The Blue Castle Gradually Hardening Norwegian A2 Translation Books

CHAPTERI

IfithadnotrainedonacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.

Shewouldhavegone,withtherestofherclan,to

Tante

AuntWellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.

Butitdid

regnet

rainandyoushallhearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.

Valancywakened

tidlig

early,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.

Shehadnotsleptverywell.

Onedoesnotsleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,andunmarried,inacommunityandconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplythosewhohavefailedtogetaman.

DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.

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

Ay,therelaythesting.

Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.

Afterall,shethought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanUncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,orevenanUncleHerbert.

Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.

Nomanhadeverdesiredher.

Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.

She

våget

darednotletherselfcryashardasshewantedto,fortworeasons.

Shewasafraidthat

gråt

cryingmightbringonanother

angrep

attackofthatpainaroundtheheart.

Shehadhadaspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rather

verre

worsethananyshehadhadyet.

Andshewasafraidhermotherwould

merke

noticeherredeyesat

frokost

breakfastandkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.

“Suppose,”thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“Iansweredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iam

gråter

cryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamedeverydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”

Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.

“Itisnot,”Valancycouldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorial

stemme

voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”

Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehada

sans

senseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.

Forthatmatter,therewereagoodmanythingsaboutValancythatnobodysuspected.

Butherlaughterwasverysuperficialandpresentlyshelaythere,ahuddled,futilelittle

figur

figure,listeningtotherainpouringdownoutsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,mercilesslightcreepingintoherugly,sordidroom.

Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewitandhatedit.

Theyellow-painted

gulvet

floor,withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythebed,withagrotesque,“hooked”dogonit,alwaysgrinningatherwhensheawoke;

thefaded,dark-redpaper;

theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaksand

krysset

crossedbycracks;

thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;

thebrown-paperlambrequinwithpurplerosesonit;

thespottedoldlooking-glasswiththecrack

over

acrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;

thejarofancientpotpourrimadebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;

theshell-covered

boksen

box,withoneburstcorner,which

Fetter

CousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;

thebeadedpincushionwithhalfitsbeadfringegone;

theonestiff,yellowchair;

thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimoldface;

theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfromtheroomsbelow.

Therewereonlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.

One,anoldchromoofapuppysittingonarainydoorstep.

ThatpicturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.

Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedriving

regnet

rain!

Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoorandlethimin?

Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingof

Dronning

QueenLouisecomingdownastairway,which

Tante

AuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenth

bursdag

birthday.

Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatitandhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfied

Dronning

QueenLouise.

Butshenever

våget

dareddestroyitorremoveit.

Motherand

Fetter

CousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehada

anfall

fit.

Everyroominthehousewasugly,ofcourse.

Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.

Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.

Valancysometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedonesomethingforherroomherself,evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.

ButhermotherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.

Valancyneverpersisted.

Shewasafraidto.

Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.

Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordaysifoffended,withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.

TheonlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnightto

gråte

cryifshewantedto.

But,afterall,whatdiditmatterifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexceptsleepingand

kle

dressingin,wereugly?

Valancywasneverpermittedtostayaloneinherroomforanyotherpurpose.

Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingand

Fetter

CousinSticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.

Butherroominthe

Blå

BlueCastlewaseverythingaroomshouldbe.

Valancy,socowedandsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreallife,waswonttoletherselfgo

ganske

rathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.

NobodyintheStirlingclan,oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallhermotherand

Fetter

CousinStickles.

TheyneverknewthatValancyhadtwohomes—theuglyredbrickboxofahome,onElmStreet,andthe

Blå

BlueCastleinSpain.

Valancyhadlivedspirituallyinthe

Blå

BlueCastleeversinceshecouldremember.

Shehadbeenaverytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.

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

blå

blueloveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofa

rettferdig

fairandunknownland.

Everything

vidunderlig

wonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.

