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The Blue Castle | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A1 Learners

The Blue Castle | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A1 Learners

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

CHAPTERI
Ifit
avesse
hadnotrainedonacertain
Maggio
MaymorningValancyStirling’swhole
vita
lifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.
She
sarebbe
wouldhavegone,withthe
resto
restofherclan,toAuntWellington’sengagementpicnic
e
andDr.Trentwouldhave
andato
gonetoMontreal.
Butitdidrain
e
andyoushallhearwhat
successo
happenedtoherbecauseofit.
Valancywakenedearly,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.
She
aveva
hadnotsleptverywell.
Onedoesnot
dorme
sleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,
e
andunmarried,inacommunity
e
andconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplythose
che
whohavefailedtogeta
uomo
man.
DeerwoodandtheStirlings
avevano
hadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.
Ma
ButValancyherselfhadneverquiterelinquished
una
acertainpitiful,shamed,little
speranza
hopethatRomancewouldcomeherwayyet—never,until
questa
thiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedtothe
fatto
factthatshewastwenty-nine
e
andunsoughtbyanyman.
Ay,therelay
il
thesting.
Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeing
una
anoldmaid.
Afterall,she
pensò
thought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmarriedto
una
anUncleWellingtonoran
Zio
UncleBenjamin,orevenan
Zio
UncleHerbert.
Whathurtherwas
che
thatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.
Nessun
Nomanhadeverdesiredher.
Le
Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealonein
le
thefaintlygreyingdarkness.
Shedarednotletherselfcryashardasshewanted
per
to,fortworeasons.
Shewasafraid
che
thatcryingmightbringonanotherattackof
che
thatpainaroundtheheart.
Shehadhad
un
aspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—ratherworsethan
qualsiasi
anyshehadhadyet.
E
Andshewasafraidher
madre
motherwouldnoticeherredeyesatbreakfast
e
andkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthe
causa
causethereof.
“Suppose,”thoughtValancywith
un
aghastlygrin,“Iansweredwith
la
theplaintruth,‘Iamcrying
perché
becauseIcannotgetmarried.’
Come
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamed
ogni
everydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”
Ma
Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.
“Itisnot,”Valancycould
sentire
hearhermother’sprim,dictatorialvoiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlyto
pensare
thinkaboutmen.”
Thethoughtofhermother’sexpression
faceva
madeValancylaugh—forshehad
un
asenseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.
For
che
thatmatter,therewereagood
molte
manythingsaboutValancythat
nessuno
nobodysuspected.
Butherlaughterwasverysuperficial
e
andpresentlyshelaythere,ahuddled,futilelittlefigure,
ascoltando
listeningtotherainpouringdown
fuori
outsideandwatching,witha
malato
sickdistaste,thechill,merciless
luce
lightcreepingintoherugly,sordidroom.
Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewit
e
andhatedit.
Theyellow-paintedfloor,withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythe
letto
bed,withagrotesque,“hooked”
cane
dogonit,alwaysgrinningather
quando
whensheawoke;
thefaded,dark-redpaper;
il
theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaks
e
andcrossedbycracks;
thenarrow,pinched
piccolo
littlewashstand;
thebrown-paperlambrequin
di
withpurplerosesonit;
thespotted
vecchio
oldlooking-glasswiththecrackacrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;
il
thejarofancientpotpourri
fatto
madebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;
la
theshell-coveredbox,withoneburstcorner,
che
whichCousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;
thebeadedpincushion
di
withhalfitsbeadfringegone;
theonestiff,yellowchair;
il
thefadedoldmotto,“Gone
ma
butnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrim
vecchio
oldface;
theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfrom
le
theroomsbelow.
Therewere
solo
onlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.
One,an
vecchio
oldchromoofapuppy
seduto
sittingonarainydoorstep.
Thatpicture
sempre
alwaysmadeValancyunhappy.
Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedrivingrain!
Whydidn’tsomeone
aperto
openthedoorandlethimin?
Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofQueenLouisecomingdownastairway,
che
whichAuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenthbirthday.
Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatit
e
andhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedQueenLouise.
Ma
Butsheneverdareddestroyit
o
orremoveit.
MotherandCousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,
o
or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehad
un
afit.
Everyroominthe
casa
housewasugly,ofcourse.
Ma
Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.
Therewas
non
nomoneyforroomsnobodyever
visto
saw.
Valancysometimesfeltthatshecould
avrebbe
havedonesomethingforherroomherself,even
senza
withoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.
Ma
Buthermotherhadnegatived
ogni
everytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.
Valancyneverpersisted.
Shewasafraid
di
to.
Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.
Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordays
se
ifoffended,withtheairsof
una
aninsultedduchess.
Theonly
cosa
thingValancylikedaboutherroomwas
che
thatshecouldbealonethereat
notte
nighttocryifshewantedto.
