The Blue Castle Progressively Translated Portuguese A2 Books

CHAPTERI

IfithadnotrainedonacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.

Shewouldhavegone,withtherestofherclan,to

Tia

AuntWellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.

Butitdid

choveu

rainandyoushallhearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.

Valancywakened

cedo

early,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.

Shehadnotsleptverywell.

Onedoesnotsleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,andunmarried,inacommunityandconnectionwheretheunmarriedare

simplesmente

simplythosewhohavefailedtogetaman.

DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.

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

Ay,therelaythesting.

Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.

Afterall,shethought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanUncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,orevenanUncleHerbert.

Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.

Nomanhadeverdesiredher.

Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.

Shedarednotletherself

chorar

cryashardasshewantedto,fortworeasons.

Shewasafraidthat

choro

cryingmightbringonanother

ataque

attackofthatpainaroundtheheart.

Shehadhadaspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rather

pior

worsethananyshehadhadyet.

Andshewasafraidhermotherwould

notasse

noticeherredeyesat

almoço

breakfastandkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.

“Suppose,”thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“Iansweredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iam

chorando

cryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamedeverydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”

Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.

“Itisnot,”Valancycouldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorial

voz

voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”

Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehada

senso

senseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.

Forthatmatter,therewereagoodmanythingsaboutValancythatnobodysuspected.

Butherlaughterwasverysuperficialandpresentlyshelaythere,ahuddled,futilelittle

figura

figure,listeningtotherainpouringdownoutsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,mercilesslightcreepingintoher

feio

ugly,sordidroom.

Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewitandhatedit.

Theyellow-painted

chão

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

thefaded,dark-red

papel

paper;

theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaksand

atravessado

crossedbycracks;

thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;

thebrown-paperlambrequinwithpurplerosesonit;

the

manchado

spottedoldlooking-glasswiththecrack

através

acrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;

thejarofancientpotpourrimadebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;

theshell-covered

caixa

box,withoneburstcorner,whichCousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;

thebeadedpincushionwithhalfitsbeadfringegone;

theonestiff,yellowchair;

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

theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfromtheroomsbelow.

Therewereonlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.

One,anoldchromoofapuppysittingonarainydoorstep.

That

quadro

picturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.

Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedriving

chuva

rain!

Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoorandlethimin?

Theother

foto

picturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingof

Rainha

QueenLouisecomingdownastairway,which

Tia

AuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenth

aniversário

birthday.

Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatitandhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfied

Rainha

QueenLouise.

Butsheneverdareddestroyitorremoveit.

Motherand

Primo

CousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehadafit.

Everyroominthehousewasugly,ofcourse.

Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.

Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.

Valancysometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedonesomethingforherroomherself,evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.

ButhermotherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.

Valancyneverpersisted.

Shewasafraidto.

Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.

Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordaysifoffended,withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.

TheonlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnightto

chorar

cryifshewantedto.

But,afterall,whatdiditmatterifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexceptsleepingand

vestir

dressingin,wereugly?

Valancywasneverpermittedtostayaloneinherroomforanyotherpurpose.

Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingand

Primo

CousinSticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.

Butherroominthe

Azul

BlueCastlewaseverythingaroomshouldbe.

Valancy,socowedandsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreallife,waswonttoletherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.

NobodyintheStirlingclan,oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallhermotherand

Primo

CousinStickles.

TheyneverknewthatValancyhadtwohomes—the

feia

uglyredbrickboxofahome,onElmStreet,andthe

Azul

BlueCastleinSpain.

Valancyhadlivedspirituallyinthe

Azul

BlueCastleeversinceshecouldremember.

Shehadbeenaverytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.

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

terra

land.

Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.

Jewelsthatqueensmighthave

usado

worn;

robesofmoonlightandfire;

couchesofrosesand

ouro

gold;

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

courts,marble-pillared,whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessangamongthemyrtles;

hallsofmirrorsthatreflectedonlyhandsomeknightsand

adorável

lovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofall,for

cujo

whoseglancemendied.

Allthatsupportedherthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthehopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnight.

Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorroriftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancydidinher

Azul

BlueCastle.

Foronethingshehadquiteafewloversinit.

Oh,onlyoneatatime.

Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalryandwonherafterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,andwasweddedtoherwithpompandcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapelofthe

Azul

BlueCastle.

Attwelve,thisloverwasafairladwithgoldencurlsandheavenlyblueeyes.

Atfifteen,hewastalland

escuro

darkandpale,butstillnecessarilyhandsome.

Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.

Attwenty-five,hehadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,andaface

forte

strongandruggedratherthanhandsome.

Valancynevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinher

Azul

BlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—her

herói

herohadhadreddish,tawnyhair,atwisted

sorriso

smileandamysteriouspast.

Idon’tsayValancydeliberately

assassinou

murderedtheseloversassheoutgrewthem.

One

simplesmente

simplyfadedawayasanothercame.

Thingsareveryconvenientinthis

respeito

respectinBlueCastles.

But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancycouldnotfindthe

chave

keyofherBlueCastle.

Reality

pressionava

pressedonhertoohardly,barkingatherheelslikeamaddeninglittledog.

Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withnopastandno

futuro

future.

Asfarasshecouldlookback,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotonesinglecrimsonorpurple

mancha

spotanywhere.

Asfarasshecouldlook

frente

forwarditseemedcertaintobejustthesameuntilshewasnothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.

Themomentwhenawomanrealisesthatshehasnothingtolivefor—neitherlove,

dever

duty,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessofdeath.

“AndIjusthavetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’tstop.

Imayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.

“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.

Itsickensmetothinkofit.”

Shewas

feliz

gladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwas

chovendo

raining.

