CHAPTERI
Ifithadnot
regnat
rainedonacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholeliv
lifewouldhavebeenentirelyannorlunda
different.Shewouldhavegone,
med
withtherestofherklan
clan,toAuntWellington’sengagementpicnicoch
andDr.Trentwouldhaveåkt
gonetoMontreal.Butitdid
regnade
rainandyoushallhearwhathände
happenedtoherbecauseofdet
it.Valancywakenedearly,in
den
thelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedinggryningen
dawn.Shehadnotsleptvery
bra
well.Onedoesnotsleep
bra
well,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,och
andunmarried,inacommunityoch
andconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplythosesom
whohavefailedtogetaman.Deerwood
och
andtheStirlingshadlongsedan
sincerelegatedValancytohopelessgammal
oldmaidenhood.ButValancyherself
hade
hadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,littlehopp
hopethatRomancewouldcomeherväg
wayyet—never,untilthiswet,horriblemorning,när
whenshewakenedtothefaktum
factthatshewastwenty-nineoch
andunsoughtbyanyman.Ay,
där
therelaythesting.Valancydidnotmindso
mycket
muchbeinganoldmaid.After
allt
all,shethought,beingangammal
oldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeinggift
marriedtoanUncleWellingtoneller
oranUncleBenjamin,orevenen
anUncleHerbert.Whathurtherwasthatshehad
aldrig
neverhadachancetobenågot
anythingbutanoldmaid.Ingen
Nomanhadeverdesiredhenne
her.Thetearscameintohereyesasshe
låg
laytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingmörkret
darkness.Shedarednotletherself
gråta
cryashardassheville
wantedto,fortworeasons.Shewas
rädd
afraidthatcryingmightbringonanotherattack
attackofthatpainaroundden
theheart.Shehadhad
en
aspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rathervärre
worsethananyshehadhadyet.Och
Andshewasafraidhermor
motherwouldnoticeherredeyesatbreakfastoch
andkeepatherwithminut
minute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.“Suppose,”
tänkte
thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“Isvarade
answeredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iamgråter
cryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’Hur
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisskäms
ashamedeverydayofherliv
lifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”Men
Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.“Itisnot,”Valancy
kunde
couldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorialröst
voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytotänka
thinkaboutmen.”Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshe
hade
hadasenseofhumouringen
nobodyinherclansuspected.For
som
thatmatter,therewereagoodmånga
manythingsaboutValancythatingen
nobodysuspected.Butherlaughterwas
mycket
verysuperficialandpresentlyshelåg
laythere,ahuddled,futileliten
littlefigure,listeningtotheregnet
rainpouringdownoutsideandtittar
watching,withasickdistaste,den
thechill,mercilesslightcreepingintoherfula
ugly,sordidroom.Sheknewtheuglinessofthat
rummet
roombyheart—knewitandhatade
hatedit.Theyellow-paintedfloor,
med
withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythesängen
bed,withagrotesque,“hooked”hund
dogonit,alwaysgrinningathernär
whensheawoke;thefaded,dark-redpaper;
the
taket
ceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaksoch
andcrossedbycracks;the
smala
narrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;thebrown-paperlambrequin
med
withpurplerosesonit;thespotted
gamla
oldlooking-glasswiththecracköver
acrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;thejarofancientpotpourri
gjorde
madebyhermotherinhermythicalsmekmånad
honeymoon;theshell-coveredbox,with
ett
oneburstcorner,whichCousinStickleshade
hadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;thebeadedpincushion
med
withhalfitsbeadfringegone;den
theonestiff,yellowchair;det
thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”arbetade
workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimgamla
oldface;theoldphotographsofancientrelatives
länge
longbanishedfromtheroomsnedanför
below.Therewereonlytwopictures
som
thatwerenotofrelatives.One,an
gammal
oldchromoofapuppysitter
sittingonarainydoorstep.Thatpicture
alltid
alwaysmadeValancyunhappy.Thatforlorn
lilla
littledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedrivingregnet
rain!Whydidn’tsomeone
öppnade
openthedoorandlethimin?Den
Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofDrottning
QueenLouisecomingdownatrappa
stairway,whichAuntWellingtonhadlavishlygett
givenheronhertenthfödelsedag
birthday.Fornineteenyearsshe
hade
hadlookedatitandhatat
hatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedDrottning
QueenLouise.Butshenever
vågade
dareddestroyitorremoveden
it.MotherandCousinStickleswould
ha
havebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyuttryckte
expresseditinherthoughts,wouldha
havehadafit.Every
rum
roominthehousewasfula
ugly,ofcourse.Butdownstairsappearanceswerekept
upp
upsomewhat.Therewasno
pengar
moneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.Valancy
ibland
sometimesfeltthatshecouldha
havedonesomethingforherrum
roomherself,evenwithoutmoney,om
ifshewerepermitted.Buther
mor
motherhadnegativedeverytimidförslag
suggestionandValancydidnotpersist.Valancy
aldrig
neverpersisted.Shewasafraidto.
