CHAPTERI
Ifithadnotrainedona
tertentu
certainMaymorningValancyStirling’sseluruh
wholelifewouldhavebeensama sekali
entirelydifferent.Shewouldhave
pergi
gone,withtherestofherclan,toBibi
AuntWellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.Trentakan
wouldhavegonetoMontreal.Tapi
Butitdidrainandyoushallmendengar
hearwhathappenedtoherkarena
becauseofit.Valancywakenedearly,inthelifeless,hopeless
jam
hourjustprecedingdawn.Shehadnotsleptvery
baik
well.Onedoesnotsleep
baik
well,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,dan
andunmarried,inacommunitydan
andconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplymereka
thosewhohavefailedtomendapatkan
getaman.DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.
Tapi
ButValancyherselfhadneverquitemelepaskan
relinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,sedikit
littlehopethatRomancewoulddatang
comeherwayyet—never,untilini
thiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedtothefakta
factthatshewastwenty-ninedan
andunsoughtbyanyman.Ay,
sana
therelaythesting.Valancydidnot
keberatan
mindsomuchbeingantua
oldmaid.Afterall,shethought,beingan
tua
oldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmenikah
marriedtoanUncleWellingtonatau
oranUncleBenjamin,orbahkan
evenanUncleHerbert.Whathurtherwasthatshe
memiliki
hadneverhadachancetobeanythingtapi
butanoldmaid.No
pria
manhadeverdesiredher.Yang
Thetearscameintohereyesassheberbaring
laytherealoneinthesamar
faintlygreyingdarkness.Shedarednot
membiarkan
letherselfcryashardasshewantedto,fordua
tworeasons.Shewasafraid
bahwa
thatcryingmightbringonlain
anotherattackofthatpainsekitar
aroundtheheart.Shehad
memiliki
hadaspellofitsetelah
aftershehadgotintobed—ratherburuk
worsethananyshehadmemiliki
hadyet.Andshewas
takut
afraidhermotherwouldnoticehermerah
redeyesatbreakfastandterus
keepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingyang
thecausethereof.“Suppose,”thoughtValancy
dengan
withaghastlygrin,“Imenjawab
answeredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iammenangis
cryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’Bagaimana
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheismalu
ashamedeverydayofherlifeofhertua
oldmaiddaughter.”Butof
saja
courseappearancesshouldbekeptup.“Itisnot,”Valancy
bisa
couldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorialsuara
voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytoberpikir
thinkaboutmen.”Thethoughtofhermother’s
ekspresi
expressionmadeValancylaugh—forshememiliki
hadasenseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.Forthat
masalah
matter,therewereagoodbanyak
manythingsaboutValancythatnobodymenduga
suspected.Butherlaughterwas
sangat
verysuperficialandpresentlysheberbaring
laythere,ahuddled,futilekecil
littlefigure,listeningtothehujan
rainpouringdownoutsideandmenonton
watching,withasickdistaste,thedingin
chill,mercilesslightcreepingintoherjelek
ugly,sordidroom.Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewit
dan
andhatedit.Theyellow-painted
lantai
floor,withonehideous,“hooked”karpet
rugbythebed,withagrotesque,“hooked”anjing
dogonit,alwaysgrinningatherketika
whensheawoke;thefaded,dark-red
kertas
paper;theceilingdiscolouredby
lama
oldleaksandcrossedbycracks;yang
thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;thebrown-paperlambrequin
dengan
withpurplerosesonit;yang
thespottedoldlooking-glasswithyang
thecrackacrossit,proppeduponyang
theinadequatedressing-table;thejarof
kuno
ancientpotpourrimadebyheribunya
motherinhermythicalhoneymoon;theshell-covered
kotak
box,withoneburstcorner,whichSepupu
CousinStickleshadmadeinhersama
equallymythicalgirlhood;thebeadedpincushion
dengan
withhalfitsbeadfringegone;yang
theonestiff,yellowchair;yang
thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarnstentang
aboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimoldwajah
face;theoldphotographsof
kuno
ancientrelativeslongbanishedfromtheroomsbawah
below.Therewereonlytwopictures
yang
thatwerenotofrelatives.Satu
One,anoldchromoofaanjing
puppysittingonarainyambang pintu
doorstep.ThatpicturealwaysmadeValancy
bahagia
unhappy.Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthe
ambang pintu
doorstepinthedrivingrain!Mengapa
Whydidn’tsomeoneopenyang
thedoorandlethimin?Theother
gambar
picturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofRatu
QueenLouisecomingdownatangga
stairway,whichAuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenthulang tahun
birthday.Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatit
dan
andhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedRatu
QueenLouise.Butshenever
berani
dareddestroyitorremoveit.Ibu
MotherandCousinStickleswouldmemiliki
havebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,akan
wouldhavehadafit.Setiap
Everyroominthehousewasjelek
ugly,ofcourse.Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.
