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The Blue Castle | Progressive Translation Books for Swedish A1 Learners

The Blue Castle | Progressive Translation Books for Swedish 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
Ifithadnotrainedon
en
acertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swhole
liv
lifewouldhavebeenentirely
annorlunda
different.
Shewouldhavegone,
med
withtherestofherclan,toAuntWellington’sengagementpicnic
och
andDr.Trentwouldhave
åkt
gonetoMontreal.
Butitdidrain
och
andyoushallhearwhat
hände
happenedtoherbecauseof
det
it.
Valancywakenedearly,in
den
thelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.
She
hade
hadnotsleptverywell.
Onedoesnot
sover
sleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,
och
andunmarried,inacommunity
och
andconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplythose
som
whohavefailedtogetaman.
Deerwood
och
andtheStirlingshadlong
sedan
sincerelegatedValancytohopeless
gammal
oldmaidenhood.
ButValancyherself
hade
hadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,little
hopp
hopethatRomancewouldcomeher
väg
wayyet—never,untilthiswet,horriblemorning,
när
whenshewakenedtothe
faktum
factthatshewastwenty-nine
och
andunsoughtbyanyman.
Ay,
där
therelaythesting.
Valancydidnotmindso
mycket
muchbeinganoldmaid.
After
allt
all,shethought,beingan
gammal
oldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeing
gift
marriedtoanUncleWellington
eller
oranUncleBenjamin,oreven
en
anUncleHerbert.
Whathurtherwasthatshehad
aldrig
neverhadachancetobe
något
anythingbutanoldmaid.
Ingen
Nomanhadeverdesired
henne
her.
Thetearscameintohereyesasshe
låg
laytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.
Shedarednot
låta
letherselfcryashardasshe
ville
wantedto,fortworeasons.
Shewas
rädd
afraidthatcryingmightbringonanotherattackof
att
thatpainaroundtheheart.
Shehadhad
en
aspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—ratherworsethan
någon
anyshehadhadyet.
Och
Andshewasafraidher
mor
motherwouldnoticeherredeyesatbreakfast
och
andkeepatherwith
minut
minute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.
“Suppose,”
tänkte
thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“I
svarade
answeredwiththeplaintruth,‘IamcryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’
Hur
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamed
varje
everydayofherlifeofher
gamla
oldmaiddaughter.”
Butofcourseappearances
bör
shouldbekeptup.
“Itisnot,”Valancy
kunde
couldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorialvoiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlyto
tänka
thinkaboutmen.”
Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshe
hade
hadasenseofhumour
ingen
nobodyinherclansuspected.
For
som
thatmatter,therewereagood
många
manythingsaboutValancythat
ingen
nobodysuspected.
Butherlaughterwas
mycket
verysuperficialandpresentlyshe
låg
laythere,ahuddled,futile
liten
littlefigure,listeningtotherainpouring
ner
downoutsideandwatching,with
en
asickdistaste,thechill,merciless
ljus
lightcreepingintoherugly,sordid
rum
room.
Sheknewtheuglinessofthat
rummet
roombyheart—knewitand
hatade
hatedit.
Theyellow-paintedfloor,
med
withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythe
sängen
bed,withagrotesque,“hooked”
hund
dogonit,alwaysgrinningather
när
whensheawoke;
thefaded,dark-redpaper;
theceilingdiscolouredby
gamla
oldleaksandcrossedbycracks;
den
thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;
thebrown-paperlambrequin
med
withpurplerosesonit;
thespotted
gamla
oldlooking-glasswiththecrackacrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;
thejarofancientpotpourri
gjorde
madebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;
den
theshell-coveredbox,withoneburstcorner,
som
whichCousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;
thebeadedpincushion
med
withhalfitsbeadfringegone;
den
theonestiff,yellowchair;
det
thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”
arbetade
workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrim
gamla
oldface;
theoldphotographsofancientrelatives
länge
longbanishedfromtheroomsbelow.
Det
Therewereonlytwopictures
som
thatwerenotofrelatives.
