CHAPTERI
Ifithadnotrainedonacertain
Maio
MaymorningValancyStirling’swholevida
lifewouldhavebeenentirelydiferente
different.Shewouldhavegone,
com
withtherestofherclã
clan,toAuntWellington’sengagementpiquenique
picnicandDr.Trentwouldteria
havegonetoMontreal.Butitdid
choveu
rainandyoushallhearwhataconteceu
happenedtoherbecauseofit.Valancywakened
cedo
early,inthelifeless,hopelesshora
hourjustprecedingdawn.She
tinha
hadnotsleptverywell.Onedoesnot
dorme
sleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonos
themorrow,andunmarried,inacomunidade
communityandconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplesmente
simplythosewhohavefailedtoconseguiram
getaman.DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancyto
desesperada
hopelessoldmaidenhood.ButValancyherselfhad
nunca
neverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,littleesperança
hopethatRomancewouldcomehercaminho
wayyet—never,untilthiswet,horrível
horriblemorning,whenshewakenedtothefato
factthatshewastwenty-ninee
andunsoughtbyanyman.Ay,
aí
therelaythesting.Valancydidnot
importava
mindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.Afterall,she
pensou
thought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasterrível
dreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanTio
UncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,ou
orevenanUncleHerbert.What
magoava
hurtherwasthatshehadnunca
neverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.Nenhum
Nomanhadeverdesiredher.As
Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaylá
therealoneinthefaintlygreyingescuridão
darkness.Shedarednotletherself
chorar
cryashardasshequeria
wantedto,fortworeasons.Shewas
medo
afraidthatcryingmightbringonoutro
anotherattackofthatpainao redor
aroundtheheart.Shehadhad
um
aspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—ratherpior
worsethananyshehadhadainda
yet.Andshewasafraidher
mãe
motherwouldnoticeherredeyesatalmoço
breakfastandkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausa
causethereof.“Suppose,”thoughtValancy
com
withaghastlygrin,“Iansweredcom
withtheplaintruth,‘Iamchorando
cryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’Como
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisvergonha
ashamedeverydayofhervida
lifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”Mas
Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.“Itisnot,”Valancy
podia
couldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorialvoz
voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytopensar
thinkaboutmen.”Thethoughtofhermother’s
expressão
expressionmadeValancylaugh—forshetinha
hadasenseofhumourninguém
nobodyinherclansuspected.For
que
thatmatter,therewereagoodmuitas
manythingsaboutValancythatninguém
nobodysuspected.Butherlaughterwas
muito
verysuperficialandpresentlyshelayali
there,ahuddled,futilelittlefigura
figure,listeningtotherainpouringdownfora
outsideandwatching,withadoente
sickdistaste,thechill,mercilessluz
lightcreepingintoherugly,sórdido
sordidroom.Sheknewtheuglinessofthat
quarto
roombyheart—knewitandodiava
hatedit.Theyellow-paintedfloor,
com
withonehideous,“hooked”rugbyo
thebed,withagrotesque,“hooked”cão
dogonit,alwaysgrinningatherquando
whensheawoke;thefaded,dark-red
papel
paper;theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaks
e
andcrossedbycracks;the
estreito
narrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;thebrown-paperlambrequin
com
withpurplerosesonit;the
manchado
spottedoldlooking-glasswiththerachadura
crackacrossit,proppedupontheinadequada
inadequatedressing-table;thejarof
antigo
ancientpotpourrimadebyhermãe
motherinhermythicalhoneymoon;a
theshell-coveredbox,withonerebentado
burstcorner,whichCousinSticklestinha
hadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;a
thebeadedpincushionwithhalfitsbeadfranja
fringegone;theonestiff,yellow
cadeira
chair;thefadedoldmotto,“Gone
mas
butnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarnssobre
aboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimoldrosto
face;theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfrom
as
theroomsbelow.Therewere
apenas
onlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.One,an
velho
oldchromoofapuppysentado
sittingonarainydoorstep.Aquele
ThatpicturealwaysmadeValancyinfeliz
unhappy.Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthe
porta
doorstepinthedrivingrain!Porque
Whydidn’tsomeoneopentheporta
doorandlethimin?A
Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofRainha
QueenLouisecomingdownaescada
stairway,whichAuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronherdécimo
tenthbirthday.Fornineteenyearsshehad
olhou
lookedatitandhatedele
it,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedQueenLouise.Mas
Butsheneverdareddestroyitou
orremoveit.Motherand
Primo
CousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,ou
or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehadum
afit.Everyroomin
os
thehousewasugly,ofcourse.Mas
Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.Therewas
não
nomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.Valancy
às vezes
sometimesfeltthatshecouldter
havedonesomethingforherquarto
roomherself,evenwithoutmoney,se
ifshewerepermitted.Buther
mãe
motherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestione
andValancydidnotpersist.Valancy
nunca
neverpersisted.Shewasafraidto.