Ada
Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.Valancy
kadang
sometimesfeltthatshecouldhavemelakukan
donesomethingforherroomherself,bahkan
evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.Tapi
Buthermotherhadnegativedsetiap
everytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.Valancy
pernah
neverpersisted.Shewasafraid
untuk
to.Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.
Mrs.Stirling
akan
wouldsulkfordaysifoffended,dengan
withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.The
satunya
onlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshebisa
couldbealonethereatmalam
nighttocryifsheingin
wantedto.But,afterall,whatdiditmatter
jika
ifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingkecuali
exceptsleepinganddressingin,werejelek
ugly?Valancywasneverpermittedto
tinggal
stayaloneinherroomforanylain
otherpurpose.Peoplewhowantedtobe
sendirian
alone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingdan
andCousinSticklesbelieved,couldhanya
onlywanttobealoneforbeberapa
somesinisterpurpose.Buther
kamar
roomintheBlueCastlewaseverythingakamar
roomshouldbe.Valancy,socowed
dan
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinnyata
reallife,waswonttomembiarkan
letherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.NobodyintheStirling
klan
clan,oritsramifications,suspectedini
this,leastofallheribunya
motherandCousinStickles.They
pernah
neverknewthatValancyhaddua
twohomes—theuglyredbrickkotak
boxofahome,onElmStreet
Street,andtheBlueCastleinSpain.ValancyhadlivedspirituallyintheBlue
Castle
Castleeversinceshecouldremember.Shehadbeena
sangat
verytinychildwhenshemenemukan
foundherselfpossessedofit.Selalu
Always,whensheshuthereyes,shebisa
couldseeitplainly,withitsturretsdan
andbannersonthepine-cladgunung
mountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,biru
blueloveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofafairdan
andunknownland.Everythingwonderful
dan
andbeautifulwasinthatkastil
castle.Jewelsthatqueensmighthaveworn;
robesofmoonlight
dan
andfire;couchesofroses
dan
andgold;longflightsof
dangkal
shallowmarblesteps,withgreat,putih
whiteurns,andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingupdan
anddownthem;courts,marble-pillared,
mana
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalesbernyanyi
sangamongthemyrtles;hallsofmirrorsthat
mencerminkan
reflectedonlyhandsomeknightsandindah
lovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofsemua
all,forwhoseglancemenmati
died.Allthatsupportedher
melalui
throughtheboredomofherdayswastheharapan
hopeofgoingonamimpi
dreamspreeatnight.Most,
jika
ifnotall,oftheStirlingsakan
wouldhavediedofhorrorjika
iftheyhadknownhalfyang
thethingsValancydidinherBlueCastle
Castle.Foronethingshe
memiliki
hadquiteafewloversinit.Oh,
hanya
onlyoneatatime.Onewhowooedher
dengan
withalltheromanticardourofthezaman
ageofchivalryandwonhersetelah
afterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,dan
andwasweddedtoherdengan
withpompandcircumstanceinthebesar
great,banner-hungchapeloftheBiru
BlueCastle.Attwelve,this
kekasih
loverwasafairladdengan
withgoldencurlsandheavenlybiru
blueeyes.Atfifteen,hewas
tinggi
tallanddarkandpale,tapi
butstillnecessarilyhandsome.Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.