Ma
But,afterall,whatdiditmatter
se
ifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexcept
dormire
sleepinganddressingin,wereugly?
Valancywasneverpermittedtostayaloneinherroomfor
qualsiasi
anyotherpurpose.
Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirling
e
andCousinSticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.
Ma
ButherroomintheBlueCastlewas
tutto
everythingaroomshouldbe.
Valancy,socowed
e
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedin
reale
reallife,waswonttoletherself
andare
gorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.
Nessuno
NobodyintheStirlingclan,
o
oritsramifications,suspectedthis,
meno
leastofallhermother
e
andCousinStickles.
Theynever
sapevano
knewthatValancyhadtwohomes—theuglyredbrickboxof
una
ahome,onElmStreet,
e
andtheBlueCastleinSpain.
Valancy
aveva
hadlivedspirituallyintheBlueCastleeversinceshecould
ricordare
remember.
Shehadbeenaverytinychild
quando
whenshefoundherselfpossessedof
esso
it.
Always,whensheshuthereyes,shecould
vedeva
seeitplainly,withitsturrets
e
andbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,blueloveliness,
contro
againstthesunsetskiesof
una
afairandunknownland.
Tutto
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasin
che
thatcastle.
Jewelsthatqueens
potuto
mighthaveworn;
robesofmoonlight
e
andfire;
couchesofroses
e
andgold;
longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,
e
andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingup
e
anddownthem;
courts,marble-pillared,
dove
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessangamongthemyrtles;
hallsofmirrors
che
thatreflectedonlyhandsomeknights
e
andlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestof
tutte
all,forwhoseglancemen
morivano
died.
Allthatsupportedher
attraverso
throughtheboredomofherdayswas
la
thehopeofgoingon
un
adreamspreeatnight.
Maggior parte
Most,ifnotall,of
la
theStirlingswouldhavediedofhorror
se
iftheyhadknownhalf
la
thethingsValancydidinherBlueCastle.
Forone
cosa
thingshehadquiteafewloversin
esso
it.
Oh,onlyoneata
volta
time.
Onewhowooedherwith
tutto
alltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalry
e
andwonherafterlongdevotion
e
andmanydeedsofderring-do,
e
andwasweddedtoherwithpomp
e
andcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapeloftheBlueCastle.
Attwelve,
questo
thisloverwasafairladwithgoldencurls
e
andheavenlyblueeyes.
Atfifteen,hewastall
e
anddarkandpale,but
ancora
stillnecessarilyhandsome.
Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.
Attwenty-five,he
aveva
hadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,
e
andafacestrongandruggedrather
che
thanhandsome.
Valancynevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinherBlueCastle,
ma
butrecently—veryrecently—herherohadhadreddish,tawny
capelli
hair,atwistedsmileand
un
amysteriouspast.
Idon’t
dico
sayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrew
li
them.
Onesimplyfadedawayasanothercame.
Thingsareveryconvenientin
questo
thisrespectinBlueCastles.
Ma
But,onthismorningofher
giorno
dayoffate,Valancycouldnot
trovare
findthekeyofherBlueCastle.
Realitypressedonhertoohardly,barkingatherheels
come
likeamaddeninglittledog.
Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomely
ragazza
girlinahandsomeclan,withno
passato
pastandnofuture.
Asfarasshecould
guardare
lookback,lifewasdrab
e
andcolourless,withnotonesinglecrimson
o
orpurplespotanywhere.
Asfarasshecould
guardare
lookforwarditseemedcertaintobejustthe
stesso
sameuntilshewasnothingbut
un
asolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingto
un
awintrybough.
Themomentwhen
una
awomanrealisesthatshehas
nulla
nothingtolivefor—neitherlove,duty,purposenorhope—holdsforher
il
thebitternessofdeath.
“AndIjusthavetogoon
vivere
livingbecauseIcan’tstop.
Imayhaveto
vivere
liveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,in
una
akindofpanic.
“We’re
tutti
allhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmetothinkofit.”
Shewasgladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfied
che
thatitwasraining.
Therewouldbenopicnicthat
giorno
day.
Thisannualpicnic,wherebyAunt
e
andUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementat
un
apicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,
un
averitablenightmaretoValancy.
By
una
animpishcoincidenceitwasthe
stesso
samedayasherbirthday
e
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,
nessuno
nobodyletherforgetit.
Quanto
Muchasshehatedgoingto
le
thepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.
Ci
Thereseemedtobenothingoftherevolutionaryinhernature.
E
Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewould
detto
saytoheratthepicnic.
Zio
UncleWellington,whomshedisliked
e
anddespisedeventhoughhe
aveva
hadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”would
diceva
saytoherinapig’swhisper,“Not
pensando
thinkingofgettingmarriedyet,mydear?”
e
andthengooffinto
le
thebellowoflaughterwith
cui
whichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.
AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’s
nuovo
newchiffondressandCecil’slastdevotedletter.
Valancywould
avrebbe
havetolookaspleased
e
andinterestedasifthedress
e
andletterhadbeenhers
o
orelseAuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.
E
AndValancyhadlongagodecidedthatshewouldratheroffend
Dio
GodthanAuntWellington,because
Dio
GodmightforgiveherbutAuntWellingtonneverwould.
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablehabitof
sempre
alwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”as
se
ifheweretheonlymalecreaturein
la
theworld,whocouldnever
dimenticare
forgetthatshehadbeena
grande
greatbeautyinheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallowskin—.
“Idon’t
so
knowwhyallthegirlsof
oggi
todayaresosunburned.
WhenIwas
una
agirlmyskinwasroses
e
andcream.
Iwascounted
la
theprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”
Forse
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—or
forse
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”
E
Andtheneverybodywouldlaughovertheexcessivelyhumorousideaof
povero
poor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.
Handsome,solemn
Zio
UncleJames,whomValancydisliked
ma
butrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobeveryclever
e
andwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—would
probabilmente
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasm
che
thathadwonhimhisreputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”
E
AndUncleBenjaminwouldask
alcuni
someofhisabominableconundrums,
tra
betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.
“Whatis
la
thedifferencebetweenDossand
un
amouse?
“Themousewishestoharm
il
thecheeseandDosswishestocharm
il
thehe’s.”
Valancyhadheardhim
chiedere
askthatriddlefiftytimes
e
andeverytimeshewantedtothrow
qualcosa
somethingathim.
Butshenever
fatto
did.
Inthefirstplace,theStirlingssimplydidnotthrowthings;
inthesecond
luogo
place,UncleBenjaminwasawealthy
e
andchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthefear
e
andadmonitionofhismoney.
Se
Ifsheoffendedhimhe
fosse
wouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.
Valancydidnotwanttobe
tagliato
cutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.
Shehadbeenpoorallher
vita
lifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.
Sosheenduredhisriddles
e
andevensmiledtorturedlittlesmiles
su
overthem.
AuntIsabel,downright
e
anddisagreeableasaneastwind,wouldcriticiseherin
qualche
someway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,forAuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—she
trovava
foundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyou
ogni
everytime.
AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,
ma
butdidn’tlikeitsowell
quando
whenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.
Valancynever
detto
saidwhatshethought.
CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,who
aveva
hadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesof
tutti
allrelativesandfriendswho
aveva
haddiedsincethelastpicnic
e
andwonder“whichofus
sarà
willbethefirstto
andare
gonext.”
Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildredwould
parlava
talkendlesslyofherhusband
e
andherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,
perché
becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecould
trovare
findtoputupwithit.
Forthe
stesso
samereason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladys
volta
onceremoved,accordingtothestrict
modo
wayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thin
signora
ladywhoadmittedshehad
una
asensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.
E
AndOlive,thewondergirlofthewholeStirlingclan,
che
whohadeverythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—would
mostrato
showoffherbeautyandpresumeonherpopularity
e
andflauntherdiamondinsigniaof
amore
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.
Ci
Therewouldbenoneof
tutto
allthistoday.
Andtherewouldbe
non
nopackingupofteaspoons.
Le
Thepackingupwasalways
lasciate
leftforValancyandCousinStickles.
E
Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfromAuntWellington’swedding
set
sethadbeenlost.
Valancynever
sentito
heardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.
ItsghostappearedBanquo-likeat
ogni
everysubsequentfamilyfeast.
Oh,
sì
yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbe
come
likeandsheblessedtherain
che
thathadsavedherfromit.
Ci
Therewouldbenopicnicthisyear.
Se
IfAuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesacred
giorno
dayitselfshewouldhave
non
nocelebrationatall.
Thankwhatevergodstherewerefor
che
that.
Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermind
che
that,iftherainheldupin
la
theafternoon,shewouldgoupto
la
thelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.
Valancywasneverallowedto
leggere
readnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.
Theywere“naturebooks”—so
il
thelibrariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allabout
il
thewoodsandbirdsandbugs
e
andthingslikethat,youknow.”
SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevident
che
thatsheenjoyedthemtoomuch.
Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,to
leggere
readtoimproveyourmind
e
andyourreligion,buta
libro
bookthatwasenjoyablewasdangerous.
Valancydidnot
sapeva
knowwhetherhermindwasbeingimproved
o
ornot;
butshefeltvaguely
che
thatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyears
fa
agolifemighthavebeen
una
adifferentthingforher.
Theyseemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofa
mondo
worldintowhichshemight
volta
oncehaveentered,thoughthe
porta
doorwasforeverbarredtoher
ora
now.