Her
mãe
mothercouldnotbrookopposition.Mrs.Stirling
fosse
wouldsulkfordaysifoffended,com
withtheairsofaninsultedduquesa
duchess.TheonlythingValancy
gostava
likedaboutherroomwasque
thatshecouldbealonelá
thereatnighttocryse
ifshewantedto.But,afterall,whatdiditmatter
se
ifaroom,whichyouusava
usedfornothingexceptsleepinge
anddressingin,wereugly?Valancywas
nunca
neverpermittedtostayaloneinherquarto
roomforanyotherpurpose.Pessoas
Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlinge
andCousinSticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforalgum
somesinisterpurpose.Buther
quarto
roomintheBlueCastlewastudo
everythingaroomshouldbe.Valancy,socowed
e
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreal
reallife,waswonttodeixar
letherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.Ninguém
NobodyintheStirlingclan,ou
oritsramifications,suspectedthis,menos
leastofallhermothere
andCousinStickles.Theynever
souberam
knewthatValancyhadtwohomes—thefeia
uglyredbrickboxofuma
ahome,onElmStreet,e
andtheBlueCastleinSpain.Valancyhad
vivia
livedspirituallyintheBlueCastelo
Castleeversinceshecouldlembrava
remember.Shehadbeena
muito
verytinychildwhensheencontrou
foundherselfpossessedofit.Sempre
Always,whensheshuthereyes,shepodia
couldseeitplainly,withitsturretse
andbannersonthepine-cladmontanha
mountainheight,wrappedinitsfraca
faint,blueloveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofuma
afairandunknownland.Tudo
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastelo
castle.Jewelsthatqueensmight
ter
haveworn;robesofmoonlight
e
andfire;couchesofroses
e
andgold;longflightsof
rasos
shallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,e
andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingupe
anddownthem;courts,marble-pillared,
onde
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalescantavam
sangamongthemyrtles;hallsofmirrors
que
thatreflectedonlyhandsomeknightse
andlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestoftodas
all,forwhoseglancemenmorriam
died.Allthatsupportedherthroughthe
tédio
boredomofherdayswastheesperança
hopeofgoingonasonho
dreamspreeatnight.Most,
se
ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorror
horroriftheyhadknownmetade
halfthethingsValancydidinherAzul
BlueCastle.Foronethingshe
tinha
hadquiteafewloversinit.Oh,
só
onlyoneatatime.Aquele
Onewhowooedherwithtodo
alltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalrye
andwonherafterlongdevoção
devotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,e
andwasweddedtohercom
withpompandcircumstanceinthegrande
great,banner-hungchapeloftheAzul
BlueCastle.Attwelve,this
amante
loverwasafairladcom
withgoldencurlsandheavenlyblueeyes.Atfifteen,hewas
alto
tallanddarkandpale,mas
butstillnecessarilyhandsome.Attwenty,hewasascetic,
sonhador
dreamy,spiritual.Attwenty-five,he
tinha
hadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,e
andafacestrongandrobusto
ruggedratherthanhandsome.Valancy
nunca
nevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinherAzul
BlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—herherói
herohadhadreddish,tawnycabelo
hair,atwistedsmileandum
amysteriouspast.Idon’t
dizer
sayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrewthem.Um
Onesimplyfadedawayasoutro
anothercame.Thingsareveryconvenientin
este
thisrespectinBlueCastles.Mas
But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancycouldnotencontrar
findthekeyofherAzul
BlueCastle.Realitypressedonhertoohardly,
latindo
barkingatherheelslikeum
amaddeninglittledog.Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—the
única
onlyhomelygirlinabelo
handsomeclan,withnopaste
andnofuture.Asfarasshe
podia
couldlookback,lifewasdrabe
andcolourless,withnotonesinglecarmesim
crimsonorpurplespotanywhere.Asfarasshe
podia
couldlookforwarditseemedcerto
certaintobejustthemesmo
sameuntilshewasnothingbutasolitária
solitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.The