Attwenty-five,he
memiliki
hadaclean-cutjaw,slightlysuram
grim,andafacestrongdan
andruggedratherthanhandsome.Valancy
pernah
nevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinherBiru
BlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—herpahlawan
herohadhadreddish,tawnyrambut
hair,atwistedsmileandamisterius
mysteriouspast.Idon’tsayValancy
sengaja
deliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrewmereka
them.Onesimplyfadedawayas
lain
anothercame.Thingsarevery
nyaman
convenientinthisrespectinBlueCastles.Tapi
But,onthismorningofherhari
dayoffate,Valancycouldnotmenemukan
findthekeyofherBlueCastle
Castle.Realitypressedonher
terlalu
toohardly,barkingatherheelsseperti
likeamaddeninglittledog.Shewastwenty-nine,
kesepian
lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygadis
girlinahandsomeclan,withtidak
nopastandnofuture.As
sejauh
farasshecouldlookbelakang
back,lifewasdrabandcolourless,dengan
withnotonesinglecrimsonatau
orpurplespotanywhere.As
sejauh
farasshecouldlookforwarditseemedpasti
certaintobejustthesama
sameuntilshewasnothingtapi
butasolitary,littlewithereddaun
leafclingingtoawintrybough.Themomentwhen
seorang
awomanrealisesthatshememiliki
hasnothingtolivefor—neithercinta
love,duty,purposenorhope—holdsforherthekepahitan
bitternessofdeath.“AndI
hanya
justhavetogoonlivingkarena
becauseIcan’tstop.I
mungkin
mayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inasemacam
kindofpanic.“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmeto
memikirkan
thinkofit.”Shewas
senang
gladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilypuas
satisfiedthatitwasraining.Ada
Therewouldbenopicnicitu
thatday.Thisannualpicnic,whereby
Bibi
AuntandUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminitu
thatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementatapiknik
picnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,averitablemimpi buruk
nightmaretoValancy.Byanimpish
kebetulan
coincidenceitwasthesamehari
dayasherbirthdayand,setelah
aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,nobodymembiarkan
letherforgetit.Muchasshe
benci
hatedgoingtothepicnic,itakan
wouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelmelawan
againstit.Thereseemedtobenothingof
yang
therevolutionaryinhernature.Dan
Andsheknewexactlywhatsetiap
everyonewouldsaytoheratyang
thepicnic.UncleWellington,whomshedisliked
dan
anddespisedeventhoughhehadmemenuhi
fulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”akan
wouldsaytoherinapig’sbisikan
whisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmenikah
marriedyet,mydear?”andthen
pergi
gooffintothebellowoftawa
laughterwithwhichheinvariablymenyimpulkan
concludedhisdullremarks.AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,
akan
wouldtellheraboutOlive’sbaru
newchiffondressandCecil’sterakhir
lastdevotedletter.Valancywouldhaveto
terlihat
lookaspleasedandinterestedasifthegaun
dressandletterhadbeenhersatau
orelseAuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.Dan
AndValancyhadlongagomemutuskan
decidedthatshewouldrathermenyinggung
offendGodthanAuntWellington,karena
becauseGodmightforgivehertapi
butAuntWellingtonneverwould.Bibi
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablekebiasaan
habitofalwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifhewerethesatunya
onlymalecreatureinthedunia
world,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeenabesar
greatbeautyinheryouth,akan
wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallowskin—.“Idon’t
tahu
knowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.Ketika
WhenIwasagirlmyskinwasrosesdan
andcream.Iwascountedtheprettiest
gadis
girlinCanada,mydear.”Mungkin
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—ormungkin
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howlemak
fatyou’regetting,Doss!”Andthen
semua
everybodywouldlaughovertheexcessivelylucu
humorousideaofpoor,scrawnysedikit
littleDossgettingfat.Handsome,solemn
Paman
UncleJames,whomValancydislikedtetapi
butrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobesangat
verycleverandwasthereforetheklan
clanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooberlimpah
plentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldmungkin
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarkasme
sarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“Ikira
supposeyou’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”Dan
AndUncleBenjaminwouldaskbeberapa
someofhisabominableconundrums,antara
betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.“Whatisthe
perbedaan
differencebetweenDossandatikus