One,an
gammal
oldchromoofapuppy
sitter
sittingonarainydoorstep.
Thatpicture
alltid
alwaysmadeValancyunhappy.
Thatforlorn
lilla
littledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedrivingrain!
Varför
Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthe
dörren
doorandlethimin?
Den
Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofQueenLouise
kommer
comingdownastairway,whichAuntWellington
hade
hadlavishlygivenheronhertenthbirthday.
Fornineteenyearsshe
hade
hadlookedatitand
hatat
hatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedQueenLouise.
Men
Butsheneverdareddestroyit
eller
orremoveit.
MotherandCousinStickleswould
ha
havebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,would
ha
havehadafit.
Every
rum
roominthehousewasugly,ofcourse.
Men
Butdownstairsappearanceswerekept
upp
upsomewhat.
Therewasno
pengar
moneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.
Valancy
ibland
sometimesfeltthatshecould
ha
havedonesomethingforher
rum
roomherself,evenwithoutmoney,
om
ifshewerepermitted.
Buther
mor
motherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestion
och
andValancydidnotpersist.
Valancy
aldrig
neverpersisted.
Shewasafraidto.
Her
mor
mothercouldnotbrookopposition.
Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordays
om
ifoffended,withtheairsof
en
aninsultedduchess.
TheonlythingValancy
gillade
likedaboutherroomwasthatshe
kunde
couldbealonethereat
natten
nighttocryifshe
ville
wantedto.
But,afterall,whatdidit
roll
matterifaroom,whichyouusedfor
något
nothingexceptsleepinganddressing
i
in,wereugly?
Valancywas
aldrig
neverpermittedtostayaloneinher
rum
roomforanyotherpurpose.
Människor
Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirling
och
andCousinSticklesbelieved,could
bara
onlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.
Men
ButherroomintheBlueCastlewas
allt
everythingaroomshouldbe.
Valancy,socowed
och
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedin
verkliga
reallife,waswontto
låta
letherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.
Ingen
NobodyintheStirlingclan,
eller
oritsramifications,suspectedthis,
minst
leastofallhermother
och
andCousinStickles.
Theynever
visste
knewthatValancyhadtwohomes—theugly
röda
redbrickboxofa
hem
home,onElmStreet,andtheBlueCastleinSpain.
Valancy
hade
hadlivedspirituallyintheBlueCastleeversinceshe
kunde
couldremember.
Shehadbeen
ett
averytinychildwhenshe
fann
foundherselfpossessedofit.
Alltid
Always,whensheshuthereyes,she
kunde
couldseeitplainly,withitsturrets
och
andbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,blueloveliness,
mot
againstthesunsetskiesof
ett
afairandunknownland.
Allt
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.
Jewels
som
thatqueensmighthaveworn;
robesofmoonlight
och
andfire;
couchesofroses
och
andgold;
longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,
med
withgreat,whiteurns,and
med
withslender,mist-cladmaidensgoing
upp
upanddownthem;
courts,marble-pillared,
där
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingales
sjöng
sangamongthemyrtles;
hallsofmirrors
som
thatreflectedonlyhandsomeknights
och
andlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestof
alla
all,forwhoseglancemen
dog
died.
Allthatsupportedher
genom
throughtheboredomofherdayswasthe
hoppet
hopeofgoingonadreamspreeat
natten
night.
Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswould
ha
havediedofhorroriftheyhad
vetat
knownhalfthethingsValancy
gjorde
didinherBlueCastle.
Foronethingshe
hade
hadquiteafewloversinit.
Oh,
bara
onlyoneatatime.
En
Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalry
och
andwonherafterlongdevotion
och
andmanydeedsofderring-do,
och
andwasweddedtoher
med
withpompandcircumstanceinthe
stora
great,banner-hungchapeloftheBlueCastle.
Attwelve,
denna
thisloverwasafairlad
med
withgoldencurlsandheavenlyblueeyes.
Atfifteen,hewastall
och
anddarkandpale,but
fortfarande
stillnecessarilyhandsome.
Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.
Attwenty-five,he
hade
hadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,
och
andafacestrongandruggedrather
än
thanhandsome.