Therewouldbenopicnicthatday.

Thisannualpicnic,whereby

Tia

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

Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthesamedayasher

aniversário

birthdayand,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,nobodyletherforgetit.

Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.

There

parecia

seemedtobenothingoftherevolutionaryinher

natureza

nature.

Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewouldsaytoheratthepicnic.

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

andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.

Tia

AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snewchiffon

vestido

dressandCecil’slastdevoted

carta

letter.

Valancywouldhavetolookaspleasedandinterestedasifthe

vestido

dressandletterhadbeenhersorelse

Tia

AuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.

AndValancyhadlongago

decidido

decidedthatshewouldratheroffendGodthan

Tia

AuntWellington,becauseGodmightforgiveherbut

Tia

AuntWellingtonneverwould.

AuntAlberta,enormously

gorda

fat,withanamiablehabitofalwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifheweretheonlymalecreatureintheworld,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeenagreat

beleza

beautyinheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallow

pele

skin—.

“Idon’tknowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.

WhenIwasagirlmy

pele

skinwasrosesandcream.

IwascountedtheprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”

PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orperhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”

Andtheneverybodywould

riam

laughovertheexcessivelyhumorousideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.

Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedbut

respeitava

respectedbecausehewasreputedtobeverycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprobablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“Isupposeyou’re

ocupado

busywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”

AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhisabominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.

“Whatisthe

diferença

differencebetweenDossandamouse?

“ThemousewishestoharmthecheeseandDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”

Valancyhadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimesandeverytimeshewantedto

atirar

throwsomethingathim.

Butsheneverdid.

Inthefirstplace,theStirlings

simplesmente

simplydidnotthrowthings;

inthesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasawealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthe

medo

fearandadmonitionofhismoney.

Ifsheoffendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.

ValancydidnotwanttobecutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.

Shehadbeenpoorallherlifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.

Sosheenduredhisriddlesandeven

sorriu

smiledtorturedlittlesmilesoverthem.

Tia

AuntIsabel,downrightanddisagreeableasan

leste

eastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,for

Tia

AuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shefoundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoueverytime.

Tia

AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.

Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.

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

Oppressivelycompetent,

Tia

AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.

Forthesamereason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,accordingtothestrictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thinladywhoadmittedshehadasensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.

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

beleza

beautyandpresumeonherpopularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofloveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.

Therewouldbe

nada

noneofallthistoday.

Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.

ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancyand

Primo

CousinStickles.

Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfrom

Tia

AuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.

Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.

Its

fantasma

ghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.

Oh,yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeandsheblessedthe

chuva

rainthathadsavedherfromit.

Therewouldbenopicnicthisyear.

Tia

AuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldhavenocelebrationatall.

Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.

Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,ifthe

chuva

rainheldupintheafternoon,shewouldgouptothelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.

Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.

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

SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoomuch.

Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,toreadtoimproveyourmindandyourreligion,butabookthatwasenjoyablewas

perigoso

dangerous.

Valancydidnotknow

whetherhermindwasbeingimprovedornot;

butshefeltvaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearsagolifemighthavebeenadifferentthingforher.

They

pareciam

seemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofaworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,thoughthedoorwasforeverbarredtohernow.

ItwasonlywithinthelastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenawell-knownwriterfor

vários

severalyears.

“Wheredoeshelive?”

Valancyhadasked.

“Nobodyknows.

FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,butnomore

informações

informationcanbehad.

Hispublisherswon’tsayaword.

QuitelikelyJohnFosterisanomdeplume.

Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeoplefindinthemtoraveover.”

“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.

“Oh—well—”

MissClarkson

sorriu

smiledinapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.

But

certamente

certainlyFosterseemstoknowallthereistoknowaboutthem.”

Valancydidn’tknow

whethershecaredmuchforbugseither.

ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreaturesandinsectlifethatenthralledher.

Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysteryneverrevealed—somehintofagreat

segredo

secretjustalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’s

magia

magicwasindefinable.

Yes,shewouldgetanewFosterbook.

Itwasa

mês

monthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.

Valancyhadreaditfourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.

And—shealmostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueer

dor

painaroundtheheart.

Ithadcome

bastante

ratheroftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.

Butcouldshegotoseehimwithouttellinganyone?

Itwasamost

ousado

daringthought.

NoneoftheStirlingseverconsultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.

Then,theywenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.

ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.

And,

além

besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,withoutbeingtakenthere.

Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowaboutherheart.

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

Tia

AuntIsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalwayssaidDosslookedlikeagirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;

andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasa

pessoal

personalinsult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;

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

andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventohaveaheart;

andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“WhyallthisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”

Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’ttellanybody

a menos que

unlessshehadto.

Shefeltquitesuretherewasnothingatall

sério

seriouslywrongwithherheartandnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensueifshe

mencionou

mentionedit.

ShewouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trentthatveryday.

Asforhis

conta

bill,shehadthetwohundreddollarsthatherfatherhadputinthe

banco

bankforherthedayshewas

nasceu

born.

Shewasneverallowedtouseeventhe

juros

interestofthis,butshewouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.

Dr.

Trentwasagruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,evenifhewereonlya

geral

generalpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.

Dr.Trentwasoverseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretiresoon.

Ninguém

NoneoftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohimsincehehadtoldCousinGladys,tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.

Youcouldn’tpatroniseadoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—notto

mencionar

mentionthathewasaPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglican

igreja

church.

CHAPTERII

WhenCousinStickles

bateu

knockedatherdoor,Valancyknewitwashalf-past

sete

sevenandshemustgetup.

Aslongasshecouldremember,

Primo

CousinStickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-past

sete

seven.

CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsince

sete

seven,butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.

Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.

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