest

ghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.

Oh,yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeandsheblessedthe

regen

rainthathadsavedherfromit.

Therewouldbenopicnicthisyear.

Tante

AuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldhavenocelebrationatall.

Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.

Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,ifthe

regen

rainheldupinthe

middag

afternoon,shewouldgouptothelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.

Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.

Theywere“naturebooks”—sothelibrariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allaboutthewoodsandbirdsandbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”

SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidentthatshe

genoot

enjoyedthemtoomuch.

Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,toreadtoimproveyourmindandyourreligion,butabookthatwasenjoyablewas

gevaarlijk

dangerous.

Valancydidnotknowwhetherhermindwasbeingimprovedornot;

butshefeltvaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearsagolifemighthavebeenadifferentthingforher.

They

leken

seemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofaworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,thoughthedoorwasforeverbarredtohernow.

ItwasonlywithinthelastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenawell-knownwriterforseveralyears.

“Wheredoeshelive?”

Valancyhadasked.

“Nobodyknows.

FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,butnomore

informatie

informationcanbehad.

Hispublisherswon’tsayaword.

QuitelikelyJohnFosterisanomdeplume.

Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeoplefindinthemtoraveover.”

“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.

“Oh—well—”

MissClarkson

glimlachte

smiledinapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.

ButcertainlyFoster

lijkt

seemstoknowallthereistoknowaboutthem.”

Valancydidn’tknow

whethershecaredmuchforbugseither.

ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeof

wilde

wildcreaturesandinsectlifethatenthralledher.

Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysteryneverrevealed—somehintofagreat

geheim

secretjustalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’s

magie

magicwasindefinable.

Yes,shewouldgetanewFosterbook.

Itwasa

maand

monthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.

Valancyhadreaditfourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.

And—shealmostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueer

pijn

painaroundtheheart.

Ithadcomerather

vaak

oftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.

Butcouldshegotoseehimwithouttellinganyone?

Itwasamostdaringthought.

Geen

NoneoftheStirlingseverconsultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.

Then,theywenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedSecond

Neef

CousinAdelaideStirling.

ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.

And,besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,withoutbeingtakenthere.

Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowaboutherheart.

Therewouldbesuchafussmadeandeverymemberofthefamilywouldcomedownandtalkitoverandadviseherandcautionherandwarnherandtellherhorribletalesofgreat-auntsandcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”

Tante

AuntIsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalwayssaidDosslookedlikeagirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;

andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasa

persoonlijke

personalinsult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;

andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,dearlittleDossisn’tlongforthisworld,I’mafraid”;

andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventohaveaheart;

andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“WhyallthisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”

Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’ttellanybodyunlessshehadto.

Shefeltquitesuretherewasnothingatall

ernstig

seriouslywrongwithherheartandnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensueifshe

noemde

mentionedit.

ShewouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trentthatveryday.

Asforhisbill,shehadthetwohundreddollarsthatherfatherhadputinthe

bank

bankforherthedayshewas

geboren

born.

Shewasneverallowedtouseeventhe

rente

interestofthis,butshewouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.

Dr.

Trentwasagruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,evenifhewereonlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.

Dr.Trentwasoverseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretiresoon.

Niemand

NoneoftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohimsincehehadtoldCousinGladys,tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.

Youcouldn’tpatroniseadoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewasaPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglican

kerk

church.

CHAPTERII

WhenCousinStickles

klopte

knockedatherdoor,Valancyknewitwashalf-past

zeven

sevenandshemustgetup.

Aslongasshecouldremember,

Neef

CousinStickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-past

zeven

seven.

CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsince

zeven

seven,butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.

Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.

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