Valancynevergrewolder
än
thantwenty-fiveinherBlueCastle,
men
butrecently—veryrecently—herherohadhadreddish,tawny
hår
hair,atwistedsmileand
ett
amysteriouspast.
Idon’t
säger
sayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrew
dem
them.
Onesimplyfadedawayasanother
kom
came.
Thingsareveryconvenientin
detta
thisrespectinBlueCastles.
Men
But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancy
kunde
couldnotfindthekeyofherBlueCastle.
Realitypressedonher
för
toohardly,barkingatherheels
som
likeamaddeninglittledog.
Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—the
enda
onlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,with
ingen
nopastandnofuture.
As
långt
farasshecouldlook
tillbaka
back,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnot
en
onesinglecrimsonorpurplespotanywhere.
As
långt
farasshecouldlookforwarditseemedcertaintobe
precis
justthesameuntilshewas
ingenting
nothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.
Det
Themomentwhenawomanrealisesthatshe
har
hasnothingtolivefor—neither
kärlek
love,duty,purposenorhope—holdsforher
det
thebitternessofdeath.
“AndI
bara
justhavetogoon
leva
livingbecauseIcan’tstop.
I
kanske
mayhavetoliveeightyyears,”
tänkte
thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.
“We’re
alla
allhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmeto
tänka
thinkofit.”
Shewasgladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfied
att
thatitwasraining.
Therewouldbe
inte
nopicnicthatday.
Thisannualpicnic,wherebyAunt
och
andUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementat
en
apicnicthirtyyearsbefore,
hade
hadbeen,oflateyears,
en
averitablenightmaretoValancy.
By
en
animpishcoincidenceitwasthe
samma
samedayasherbirthday
och
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,
ingen
nobodyletherforgetit.
Mycket
Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwould
aldrig
neverhaveoccurredtohertorebel
mot
againstit.
Thereseemedtobe
något
nothingoftherevolutionaryinhernature.
Och
Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewould
säga
saytoheratthepicnic.
Farbror
UncleWellington,whomshedisliked
och
anddespisedeventhoughhe
hade
hadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”would
säga
saytoherinapig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarried
än
yet,mydear?”
andthen
gå
gooffintothebellowoflaughter
med
withwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.
AuntWellington,ofwhomValancy
stod
stoodinabjectawe,would
berätta
tellheraboutOlive’snewchiffondress
och
andCecil’slastdevotedletter.
Valancywould
hade
havetolookaspleased
och
andinterestedasifthedress
och
andletterhadbeenhersorelseAuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.
Och
AndValancyhadlongagodecided
att
thatshewouldratheroffend
Gud
GodthanAuntWellington,because
Gud
GodmightforgiveherbutAuntWellington
aldrig
neverwould.
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,
med
withanamiablehabitof
alltid
alwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifhewere
den
theonlymalecreaturein
den
theworld,whocouldnever
glömma
forgetthatshehadbeena
stor
greatbeautyinheryouth,wouldcondole
med
withValancyonhersallowskin—.
“Idon’t
vet
knowwhyallthegirlsof
idag
todayaresosunburned.
WhenIwasa
flicka
girlmyskinwasroses
och
andcream.
Iwascounted
den
theprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”
Kanske
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—or
kanske
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”
Och
Andtheneverybodywouldlaughover
den
theexcessivelyhumorousideaof
stackars
poor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.
Handsome,solemn
Farbror
UncleJames,whomValancydisliked
men
butrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobe
mycket
verycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnone
för
tooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—would
förmodligen
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthat
hade
hadwonhimhisreputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusy
med
withyourhope-chestthesedays?”
Och
AndUncleBenjaminwouldask
några
someofhisabominableconundrums,
mellan
betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.
“Whatisthedifference
mellan
betweenDossandamouse?
“Themouse
vill
wishestoharmthecheese
och
andDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”
Valancy
hade
hadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimes
och
andeverytimeshewantedtothrow
något
somethingathim.
Butshe
aldrig
neverdid.