mouse?“Themousewishesto
membahayakan
harmthecheeseandDossingin
wishestocharmthehe’s.”Valancyhadheardhim
bertanya
askthatriddlefiftytimesdan
andeverytimeshewantedtothrowsesuatu
somethingathim.Butshe
pernah
neverdid.Inthefirst
tempat
place,theStirlingssimplydidnotthrowthings;in
yang
thesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasseorang
awealthyandchildlessoldwidowerdan
andValancyhadbeenbroughtupinyang
thefearandadmonitionofhismoney.Jika
Ifsheoffendedhimheakan
wouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.Valancydidnot
ingin
wanttobecutoutofPaman
UncleBenjamin’swill.Shehadbeen
miskin
poorallherlifeandtahu
knewthegallingbitternessofitu
it.Sosheenduredhisriddles
dan
andevensmiledtorturedlittletersenyum
smilesoverthem.AuntIsabel,downright
dan
anddisagreeableasaneastangin
wind,wouldcriticiseherinbeberapa
someway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,forBibi
AuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shemenemukan
foundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyousetiap
everytime.AuntIsabelpridedherselfon
mengatakan
sayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsobaik
wellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.Valancy
pernah
neversaidwhatshethought.Sepupu
CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedsetelah
afterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesofsemua
allrelativesandfriendswhohadmeninggal
diedsincethelastpicnicdan
andwonder“whichofusakan
willbethefirsttopergi
gonext.”Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildred
akan
wouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbanddan
andherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,karena
becauseValancywouldbethesatunya
onlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.Forthe
sama
samereason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstSepupu
CousinGladysonceremoved,accordingtotheketat
strictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atinggi
tall,thinladywhoadmittedshememiliki
hadasensitivedisposition,wouldmenggambarkan
describeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.Dan
AndOlive,thewondergirloftheseluruh
wholeStirlingclan,whohadeverythingValancymemiliki
hadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldshowoffherkecantikan
beautyandpresumeonherpopularitas
popularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofcinta
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.Ada
Therewouldbenoneofsemua
allthistoday.Andthere
akan
wouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.Thepackingupwas
selalu
alwaysleftforValancyandCousinStickles.Dan
Andonce,sixyearsago,aperak
silverteaspoonfromAuntWellington’spernikahan
weddingsethadbeenlost.Valancy
pernah
neverheardthelastofthatperak
silverteaspoon.ItsghostappearedBanquo-likeat
setiap
everysubsequentfamilyfeast.Oh,
ya
yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepiknik
picnicwouldbelikeandshememberkati
blessedtherainthathadsavedherfromit.Ada
Therewouldbenopicnicini
thisyear.IfAuntWellington
bisa
couldnotcelebrateonthesuci
sacreddayitselfshewouldmemiliki
havenocelebrationatall.Thankwhatevergods
ada
therewereforthat.Since
ada
therewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindbahwa
that,iftherainheldupintheafternoon,sheakan
wouldgouptotheperpustakaan
libraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.Valancywas
pernah
neverallowedtoreadnovels,tapi
butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.Theywere“naturebooks”—sothe
pustakawan
librariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“alltentang
aboutthewoodsandbirdsdan
andbugsandthingslikeitu
that,youknow.”SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—under
protes
protest,foritwasonlyterlalu
tooevidentthatsheenjoyedthemterlalu
toomuch.Itwaspermissible,
bahkan
evenlaudable,toreadtomeningkatkan
improveyourmindandyouragama
religion,butabookthatwasmenyenangkan
enjoyablewasdangerous.Valancydidnot
tahu
knowwhetherhermindwasbeingimprovedatau
ornot;butshefelt
samar
vaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearslalu
agolifemighthavebeenaberbeda
differentthingforher.They
tampak
seemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofadunia
worldintowhichshemightpernah
oncehaveentered,thoughthepintu
doorwasforeverbarredtohersekarang
now.Itwasonlywithinthe
terakhir
lastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodperpustakaan
library,thoughthelibrariantoldValancybahwa
thathehadbeenawell-knownpenulis
writerforseveralyears.“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancyhad
bertanya
asked.“Nobodyknows.
FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,
tapi
butnomoreinformationcanbehad.Hispublisherswon’t
mengatakan
sayaword.QuitelikelyJohn
Foster
Fosterisanomdeplume.Hisbooksareso
populer
popularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,meskipun
thoughIreallycan’tseewhatorang
peoplefindinthemtoraveover.”“I
pikir
thinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.“Oh—well—”
MissClarkson
tersenyum
smiledinapatronisingfashionyang
thatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo
limbo,“Ican’tsayIpeduli
caremuchforbugsmyself.Tapi
ButcertainlyFosterseemstotahu
knowallthereistotahu
knowaboutthem.”Valancydidn’t
tahu
knowwhethershecaredmuchforbugseither.ItwasnotJohnFoster’s
luar biasa
uncannyknowledgeofwildcreaturesdan
andinsectlifethatenthralledher.Shecouldhardly
mengatakan
saywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamisteri
mysteryneverrevealed—somehintofabesar
greatsecretjustalittlefurtheron—somesamar
faint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’ssihir
magicwasindefinable.Yes,she
akan
wouldgetanewFosterbuku
book.Itwasamonth
sejak
sinceshehadThistleHarvest,sopasti
surelyMothercouldnotobject.Valancyhadreadit
empat
fourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyhati
heart.And—shealmostthoughtshe
akan
wouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueerpainaroundthejantung
heart.Ithadcomerather
sering
oftenlately,andthepalpitationsweremenjadi
becomingannoying,nottospeakofansesekali
occasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofnapas
breath.Butcouldshegotoseehim
tanpa
withouttellinganyone?Itwasa
paling
mostdaringthought.Noneof
yang
theStirlingseverconsultedadokter
doctorwithoutholdingafamilydewan
councilandgettingUncleJames’persetujuan
approval.Then,theywenttoDr.Ambrose
Marsh
MarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedKedua
SecondCousinAdelaideStirling.ButValancy
menyukai
dislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.And,
selain
besides,shecouldnotgettoPort
PortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,tanpa
withoutbeingtakenthere.Shedidnot
ingin
wantanyonetoknowtentang
aboutherheart.Therewouldbesuchafussmade
dan
andeverymemberofthekeluarga
familywouldcomedownandtalkitoverdan
andadviseherandcautionherdan
andwarnherandtellhermengerikan
horribletalesofgreat-auntsandcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”dan
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’speringatan
warning,mydear.”AuntIsabel
akan
wouldrememberthatshehadselalu
alwayssaidDosslookedlikeseorang
agirlwhowouldhavejantung
hearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;dan
andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasapribadi
personalinsult,when“noStirlingevermemiliki
hadheartdiseasebefore”;andGeorgiana
akan
wouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,sayang
dearlittleDossisn’tlongforini
thisworld,I’mafraid”;and
Sepupu
CousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhati
hearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inanada
tonethatimpliednooneelsememiliki
hadanybusinesseventomemiliki
haveaheart;andOlive—Olive
akan
wouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperior
superioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftomengatakan
say,“Whyallthisfussatas
overafadedsuperfluitylikeDossketika
whenyouhaveme?”Valancy
merasa
feltthatshecouldn’ttellsiapa pun
anybodyunlessshehadto.She
merasa
feltquitesuretherewasapa
nothingatallseriouslywrongdengan
withherheartandnoperlu
needofallthepotherthatakan
wouldensueifshementionedit.She
akan
wouldjustslipupquietlydan
andseeDr.Trentthatveryhari
day.Asforhisbill,she
memiliki
hadthetwohundreddollarsthatherfathermemiliki
hadputinthebankforherthehari
dayshewasborn.Shewas
pernah
neverallowedtouseeventhebunga
interestofthis,butsheakan
wouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtomembayar
payDr.Trent.Dr.
Trentwas
seorang
agruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,tapi
buthewasarecognisedotoritas
authorityonheartdisease,evenjika
ifhewereonlyaumum
generalpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.Dr.Trentwasoverseventy
dan
andtherehadbeenrumoursbahwa
thathemeanttoretiresegera
soon.NoneoftheStirling
klan
clanhadevergonetohimsejak
sincehehadtoldCousinGladys,sepuluh
tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimajiner
imaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.Youcouldn’tpatronise
seorang
adoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedseperti
likethat—nottomentionthathewasseorang
aPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingspergi
wenttotheAnglicanchurch.Bab
CHAPTERIIWhenCousinStickles
mengetuk
knockedatherdoor,Valancytahu
knewitwashalf-pastsevendan
andshemustgetup.Aslongasshecould
ingat
remember,CousinStickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-pasttujuh
seven.CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsince
tujuh
seven,butValancywasallowedtoberbaring
lieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofakeluarga
familytraditionthatshewaslembut
delicate.Valancygotup,thoughshe
membenci
hatedgettingupmorethispagi
morningthanevershehadsebelumnya
before.