Her
mor
mothercouldnotbrookopposition.Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordays
om
ifoffended,withtheairsofen
aninsultedduchess.TheonlythingValancy
gillade
likedaboutherroomwasthatshekunde
couldbealonethereatnatten
nighttocryifsheville
wantedto.But,afterall,whatdidit
roll
matterifaroom,whichyouusedfornågot
nothingexceptsleepinganddressingi
in,wereugly?Valancywas
aldrig
neverpermittedtostayaloneinherrum
roomforanyotherpurpose.Människor
Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingoch
andCousinSticklesbelieved,couldbara
onlywanttobealoneforsomesinistersyfte
purpose.Butherroomin
det
theBlueCastlewaseverythingett
aroomshouldbe.Valancy,socowed
och
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinverkliga
reallife,waswonttolåta
letherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.Ingen
NobodyintheStirlingclan,eller
oritsramifications,suspectedthis,minst
leastofallhermotheroch
andCousinStickles.Theynever
visste
knewthatValancyhadtwohomes—thefula
uglyredbrickboxofahem
home,onElmStreet,andtheBlå
BlueCastleinSpain.Valancy
hade
hadlivedspirituallyintheBlå
BlueCastleeversinceshekunde
couldremember.Shehadbeen
ett
averytinychildwhenshefann
foundherselfpossessedofit.Alltid
Always,whensheshuthereyes,shekunde
couldseeitplainly,withitsturretsoch
andbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitssvaga
faint,blueloveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofett
afairandunknownland.Allt
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatslottet
castle.Jewelsthatqueensmight
ha
haveworn;robesofmoonlight
och
andfire;couchesofroses
och
andgold;longflightsof
grunda
shallowmarblesteps,withgreat,vita
whiteurns,andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgår
goingupanddownthem;courts,marble-pillared,
där
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessjöng
sangamongthemyrtles;hallsofmirrors
som
thatreflectedonlyhandsomeknightsoch
andlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofalla
all,forwhoseglancemendog
died.Allthatsupportedher
genom
throughtheboredomofherdayswasthehoppet
hopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnatten
night.Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswould
ha
havediedofhorroriftheyhadvetat
knownhalfthethingsValancygjorde
didinherBlueCastle.Foronethingshe
hade
hadquiteafewloversinit.Oh,
bara
onlyoneatatime.En
Onewhowooedherwithalltheromantiska
romanticardouroftheageofchivalryoch
andwonherafterlonghängivenhet
devotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,och
andwasweddedtohermed
withpompandcircumstanceinthestora
great,banner-hungchapeloftheBlå
BlueCastle.Attwelve,this
älskare
loverwasafairladmed
withgoldencurlsandheavenlyblå
blueeyes.Atfifteen,hewas
lång
tallanddarkandpale,men
butstillnecessarilyhandsome.Attwenty,hewasascetic,
drömmande
dreamy,spiritual.Attwenty-five,he
hade
hadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,och
andafacestrongandrobust
ruggedratherthanhandsome.Valancy
aldrig
nevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinherBlå
BlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—herhjälte
herohadhadreddish,tawnyhår
hair,atwistedsmileandett
amysteriouspast.Idon’t
säger
sayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrewdem
them.Onesimplyfadedawayasanother
kom
came.Thingsareveryconvenientin
detta
thisrespectinBlueCastles.Men
But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancykunde
couldnotfindthekeyofherBlå
BlueCastle.Realitypressedonher
för
toohardly,barkingatherheelssom
likeamaddeninglittledog.Shewastwenty-nine,
ensam
lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinen
ahandsomeclan,withnopastoch
andnofuture.Asfarasshe
kunde
couldlookback,lifewasdraboch
andcolourless,withnotoneenda
singlecrimsonorpurplespotnågonstans
anywhere.Asfarasshe
kunde
couldlookforwarditseemedcertaintobeprecis
justthesameuntilshewasingenting
nothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredlöv
leafclingingtoawintrybough.Det
Themomentwhenawomaninser