Jewelsthatqueensmighthaveworn;

robesofmoonlightandfire;

couchesofrosesand

gull

gold;

longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingupanddownthem;

courts,marble-pillared,whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessangamongthemyrtles;

hallsofmirrorsthatreflectedonlyhandsomeknightsand

vakre

lovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofall,for

hvis

whoseglancemendied.

Allthat

støttet

supportedherthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthehopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnight.

Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorroriftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancydidinherBlueCastle.

Foronethingshehadquiteafewloversinit.

Oh,onlyoneatatime.

Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalryandwonherafterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,andwasweddedtoherwithpompandcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapeloftheBlueCastle.

Attwelve,thisloverwasa

rettferdig

fairladwithgoldencurlsandheavenly

blå

blueeyes.

Atfifteen,hewastalland

mørk

darkandpale,butstillnecessarilyhandsome.

Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.

Attwenty-five,hehadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,andaface

sterk

strongandruggedratherthanhandsome.

Valancynever

vokste

grewolderthantwenty-fiveinherBlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—her

helt

herohadhadreddish,tawnyhair,atwisted

smil

smileandamysteriouspast.

Idon’tsayValancydeliberately

myrdet

murderedtheseloversassheoutgrewthem.

Onesimplyfadedawayasanothercame.

ThingsareveryconvenientinthisrespectinBlueCastles.

But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,ValancycouldnotfindthekeyofherBlueCastle.

Realitypressedonhertoohardly,barkingatherheelslikeamaddeninglittledog.

Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withnopastandnofuture.

Asfarasshecouldlookback,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotonesinglecrimsonorpurple

flekk

spotanywhere.

Asfarasshecouldlook

fremover

forwarditseemedcertaintobejustthesameuntilshewasnothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.

Themomentwhenawomanrealisesthatshehasnothingtolivefor—neitherlove,

plikt

duty,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessofdeath.

“AndIjusthavetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’tstop.

Imayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.

“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.

Itsickensmetothinkofit.”

Shewas

glad

gladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwasraining.

Therewouldbenopicnicthatday.

Thisannualpicnic,whereby

Tante

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

Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthesamedayasher

bursdag

birthdayand,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,nobodyletherforgetit.

Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.

There

virket

seemedtobenothingoftherevolutionaryinher

natur

nature.

Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewouldsaytoheratthepicnic.

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

andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.

Tante

AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snewchiffon

kjole

dressandCecil’slastdevoted

brev

letter.

Valancywouldhavetolookaspleasedand

interessert

interestedasifthedressand

brevet

letterhadbeenhersorelse

Tante

AuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.

AndValancyhadlongago

bestemt

decidedthatshewouldratheroffendGodthan

Tante

AuntWellington,becauseGodmight

tilgir

forgiveherbutAuntWellingtonneverwould.

Tante

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

skjønnhet

beautyinheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallow

hud

skin—.

“Idon’tknowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.

WhenIwasagirlmy

hud

skinwasrosesandcream.

IwascountedtheprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”

PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orperhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“How

fett

fatyou’regetting,Doss!”

Andtheneverybodywould

laughovertheexcessivelyhumorousideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgetting

fett

fat.

Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedbut

respekterte

respectedbecausehewasreputedtobeverycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprobablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“I

antar

supposeyou’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”

AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhisabominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.

“Whatisthe

forskjellen

differencebetweenDossandamouse?

“ThemousewishestoharmthecheeseandDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”

Valancyhadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimesandeverytimeshewantedto

kaste

throwsomethingathim.

Butsheneverdid.

Inthefirstplace,theStirlings

bare

simplydidnotthrowthings;

inthesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasawealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthe

frykt

fearandadmonitionofhismoney.

Ifsheoffendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.

ValancydidnotwanttobecutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.

Shehadbeenpoorallherlifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.

Sosheenduredhisriddlesandevensmiledtorturedlittlesmilesoverthem.