momento
momentwhenawomanrealisesque
thatshehasnothingtoviver
livefor—neitherlove,duty,purposenem
norhope—holdsforhertheamargura
bitternessofdeath.“AndIjust
tenho
havetogoonlivingporque
becauseIcan’tstop.I
posso
mayhavetoliveeightyyears,”pensou
thoughtValancy,inakindofpânico
panic.“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmeto
pensar
thinkofit.”Shewas
feliz
gladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwaschovendo
raining.Therewouldbeno
piquenique
picnicthatday.Thisannual
piquenique
picnic,wherebyAuntandUncleWellington—onesempre
alwaysthoughtoftheminque
thatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementatum
apicnicthirtyyearsbefore,tinha
hadbeen,oflateyears,um
averitablenightmaretoValancy.By
uma
animpishcoincidenceitwasthemesmo
samedayasherbirthdaye
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,ninguém
nobodyletherforgetit.Muchasshe
odiasse
hatedgoingtothepicnic,itir
wouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelar
rebelagainstit.Thereseemedtobe
nada
nothingoftherevolutionaryinhernatureza
nature.Andsheknewexactlywhateveryone
iam
wouldsaytoherato
thepicnic.UncleWellington,whomshedisliked
e
anddespisedeventhoughheter
hadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”woulddiria
saytoherinapig’ssussurro
whisper,“Notthinkingofgettingcasar
marriedyet,mydear?”andthen
ir
gooffintothebellowofriso
laughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcluiu
concludedhisdullremarks.AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabject
temor
awe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snovo
newchiffondressandCecil’súltima
lastdevotedletter.Valancywould
teria
havetolookaspleasede
andinterestedasifthevestido
dressandletterhadbeenhersorelseTia
AuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.E
AndValancyhadlongagodecidido
decidedthatshewouldratherofender
offendGodthanAuntWellington,porque
becauseGodmightforgivehermas
butAuntWellingtonneverwould.Tia
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablehábito
habitofalwaysreferringtohermarido
husbandas“he,”asifheweretheúnica
onlymalecreatureinthemundo
world,whocouldneverforgetthatshetinha
hadbeenagreatbeautyinherjuventude
youth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallowpele
skin—.“Idon’tknowwhyall
as
thegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.Quando
WhenIwasagirlmypele
skinwasrosesandcream.Iwascounted
a
theprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”Talvez
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—ortalvez
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”E
Andtheneverybodywouldlaughovero
theexcessivelyhumorousideaofpobre
poor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.Bonito
Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedmas
butrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobeveryesperto
cleverandwasthereforetheclã
clanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprovavelmente
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmo
sarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputação
reputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusycom
withyourhope-chestthesedays?”E
AndUncleBenjaminwouldaskalguns
someofhisabominableconundrums,entre
betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.“Whatisthe
diferença
differencebetweenDossandarato
mouse?“Themousewishesto
prejudicar
harmthecheeseandDossdeseja
wishestocharmthehe’s.”Valancy
tinha
hadheardhimaskthatenigma
riddlefiftytimesandeveryvez
timeshewantedtothrowalgo
somethingathim.Butshe
nunca
neverdid.Inthefirst
lugar
place,theStirlingssimplydidnotatiravam
throwthings;inthesecond
lugar
place,UncleBenjaminwasarico
wealthyandchildlessoldwidowere
andValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthemedo
fearandadmonitionofhisdinheiro
money.Ifsheoffendedhimhewould
cortaria
cutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.Valancydidnot