realisesthatshehasnothingtoleva
livefor—neitherlove,duty,purposeeller
norhope—holdsforherthebitterhet
bitternessofdeath.“AndI
bara
justhavetogoonleva
livingbecauseIcan’tstop.I
kanske
mayhavetoliveeightyyears,”tänkte
thoughtValancy,inakindofpanik
panic.“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmeto
tänka
thinkofit.”Shewas
glad
gladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilynöjd
satisfiedthatitwasraining.Det
Therewouldbenopicnicthatdagen
day.Thisannualpicnic,whereby
Moster
AuntandUncleWellington—onealwaystänkte
thoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablyfirade
celebratedtheirengagementatapicknick
picnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,en
averitablenightmaretoValancy.By
en
animpishcoincidenceitwasthesamma
samedayasherbirthdayoch
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,ingen
nobodyletherforgetit.Mycket
Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwouldaldrig
neverhaveoccurredtohertorebelmot
againstit.Thereseemedtobe
något
nothingoftherevolutionaryinhernatur
nature.Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewould
säga
saytoheratthepicnic.Farbror
UncleWellington,whomshedislikedoch
anddespisedeventhoughhehade
hadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”wouldsäga
saytoherinapig’sviskning
whisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarriedän
yet,mydear?”andthen
gå
gooffintothebellowofskratt
laughterwithwhichheinvariablyavslutade
concludedhisdullremarks.AuntWellington,ofwhomValancy
stod
stoodinabjectawe,wouldberätta
tellheraboutOlive’snewchiffondressoch
andCecil’slastdevotedletter.Valancywould
hade
havetolookaspleasedoch
andinterestedasifthedressoch
andletterhadbeenhersorelseMoster
AuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.Och
AndValancyhadlongagobestämt
decidedthatshewouldratherförolämpa
offendGodthanAuntWellington,eftersom
becauseGodmightforgivehermen
butAuntWellingtonneverwould.Moster
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablevana
habitofalwaysreferringtoherman
husbandas“he,”asifhewereden
theonlymalecreatureinden
theworld,whocouldneverglömma
forgetthatshehadbeenastor
greatbeautyinheryouth,wouldcondolemed
withValancyonhersallowhud
skin—.“Idon’tknowwhy
alla
allthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.När
WhenIwasagirlmyhud
skinwasrosesandcream.Iwascounted
den
theprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”Kanske
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orkanske
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howtjock
fatyou’regetting,Doss!”Andthen
alla
everybodywouldlaughovertheexcessivelyhumorousidén
ideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfet
fat.Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancy
ogillade
dislikedbutrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobemycket
verycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnoneför
tooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldförmodligen
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarkasm
sarcasmthathadwonhimhisrykte
reputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusymed
withyourhope-chestthesedays?”Och
AndUncleBenjaminwouldasknågra
someofhisabominableconundrums,mellan
betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.“Whatisthe
skillnaden
differencebetweenDossandamus
mouse?“Themousewishesto
skada
harmthecheeseandDossvill
wishestocharmthehe’s.”Valancy
hade
hadheardhimaskthatgåtan
riddlefiftytimesandeverygång
timeshewantedtothrownågot
somethingathim.Butshe
aldrig
neverdid.Inthefirstplace,
det
theStirlingssimplydidnotkastade
throwthings;inthesecondplace,
Farbror
UncleBenjaminwasawealthyoch
andchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhade
hadbeenbroughtupindet
thefearandadmonitionofhispengar
money.Ifsheoffendedhimhewould
skära
cutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereindet
it.Valancydidnotwanttobecutoutof
Farbror
UncleBenjamin’swill.Shehadbeenpoorallher
liv
lifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.Soshe