Tante

AuntIsabel,downrightanddisagreeableasaneastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,for

Tante

AuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shefoundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoueverytime.

Tante

AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.

Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.

Kusine

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

lurer

wonder“whichofuswillbethefirsttogonext.”

Oppressivelycompetent,

Tante

AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.

Forthesamereason,

Fetter

CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,

henhold

accordingtothestrictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thinladywhoadmittedshehadasensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.

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

skjønnhet

beautyandpresumeonherpopularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofloveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.

Therewouldbenoneofallthistoday.

Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.

ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancyand

Fetter

CousinStickles.

Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfrom

Tante

AuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.

Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.

Its

spøkelse

ghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.

Oh,yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeandsheblessedthe

regnet

rainthathadsavedherfromit.

Therewouldbenopicnicthisyear.

Tante

AuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldhavenocelebrationatall.

Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.

Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,ifthe

regnet

rainheldupintheafternoon,shewouldgouptothelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.

Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.

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

SoValancywas

tillatt

allowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoomuch.

Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,toreadtoimproveyourmindandyourreligion,butabookthatwasenjoyablewas

farlig

dangerous.

Valancydidnotknow

whetherhermindwasbeingimprovedornot;

butshefeltvaguelythatifshehadcome

over

acrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearsagolifemighthavebeenadifferentthingforher.

They

syntes

seemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofaworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,thoughthedoorwasforeverbarredtohernow.

ItwasonlywithinthelastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenawell-knownwriterfor

flere

severalyears.

“Wheredoeshelive?”

Valancyhadasked.

“Nobodyknows.

FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,butnomore

informasjon

informationcanbehad.

Hispublisherswon’tsayaword.

QuitelikelyJohnFosterisanomdeplume.

Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeoplefindinthemtoraveover.”

“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.

“Oh—well—”

MissClarkson

smilte

smiledinapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.

But

sikkert

certainlyFosterseemstoknowallthereistoknowaboutthem.”

Valancydidn’tknow

whethershecaredmuchforbugseither.

ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreaturesandinsectlifethatenthralledher.

Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysteryneverrevealed—somehintofagreat

hemmelighet

secretjustalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechoof

vakre

lovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.

Yes,shewouldgetanewFosterbook.

Itwasa

måned

monthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.

Valancyhadreaditfourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.

And—shealmostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueerpainaroundtheheart.

Ithadcome

ganske

ratheroftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.

Butcouldshegotoseehimwithouttellinganyone?

Itwasamostdaringthought.

Ingen

NoneoftheStirlingseverconsultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.

Then,theywenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedSecond

Fetter

CousinAdelaideStirling.

ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.

And,

dessuten

besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,withoutbeingtakenthere.

Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowaboutherheart.

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

Tante

AuntIsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalwayssaidDosslookedlikeagirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;

andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasa

personlig

personalinsult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;

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

and

Fetter

CousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventohaveaheart;

andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“WhyallthisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”

Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’ttellanybodyunlessshehadto.

Shefeltquitesuretherewasnothingatall

alvorlig

seriouslywrongwithherheartandnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensueifshe

nevnte

mentionedit.

ShewouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trentthatveryday.

Asforhis

regning

bill,shehadthetwo

hundre

hundreddollarsthatherfatherhadputinthe

banken

bankforherthedayshewas

født

born.

Shewasneverallowedtouseeventheinterestofthis,butshewouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.

Dr.

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

Dr.Trentwasoverseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretiresoon.

Ingen

NoneoftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohimsincehehadtold

Kusine

CousinGladys,tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.

Youcouldn’tpatroniseadoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—notto

nevne

mentionthathewasaPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglican

kirken

church.

CHAPTERII

WhenCousinStickles

banket

knockedatherdoor,Valancyknewitwashalf-past

syv

sevenandshemustgetup.

Aslongasshecouldremember,

Fetter

CousinStickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-past

syv

seven.

CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsince

syv

seven,butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.

Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.

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