queria
wanttobecutoutofTio
UncleBenjamin’swill.Shehadbeen
pobre
poorallherlifeandconhecia
knewthegallingbitternessofit.Soshe
suportou
enduredhisriddlesandevensorriu
smiledtorturedlittlesmilesovereles
them.AuntIsabel,downrightanddisagreeableasan
leste
eastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancypodia
couldnotpredictjusthow,forTia
AuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—sheencontrava
foundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoucada
everytime.AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,
mas
butdidn’tlikeitsowellquando
whenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttodela
her.Valancyneversaidwhatshe
achava
thought.CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesof
todos
allrelativesandfriendswhohaddieddesde
sincethelastpicnicandwonder“whichofusir
willbethefirsttoir
gonext.”Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildredwould
falaria
talkendlesslyofherhusbande
andherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,porque
becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshepoderia
couldfindtoputupwithit.Forthe
mesmo
samereason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,accordingtotheestrita
strictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—aalta
tall,thinladywhoadmittedsheter
hadasensitivedisposition,woulddescreveria
describeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.E
AndOlive,thewondergirlofthetodo
wholeStirlingclan,whohadtudo
everythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldmostraria
showoffherbeautyandpresumiria
presumeonherpopularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofamor
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.Therewouldbe
nada
noneofallthistoday.E
Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.Thepackingupwas
sempre
alwaysleftforValancyandPrimo
CousinStickles.Andonce,sixyears
há
ago,asilverteaspoonfromTia
AuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.Valancy
nunca
neverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.Its
fantasma
ghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfesta
feast.Oh,yes,Valancyknew
exatamente
exactlywhatthepicnicwouldbecomo
likeandsheblessedthechuva
rainthathadsavedherfromit.Therewouldbe
não
nopicnicthisyear.If
Tia
AuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesagrado
sacreddayitselfshewouldteria
havenocelebrationatall.Graças
Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.Sincethere
iria
wouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindque
that,iftherainheldupintheafternoon,sheiria
wouldgouptothebiblioteca
libraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.Valancywas
nunca
neverallowedtoreadnovels,mas
butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.Theywere“naturebooks”—sothe
bibliotecário
librariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allsobre
aboutthewoodsandbirdse
andbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”SoValancywasallowedto
lê
readthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidente
evidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoomuch.Itwaspermissible,
até
evenlaudable,toreadtomelhorar
improveyourmindandyourreligião
religion,butabookthatwasagradável
enjoyablewasdangerous.Valancydidnot
sabia
knowwhetherhermindwasbeingimprovedou
ornot;butshefelt
vagamente
vaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearshá
agolifemighthavebeenadiferente
differentthingforher.They
pareciam
seemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofamundo
worldintowhichshemightonceter
haveentered,thoughthedoorwasforeverbarredtoheragora
now.Itwasonlywithinthe
último
lastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodbiblioteca
library,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenum
awell-knownwriterforseveralyears.“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancyhad
perguntou
asked.“Nobodyknows.