uthärdade
enduredhisriddlesandevenlog
smiledtorturedlittlesmilesoverdem
them.AuntIsabel,downrightanddisagreeableasaneastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancy
kunde
couldnotpredictjusthow,forFaster
AuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shehittade
foundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyouvarje
everytime.AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshe
tyckte
thought,butdidn’tlikeitsobra
wellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheytyckte
thoughttoher.Valancynever
sa
saidwhatshethought.CousinGeorgiana—named
efter
afterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedefter
afterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslyden
thenamesofallrelativesoch
andfriendswhohaddiedsedan
sincethelastpicnicandundra
wonder“whichofuswillbeden
thefirsttogonext.”Oppressively
kompetent
competent,AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandoch
andherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,eftersom
becauseValancywouldbetheenda
onlyoneshecouldfindtoputupmed
withit.Forthesame
anledning
reason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,enligt
accordingtothestrictwayinwhichdet
theStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thindam
ladywhoadmittedshehaden
asensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelydet
thetorturesofherneuritis.Och
AndOlive,thewondergirlofthehela
wholeStirlingclan,whohadallt
everythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldvisa
showoffherbeautyandpresumeonherpopularitet
popularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofkärlek
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.Det
Therewouldbenoneofallhär
thistoday.Andtherewouldbe
inte
nopackingupofteaspoons.The
packa
packingupwasalwaysleftforValancyoch
andCousinStickles.Andonce,
sex
sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfromMoster
AuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenförlorad
lost.Valancyneverheardthe
sista
lastofthatsilverteaspoon.Its
spöke
ghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.Oh,
ja
yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeoch
andsheblessedtherainthathade
hadsavedherfromit.Det
Therewouldbenopicnicthisår
year.IfAuntWellingtoncouldnot
fira
celebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldha
havenocelebrationatall.Tack
Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.Eftersom
Sincetherewouldbenopicknick
picnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,om
iftherainheldupintheafternoon,shewouldgå
gouptothelibraryoch
andgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.Valancywas
aldrig
neverallowedtoreadnovels,men
butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.Theywere“naturebooks”—sothe
bibliotekarie
librariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allom
aboutthewoodsandbirdsoch
andbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”SoValancywasallowedto
läsa
readthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytoouppenbart
evidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoomycket
much.Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,to
läsa
readtoimproveyourmindoch
andyourreligion,butabok
bookthatwasenjoyablewasfarlig
dangerous.Valancydidnotknow
om
whetherhermindwasbeingförbättrades
improvedornot;butshe
kände
feltvaguelythatifshehade
hadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearssedan
agolifemighthavebeenaannorlunda
differentthingforher.They
verkade
seemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofen
aworldintowhichshekanske
mightoncehaveentered,thoughthedörren
doorwasforeverbarredtohernu
now.Itwasonlywithinthe
senaste
lastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshade
hadbeenintheDeerwoodbibliotek
library,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehade
hadbeenawell-knownwriterforflera
severalyears.“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancy
hade
hadasked.“Nobodyknows.
