The Blue Castle Gradually Hardening Norwegian B2

CHAPTERI

IfithadnotrainedonacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.

Shewouldhavegone,withtherestofher

klan

clan,toAuntWellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.

Butitdidrainandyoushallhearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.

Valancywakenedearly,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.

Shehadnotsleptverywell.

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

DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancyto

håpløs

hopelessoldmaidenhood.

ButValancyherselfhadneverquiterelinquishedacertain

ynkelig

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

Ay,therelaythesting.

Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.

Afterall,shethought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeas

forferdelig

dreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanUncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,orevenanUncleHerbert.

Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.

Nomanhadeverdesiredher.

Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.

Shedarednotletherselfcryashardasshewantedto,fortworeasons.

Shewasafraidthatcryingmightbringonanotherattackofthatpainaroundtheheart.

Shehadhadaspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—ratherworsethananyshehadhadyet.

Andshewasafraidhermotherwouldnoticeherredeyesatbreakfastandkeepatherwithminute,

vedvarende

persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.

“Suppose,”thoughtValancywithaghastly

smil

grin,“Iansweredwiththeplaintruth,‘IamcryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamedeverydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”

Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.

“Itisnot,”Valancycouldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorialvoiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”

Thethoughtofhermother’s

uttrykk

expressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehadasenseofhumournobodyinher

klan

clansuspected.

Forthatmatter,therewereagoodmanythingsaboutValancythatnobodysuspected.

Butherlaughterwasvery

overfladisk

superficialandpresentlyshelaythere,ahuddled,futilelittlefigure,listeningtotherain

helle

pouringdownoutsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,mercilesslightcreepingintoherugly,sordidroom.

Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewitandhatedit.

Theyellow-paintedfloor,withone

stygg

hideous,“hooked”rugbythebed,withagrotesque,“hooked”dogonit,alwaysgrinningatherwhensheawoke;

thefaded,dark-redpaper;

the

taket

ceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaksandcrossedbycracks;

the

smale

narrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;

thebrown-paperlambrequinwith

lilla

purplerosesonit;

thespottedoldlooking-glasswiththecrackacrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;

thejarofancientpotpourrimadebyhermotherinhermythical

bryllupsreise

honeymoon;

theshell-coveredbox,withoneburstcorner,whichCousinStickleshadmadeinher

equallymythicalgirlhood;

thebeadedpincushionwithhalfits

perle

beadfringegone;

theonestiff,yellowchair;

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

theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslong

forvist

banishedfromtheroomsbelow.

Therewereonlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.

One,anoldchromoofa

valp

puppysittingonarainydoorstep.

ThatpicturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.

Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedrivingrain!

Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoorandlethimin?

Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofQueenLouisecomingdowna

trapp

stairway,whichAuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronher

tiende

tenthbirthday.

Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatitandhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedQueenLouise.

Butsheneverdareddestroyitorremoveit.

MotherandCousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehadafit.

Everyroominthehousewasugly,ofcourse.

Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.

Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.

Valancysometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedonesomethingforherroomherself,evenwithoutmoney,ifshewere

tillatt

permitted.

Buthermotherhadnegativedevery

sjenert

timidsuggestionandValancydidnot

vedvarte

persist.

Valancyneverpersisted.

Shewasafraidto.

Hermothercouldnotbrook

motstand

opposition.

Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordaysif

fornærmet

offended,withtheairsofan

fornærmet

insultedduchess.

TheonlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnighttocryifshewantedto.

But,afterall,whatdiditmatterifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexceptsleepinganddressingin,wereugly?

Valancywasnever

tillatt

permittedtostayaloneinherroomforanyotherpurpose.

Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingandCousinSticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsome

uhyggelig

sinisterpurpose.

ButherroomintheBlueCastlewaseverythingaroomshouldbe.

Valancy,socowedandsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreallife,waswonttoletherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.

NobodyintheStirlingclan,oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallhermotherandCousinStickles.

TheyneverknewthatValancyhadtwohomes—theuglyredbrickboxofahome,onElmStreet,andtheBlueCastleinSpain.

ValancyhadlivedspirituallyintheBlueCastleeversinceshecouldremember.

Shehadbeenaverytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.

Always,whensheshuthereyes,shecouldseeitplainly,withitsturretsandbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinits

svake

faint,blueloveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofafairandunknownland.

Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.

Jewelsthatqueensmighthaveworn;

robesof

måneskinn

moonlightandfire;

couchesofrosesandgold;

longflightsof

grunt

shallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,andwith

slanke

slender,mist-cladmaidensgoingupanddownthem;

courts,marble-pillared,whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessangamongthemyrtles;

hallsofmirrorsthat

reflekterte

reflectedonlyhandsomeknightsandlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofall,forwhose

blikk

glancemendied.

Allthatsupportedherthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthehopeofgoingonadream

spree

spreeatnight.

Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorroriftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancydidinherBlueCastle.

Foronethingshehadquiteafewloversinit.

Oh,onlyoneatatime.

Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalryandwonherafterlong

hengivenhet

devotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,andwasweddedtoherwithpompand

omstendighet

circumstanceinthegreat,banner-hung

kapell

chapeloftheBlueCastle.

Attwelve,thisloverwasafair

gutt

ladwithgoldencurlsand

himmelske

heavenlyblueeyes.

Atfifteen,hewastallanddarkand

blek

pale,butstillnecessarilyhandsome.

Attwenty,hewasascetic,

drømmende

dreamy,spiritual.

Attwenty-five,hehadaclean-cut

kjeven

jaw,slightlygrim,andafacestrongand

robust

ruggedratherthanhandsome.

Valancynevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinherBlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—herherohadhadreddish,tawnyhair,a

vridd

twistedsmileandamysteriouspast.

Idon’tsayValancy

vilje

deliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrewthem.

Onesimplyfadedawayasanothercame.

Thingsarevery

praktisk

convenientinthisrespectinBlueCastles.

But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,ValancycouldnotfindthekeyofherBlueCastle.

Realitypressedonhertoohardly,barkingatherheelslikeamaddeninglittledog.

Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinahandsome

klan

clan,withnopastandnofuture.

Asfarasshecouldlookback,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotonesingle

crimson

crimsonorpurplespotanywhere.

Asfarasshecouldlookforwarditseemedcertaintobejustthesameuntilshewasnothingbuta

ensom

solitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.

Themomentwhenawoman

innser

realisesthatshehasnothingtolivefor—neitherlove,duty,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessofdeath.

“AndIjusthavetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’tstop.

Imayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.

“We’reall

forferdelig

horriblylong-lived.

Itsickensmetothinkofit.”

Shewasgladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwasraining.

Therewouldbeno

piknik

picnicthatday.

Thisannual

piknik

picnic,wherebyAuntandUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheir

forlovelse

engagementatapicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,averitablenightmaretoValancy.

Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthesamedayasherbirthdayand,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,nobodyletherforgetit.

Muchasshehatedgoingtothe

piknik

picnic,itwouldneverhave

oppstått

occurredtohertorebelagainstit.

Thereseemedtobenothingoftherevolutionaryinhernature.

Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewouldsaytoheratthe

piknik

picnic.

UncleWellington,whomshe

mislikte

dislikedanddespisedeventhoughhehadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”wouldsaytoherinapig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarriedyet,mydear?”

andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.

AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabject

ærefrykt

awe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snewchiffondressandCecil’slastdevotedletter.

ValancywouldhavetolookaspleasedandinterestedasifthedressandletterhadbeenhersorelseAuntWellingtonwouldbe

fornærmet

offended.

AndValancyhadlongagodecidedthatshewouldrather

fornærme

offendGodthanAuntWellington,becauseGodmightforgiveherbutAuntWellingtonneverwould.

AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiable

vane

habitofalwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifheweretheonlymalecreatureintheworld,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeenagreatbeautyinheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallowskin—.

“Idon’tknowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.

WhenIwasagirlmyskinwasrosesandcream.

IwascountedtheprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”

PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orperhapshewould

bemerke

remarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”

Andtheneverybodywouldlaughovertheexcessivelyhumorousideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.

Handsome,

høytidelig

solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedbutrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobeverycleverandwasthereforethe

klanen

clanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprobably

bemerke

remarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”

AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhis

avskyelige

abominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.

“WhatisthedifferencebetweenDossandamouse?

“ThemousewishestoharmthecheeseandDosswishesto

sjarmere

charmthehe’s.”

Valancyhadheardhimaskthat

gåten

riddlefiftytimesandeverytimeshewantedtothrowsomethingathim.

Butsheneverdid.

Inthefirstplace,theStirlingssimplydidnotthrowthings;

inthesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasa

velstående

wealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthefearandadmonitionofhismoney.

Ifshe

fornærmet

offendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.

ValancydidnotwanttobecutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.

Shehadbeenpoorallherlifeandknewthegalling

bitterhet

bitternessofit.

Soshe

utholdt

enduredhisriddlesandevensmiledtorturedlittlesmilesoverthem.

AuntIsabel,downrightanddisagreeableasaneastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancycouldnot

forutsi

predictjusthow,forAuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shefoundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoueverytime.

AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.

Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.

CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesofallrelativesandfriendswhohaddiedsincethelastpicnicandwonder“whichofuswillbethefirsttogonext.”

Oppressively

kompetent

competent,AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.

Forthesamereason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,accordingtothe

strenge

strictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thinladywhoadmittedshehadasensitive

disposisjon

disposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.

AndOlive,thewondergirlofthewholeStirlingclan,whohadeverythingValancyhadnot—beauty,

popularitet

popularity,love,—wouldshowoffherbeautyandpresumeonher

popularitet

popularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofloveinValancy’sdazzled,

misunnelige

enviouseyes.

Therewouldbenoneofallthistoday.

Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.

ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancyandCousinStickles.

Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfromAuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.

Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.

ItsghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamily

fest

feast.

Oh,yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeandsheblessedtherainthathadsavedherfromit.

Therewouldbeno

piknik

picnicthisyear.

IfAuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthe

hellige

sacreddayitselfshewouldhaveno

feiring

celebrationatall.

Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.

Sincetherewouldbeno

piknik

picnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,iftherainheldupintheafternoon,shewouldgouptothelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.

Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.

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

SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—under

protest

protest,foritwasonlytoo

tydelig

evidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoomuch.

Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,toreadto

forbedre

improveyourmindandyourreligion,butabookthatwas

hyggelig

enjoyablewasdangerous.

Valancydidnotknowwhetherhermindwasbeing

forbedret

improvedornot;

butshefelt

vagt

vaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearsagolifemighthavebeenadifferentthingforher.

Theyseemedtoherto

yieldglimpsesofaworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,thoughthedoorwasforeverbarredtohernow.

ItwasonlywithinthelastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenawell-knownwriterforseveralyears.

“Wheredoeshelive?”

Valancyhadasked.

“Nobodyknows.

FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,butnomoreinformationcanbehad.

Hispublisherswon’tsayaword.

QuitelikelyJohn

Foster

Fosterisanomdeplume.

Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeoplefindinthemto

rave

raveover.”

“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.

“Oh—well—”

MissClarksonsmiledinapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.

Butcertainly

Foster

Fosterseemstoknowallthereistoknowaboutthem.”

Valancydidn’tknowwhethershecaredmuchforbugseither.

ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreaturesandinsectlifethatenthralledher.

Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysteryneverrevealed—some

hint

hintofagreatsecretjustalittlefurtheron—some

svak

faint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.

Yes,shewouldgetanew

Foster

Fosterbook.

ItwasamonthsinceshehadThistle

Harvest

Harvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.

Valancyhadreaditfourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.

And—shealmostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueerpainaroundtheheart.

Ithadcomeratheroftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebecoming

irriterende

annoying,nottospeakofan

sporadisk

occasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.

Butcouldshegotoseehimwithouttellinganyone?

Itwasamostdaringthought.

NoneoftheStirlingsever

konsultert

consultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.

Then,theywenttoDr.Ambrose

Marsh

MarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.

ButValancydislikedDr.Ambrose

Marsh

Marsh.

And,besides,shecouldnotgetto

Port

PortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,withoutbeingtakenthere.

Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowaboutherheart.

Therewouldbesucha

oppstyr

fussmadeandeverymemberofthefamilywouldcomedownandtalkitoverand

råd

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

AuntIsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalwayssaidDosslookedlikeagirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;

andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasapersonal

fornærmelse

insult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;

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

andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethat

antydet

impliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventohaveaheart;

andOlive—Olivewould

bare

merelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“Whyallthis

oppstyr

fussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”

Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’ttellanybodyunlessshehadto.

Shefeltquitesuretherewasnothingatallseriouslywrongwithherheartandnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensueifshementionedit.

ShewouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trentthatveryday.

Asforhisbill,shehadthetwohundreddollarsthatherfatherhadputinthebankforherthedayshewasborn.

Shewasneverallowedtouseeventheinterestofthis,butshewould

hemmelighet

secretlytakeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.

Dr.

Trentwasagruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,buthewasa

anerkjent

recognisedauthorityonheartdisease,evenifhewereonlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.

Dr.Trentwasoverseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeantto

pensjonere

retiresoon.

NoneoftheStirling

klanen

clanhadevergonetohimsincehehadtoldCousinGladys,tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.

Youcouldn’tpatroniseadoctorwho

fornærmet

insultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewasaPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglicanchurch.

Kapittel

CHAPTERII

WhenCousinSticklesknockedatherdoor,Valancyknewitwashalf-pastsevenandshemustgetup.

Aslongasshecouldremember,CousinStickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-pastseven.

CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsinceseven,butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamily

tradisjon

traditionthatshewasdelicate.

Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.

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