Fromhisbookshe
deve
mustbeaCanadian,butnão
nomoreinformationcanbehad.Hispublisherswon’t
dizem
sayaword.QuitelikelyJohn
Foster
Fosterisanomdeplume.Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,
embora
thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpessoas
peoplefindinthemtorave
raveover.”“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”
disse
saidValancy,timidly.“Oh—well—”
MissClarkson
sorriu
smiledinapatronisingfashionque
thatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tdizer
sayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.Mas
ButcertainlyFosterseemstosaber
knowallthereistosaber
knowaboutthem.”Valancydidn’t
sabia
knowwhethershecaredmuchforbugseither.ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncanny
conhecimento
knowledgeofwildcreaturesandinsectvida
lifethatenthralledher.Shecould
mal
hardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisingisca
lureofamysteryneverrevealed—somesugestão
hintofagreatsecretsó
justalittlefurtheron—somefraco
faint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagia
magicwasindefinable.Yes,she
ia
wouldgetanewFosterlivro
book.Itwasamonth
desde
sinceshehadThistleHarvest,socertamente
surelyMothercouldnotobject.Valancy
tinha
hadreaditfourtimes—shesabia
knewwholepassagesoffbyheart.And—she
quase
almostthoughtshewouldgoe
andseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueerdor
painaroundtheheart.It
tinha
hadcomeratheroftenlately,e
andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottofalar
speakofanoccasionaldizzymomento
momentandaqueershortnessofbreath.Mas
Butcouldshegotovê
seehimwithouttellinganyone?Itwas
um
amostdaringthought.Noneof
a
theStirlingseverconsultedamédico
doctorwithoutholdingafamilyconselho
councilandgettingUncleJames’aprovação
approval.Then,theywenttoDr.Ambrose
Marsh
MarshofPortLawrence,whohadcasado
marriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.Mas
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh
Marsh.And,besides,shecouldnot
chegar
gettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesdistância
away,withoutbeingtakenthere.Shedidnotwantanyoneto
soubesse
knowaboutherheart.Therewouldbesuch
um
afussmadeandeverymemberofthefamília
familywouldcomedownandfalavam
talkitoverandadvisehere
andcautionherandwarnhere
andtellherhorribletalesofgreat-auntse
andcousinsfortytimesremovedwhotinham
hadbeen“justlikethat”e
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’saviso
warning,mydear.”AuntIsabelwould
lembrava
rememberthatshehadalwaysdito
saidDosslookedlikearapariga
girlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchede
andpeakedalways”;andUncleWellingtonwould
tomaria
takeitasapersonalinsulto
insult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdoença
diseasebefore”;andGeorgianawouldforebodein
perfeitamente
perfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,querido
dearlittleDossisn’tlongforthismundo
world,I’mafraid”;andCousinGladyswould
dizia
say,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikeque
thatforyears,”inatom
tonethatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventoter
haveaheart;andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylook
linda
beautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglysaudável
healthy,asiftosay,“Whytodo
allthisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDossquando
whenyouhaveme?”Valancy
sentia
feltthatshecouldn’ttellninguém
anybodyunlessshehadto.She
sentiu
feltquitesuretherewasnada
nothingatallseriouslywrongcom
withherheartandnonecessidade
needofallthepotherthatwouldensuese
ifshementionedit.She
ia
wouldjustslipupquietlye
andseeDr.Trentthatverydia
day.Asforhisbill,she
tinha
hadthetwohundreddollarsque
thatherfatherhadputinos
thebankforherthedia
dayshewasborn.Shewas
nunca
neverallowedtouseeventhejuros
interestofthis,butshefoi
wouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtopagar
payDr.Trent.Dr.
Trentwasagruff,outspoken,absent-minded
velho
oldfellow,buthewasarecognisedautoridade
authorityonheartdisease,evenifhewereapenas
onlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.Dr.Trentwasoverseventy
e
andtherehadbeenrumoursque
thathemeanttoretiresoon.Ninguém
NoneoftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohimdesde
sincehehadtoldCousinGladys,dez
tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswastudo
allimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.Youcouldn’tpatronise
um
adoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomencionar
mentionthathewasaPresbyterianquando
whenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglicanigreja
church.CHAPTERII
WhenCousinStickles
bateu
knockedatherdoor,Valancysabia
knewitwashalf-pastsevene
andshemustgetup.Aslongasshecould
lembrava
remember,CousinStickleshadknockedatherporta
doorathalf-pastseven.CousinStickles
e
andMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupdesde
sinceseven,butValancywasallowedtolieabedmeia
halfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytradição
traditionthatshewasdelicate.Valancygotup,
embora
thoughshehatedgettingupmais
morethismorningthanevershehadantes
before.