Inthefirstplace,
det
theStirlingssimplydidnotthrowthings;
in
det
thesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwas
en
awealthyandchildlessoldwidower
och
andValancyhadbeenbroughtupin
det
thefearandadmonitionofhis
pengar
money.
Ifsheoffendedhimhewould
skära
cutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewerein
det
it.
Valancydidnotwanttobecutoutof
Farbror
UncleBenjamin’swill.
Shehadbeenpoorallher
liv
lifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.
Sosheenduredhisriddles
och
andevensmiledtorturedlittlesmiles
över
overthem.
AuntIsabel,downright
och
anddisagreeableasaneastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancy
kunde
couldnotpredictjusthow,forAuntIsabel
aldrig
neverrepeatedacriticism—shefound
något
somethingnewwithwhichtojabyou
varje
everytime.
AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshe
tyckte
thought,butdidn’tlikeitso
bra
wellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhatthey
tyckte
thoughttoher.
Valancynever
sa
saidwhatshethought.
CousinGeorgiana—named
efter
afterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamed
efter
afterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorously
den
thenamesofallrelatives
och
andfriendswhohaddied
sedan
sincethelastpicnicandwonder“whichofus
kommer
willbethefirstto
gå
gonext.”
Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildredwould
tala
talkendlesslyofherhusband
och
andherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,
eftersom
becauseValancywouldbethe
enda
onlyoneshecouldfindtoputup
med
withit.
Forthesame
anledning
reason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,accordingto
det
thestrictwayinwhich
det
theStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thin
dam
ladywhoadmittedshehad
en
asensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutely
det
thetorturesofherneuritis.
Och
AndOlive,thewondergirlofthe
hela
wholeStirlingclan,whohad
allt
everythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—would
visa
showoffherbeautyandpresumeonherpopularity
och
andflauntherdiamondinsigniaof
kärlek
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.
Det
Therewouldbenoneofall
här
thistoday.
Andtherewouldbe
inte
nopackingupofteaspoons.
Thepackingupwas
alltid
alwaysleftforValancyandCousinStickles.
Och
Andonce,sixyearsago,
en
asilverteaspoonfromAuntWellington’sweddingset
hade
hadbeenlost.
Valancynever
hörde
heardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.
ItsghostappearedBanquo-likeat
varje
everysubsequentfamilyfeast.
Oh,
ja
yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelike
och
andsheblessedtherainthat
hade
hadsavedherfromit.
Det
Therewouldbenopicnicthis
år
year.
IfAuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateon
den
thesacreddayitselfshewould
ha
havenocelebrationatall.
Tack
Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.
Eftersom
Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymade
upp
uphermindthat,iftherain
höll
heldupintheafternoon,shewould
gå
gouptothelibrary
och
andgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.
Valancywas
aldrig
neverallowedtoreadnovels,
men
butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.
Theywere“naturebooks”—sothelibrarian
berättade
toldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allaboutthewoods
och
andbirdsandbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”
SoValancywasallowedto
läsa
readthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoo
mycket
much.
Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,to
läsa
readtoimproveyourmind
och
andyourreligion,buta
bok
bookthatwasenjoyablewasdangerous.
Valancydidnot
visste
knowwhetherhermindwasbeingimproved
eller
ornot;
butshefeltvaguely
att
thatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyears
sedan
agolifemighthavebeena
annorlunda
differentthingforher.
Theyseemedtohertoyieldglimpsesof
en
aworldintowhichshe
kanske
mightoncehaveentered,thoughthe
dörren
doorwasforeverbarredtoher
nu
now.
Itwasonlywithinthe
senaste
lastyearthatJohnFoster’sbooks
hade
hadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrarian
berättade
toldValancythathehadbeen
en
awell-knownwriterforseveralyears.
“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancy
hade
hadasked.
“Nobodyknows.
Fromhisbookshe
måste
mustbeaCanadian,but
ingen
nomoreinformationcanbe
måste
had.
Hispublisherswon’tsay
ett
aword.
QuitelikelyJohnFosteris
en
anomdeplume.
Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’t
behålla
keeptheminatall,thoughI
verkligen
reallycan’tseewhatpeople
hittar
findinthemtoraveover.”
“I
tycker
thinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.
“Oh—well—”
Miss
MissClarksonsmiledinapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’t
säga
sayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.
Men
ButcertainlyFosterseemsto
veta
knowallthereisto
veta
knowaboutthem.”
Valancydidn’t
visste
knowwhethershecaredmuchforbugs
heller
either.
ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreatures
och
andinsectlifethatenthralled
henne
her.
Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamystery
aldrig
neverrevealed—somehintofa
stor
greatsecretjustalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.
Ja
Yes,shewouldgeta
ny
newFosterbook.
Itwas
en
amonthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurely
Mamma
Mothercouldnotobject.
Valancy
hade
hadreaditfourtimes—she
kände
knewwholepassagesoffbyheart.
And—she
nästan
almostthoughtshewouldgo
och
andseeDr.Trentabout
att
thatqueerpainaroundthe
hjärtat
heart.
Ithadcomeratheroftenlately,
och
andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,notto
tala
speakofanoccasionaldizzy
ögonblick
momentandaqueershortnessofbreath.
But
kunde
couldshegotoseehimwithout
berätta
tellinganyone?
Itwas
en
amostdaringthought.
NoneoftheStirlingseverconsulteda
läkare
doctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncil
och
andgettingUncleJames’approval.
Then,they
gick
wenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,
som
whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.
Men
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.
And,besides,she
kunde
couldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmiles
bort
away,withoutbeingtakenthere.
Shedidnot
ville
wantanyonetoknowabouther
hjärta
heart.
Therewouldbesuchafussmade
och
andeverymemberofthefamily
komma
wouldcomedownandtalkitover
och
andadviseherandcautionher
och
andwarnherandtellherhorribletalesofgreat-aunts
och
andcousinsfortytimesremovedwho
hade
hadbeen“justlikethat”
och
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”
AuntIsabel
komma
wouldrememberthatshehad
alltid
alwayssaidDosslookedlike
en
agirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinched
och
andpeakedalways”;
andUncleWellingtonwould
ta
takeitasapersonalinsult,
när
when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;
och
andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasides
att
that“poor,dearlittleDossisn’t
lång
longforthisworld,I’mafraid”;
och
andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,my
hjärta
hearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimplied
ingen
nooneelsehadanybusiness
ens
eventohaveaheart;
och
andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylook
vacker
beautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,as
om
iftosay,“Whyall
här
thisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDoss
när
whenyouhaveme?”
Valancy
kände
feltthatshecouldn’ttell
någon
anybodyunlessshehadto.
She
kände
feltquitesuretherewas
något
nothingatallseriouslywrong
med
withherheartandno
behov
needofallthepotherthatwouldensue
om
ifshementionedit.
Shewould
bara
justslipupquietlyand
se
seeDr.Trentthatvery
dag
day.
Asforhisbill,she
hade
hadthetwohundreddollarsthather
far
fatherhadputinthebankforherthe
dag
dayshewasborn.
Shewas
aldrig
neverallowedtouseeven
det
theinterestofthis,butshewouldsecretly
tog
takeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.
Dr.
Trentwas
en
agruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,
men
buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,
även
evenifhewereonly
en
ageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.
Dr.Trentwas
över
overseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretire
snart
soon.
NoneoftheStirlingclan
hade
hadevergonetohim
sedan
sincehehadtoldCousinGladys,
tio
tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginary
och
andthatsheenjoyedit.
Youcouldn’tpatronise
en
adoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewas
en
aPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlings
gick
wenttotheAnglicanchurch.
CHAPTERII
När
WhenCousinSticklesknockedather
dörr
door,Valancyknewitwashalf-pastseven
och
andshemustgetup.
As
länge
longasshecouldremember,CousinStickles
hade
hadknockedatherdoorathalf-pastseven.
CousinStickles
och
andMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenup
sedan
sinceseven,butValancywasallowedto
ligga
lieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.
Valancygot
upp
up,thoughshehatedgetting
upp
upmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.