Itwasonlywithinthelastyear
che
thatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,
anche se
thoughthelibrariantoldValancy
che
thathehadbeenawell-knownwriterforseveralyears.
“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancyhad
chiesto
asked.
“Nobodyknows.
Fromhisbookshe
deve
mustbeaCanadian,but
non
nomoreinformationcanbe
avere
had.
Hispublisherswon’tsay
una
aword.
QuitelikelyJohnFosteris
un
anomdeplume.
Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,
anche se
thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeople
trovi
findinthemtoraveover.”
“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”
disse
saidValancy,timidly.
“Oh—well—”
MissClarksonsmiledinapatronisingfashion
che
thatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’t
dire
sayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.
Ma
ButcertainlyFosterseemsto
sapere
knowallthereisto
sapere
knowaboutthem.”
Valancydidn’t
sapeva
knowwhethershecaredmuchforbugseither.
ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreatures
e
andinsectlifethatenthralledher.
Shecouldhardly
dire
saywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureof
un
amysteryneverrevealed—somehintof
un
agreatsecretjustalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechooflovely,
dimenticate
forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.
Yes,shewouldget
un
anewFosterbook.
Itwas
un
amonthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurely
Madre
Mothercouldnotobject.
Valancyhadreadit
quattro
fourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.
And—she
quasi
almostthoughtshewouldgo
e
andseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueerpain
intorno
aroundtheheart.
Ithad
venuto
comeratheroftenlately,and
le
thepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,notto
parlare
speakofanoccasionaldizzy
momento
momentandaqueershortnessofbreath.
Ma
Butcouldshegotoseehim
senza
withouttellinganyone?
Itwas
un
amostdaringthought.
NoneoftheStirlingseverconsulted
un
adoctorwithoutholdinga
famiglia
familycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.
Then,they
andarono
wenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,
che
whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.
Ma
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.
E
And,besides,shecouldnot
arrivare
gettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,
senza
withoutbeingtakenthere.
Shedidnotwantanyoneto
sapesse
knowaboutherheart.
Therewouldbe
tale
suchafussmadeand
ogni
everymemberofthefamilywould
veniva
comedownandtalkitover
e
andadviseherandcautionher
e
andwarnherandtellherhorribletalesofgreat-aunts
e
andcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”
e
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”
AuntIsabelwould
ricorderebbe
rememberthatshehadalways
detto
saidDosslookedlikea
ragazza
girlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinched
e
andpeakedalways”;
andUncleWellingtonwould
preso
takeitasapersonalinsult,
quando
when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;
e
andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasides
che
that“poor,dearlittleDossisn’t
lungo
longforthisworld,I’mafraid”;
e
andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,my
cuore
hearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatone
che
thatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinessevento
avere
haveaheart;
andOlive—Olive
volesse
wouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperior
e
anddisgustinglyhealthy,asifto
dire
say,“Whyallthisfussover
una
afadedsuperfluitylikeDoss
quando
whenyouhaveme?”
Valancy
sentiva
feltthatshecouldn’ttell
nessuno
anybodyunlessshehadto.
She
sentiva
feltquitesuretherewas
nulla
nothingatallseriouslywrongwithher
cuore
heartandnoneedof
tutto
allthepotherthatwouldensue
se
ifshementionedit.
She
sarebbe
wouldjustslipupquietly
e
andseeDr.Trentthatvery
giorno
day.
Asforhisbill,she
aveva
hadthetwohundreddollars
che
thatherfatherhadputinthebankforherthe
giorno
dayshewasborn.
Shewasneverallowedto
usare
useeventheinterestof
questo
this,butshewouldsecretly
prendeva
takeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.
Dr.
Trentwas
un
agruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,
ma
buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,even
se
ifhewereonlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.
Dr.Trentwas
oltre
overseventyandtherehadbeenrumours
che
thathemeanttoretire
presto
soon.
NoneoftheStirlingclan
aveva
hadevergonetohimsincehe
aveva
hadtoldCousinGladys,tenyears
prima
before,thatherneuritiswasallimaginary
e
andthatsheenjoyedit.
Youcouldn’tpatronisea
dottore
doctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewasaPresbyterian
quando
whenalltheStirlingswentto
il
theAnglicanchurch.
CHAPTERII
Quando
WhenCousinSticklesknockedather
porta
door,Valancyknewitwashalf-pastseven
e
andshemustgetup.
Aslongasshecould
ricordare
remember,CousinStickleshadknockedather
porta
doorathalf-pastseven.
CousinStickles
e
andMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsinceseven,
ma
butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofa
famiglia
familytraditionthatshewasdelicate.
Valancygotup,
anche se
thoughshehatedgettingup
più
morethismorningthanevershehad
prima
before.