Fromhisbookshe
måste
mustbeaCanadian,butingen
nomoreinformationcanbemåste
had.Hispublisherswon’tsay
ett
aword.QuitelikelyJohnFosteris
en
anomdeplume.Hisbooksareso
populära
popularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIverkligen
reallycan’tseewhatpeoplehittar
findinthemtoraveover.”“I
tycker
thinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.“Oh—well—”
Miss
MissClarksonsmiledinapatronisingsätt
fashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsäga
sayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.Men
ButcertainlyFosterseemstoveta
knowallthereistoveta
knowaboutthem.”Valancydidn’t
visste
knowwhethershecaredmuchforbugsheller
either.ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncanny
kunskap
knowledgeofwildcreaturesandinsectlifesom
thatenthralledher.Shecould
knappt
hardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysterium
mysteryneverrevealed—somehintofastor
greatsecretjustalittlelängre
furtheron—somefaint,elusiveechoofvackra
lovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.Ja
Yes,shewouldgetany
newFosterbook.Itwas
en
amonthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosäkert
surelyMothercouldnotobject.Valancy
hade
hadreaditfourtimes—shekände
knewwholepassagesoffbyheart.And—she
nästan
almostthoughtshewouldgooch
andseeDr.Trentaboutatt
thatqueerpainaroundthehjärtat
heart.Ithadcomerather
ofta
oftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebli
becomingannoying,nottospeakofantillfällig
occasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.But
kunde
couldshegotoseehimwithoutberätta
tellinganyone?Itwas
en
amostdaringthought.NoneoftheStirlingsever
rådfrågade
consultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilj
familycouncilandgettingUncleJames’godkännande
approval.Then,theywenttoDr.Ambrose
Marsh
MarshofPortLawrence,whohade
hadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.Men
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh
Marsh.And,besides,shecouldnotgetto
Port
PortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,utan
withoutbeingtakenthere.Shedidnot
ville
wantanyonetoknowaboutherhjärta
heart.Therewouldbesucha
uppståndelse
fussmadeandeverymemberofthefamilykomma
wouldcomedownandtalkitoveroch
andadviseherandcautionheroch
andwarnherandtellherfruktansvärda
horribletalesofgreat-auntsandcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohade
hadbeen“justlikethat”och
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”Faster
AuntIsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalltid
alwayssaidDosslookedlikeen
agirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedoch
andpeakedalways”;andUncleWellingtonwould
ta
takeitasapersonalförolämpning
insult,when“noStirlingeverhade
hadheartdiseasebefore”;andGeorgianawouldforebodein
helt
perfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,kära
dearlittleDossisn’tlongfordenna
thisworld,I’mafraid”;and
Kusin
CousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhjärta
hearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inaton
tonethatimpliednooneelsehadnågon
anybusinesseventohaveahjärta
heart;andOlive—Olivewouldmerely
se
lookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyfrisk
healthy,asiftosay,“Whyallhär
thisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDossnär
whenyouhaveme?”Valancy
kände
feltthatshecouldn’ttellnågon
anybodyunlessshehadto.She
kände
feltquitesuretherewasnågot
nothingatallseriouslywrongmed
withherheartandnobehov
needofallthepotherthatwouldensueom
ifshementionedit.Shewould
bara
justslipupquietlyandse
seeDr.Trentthatverydag
day.Asforhisbill,she
hade
hadthetwohundreddollarsthatherfar
fatherhadputinthebanken
bankforherthedayshewasborn.Shewas
aldrig
neverallowedtouseevendet
theinterestofthis,butshewouldsecretlytog
takeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.Dr.
Trentwas
en
agruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,men
buthewasarecognisedauktoritet
authorityonheartdisease,evenifhewerebara
onlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.Dr.Trentwas
över
overseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttopension
retiresoon.NoneoftheStirling
klan
clanhadevergonetohimsedan
sincehehadtoldCousinGladys,tio
tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryoch
andthatsheenjoyedit.Youcouldn’tpatronise
en
adoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewasen
aPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingsgick
wenttotheAnglicanchurch.Kapitel
CHAPTERIIWhenCousinStickles
knackade
knockedatherdoor,Valancyvisste
knewitwashalf-pastsevenoch
andshemustgetup.As
länge
longasshecouldremember,Kusin
CousinStickleshadknockedatherdörr
doorathalf-pastseven.CousinStickles
och
andMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsedan
sinceseven,butValancywasallowedtoligga
lieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewaskänslig
delicate.Valancygotup,thoughshe
hatade
hatedgettingupmorethismorse
morningthanevershehadbefore.