The Blue Castle | Gradually Hardening Swedish A2 Books

The Blue Castle | Gradually Hardening Swedish A2 Books

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CHAPTERI
Ifithadnot
regnat
rained
onacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.
Shewouldhavegone,withtherestofherclan,to
Moster
Aunt
Wellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.
Butitdid
regnade
rain
andyoushallhearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.
Valancywakened
tidigt
early
,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.
Shehadnotsleptverywell.
Onedoesnotsleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,andunmarried,inacommunityandconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplythosewhohavefailedtogetaman.
DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.
ButValancyherselfhadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,littlehopethatRomancewouldcomeherwayyet—never,untilthiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedtothefactthatshewastwenty-nineandunsoughtbyanyman.
Ay,therelaythesting.
Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.
Afterall,shethought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanUncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,orevenanUncleHerbert.
Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.
Nomanhadeverdesiredher.
Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.
She
vågade
dared
notletherselfcryashardasshewantedto,fortworeasons.
Shewasafraidthatcryingmightbringonanother
attack
attack
ofthatpainaroundtheheart.
Shehadhadaspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rather
värre
worse
thananyshehadhadyet.
Andshewasafraidhermotherwould
märka
notice
herredeyesatbreakfastandkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.
“Suppose,”thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“Iansweredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iam
gråter
crying
becauseIcannotgetmarried.’HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamedeverydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”
Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.
“Itisnot,”Valancycouldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorial
röst
voice
asserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”
Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehadasenseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.
Forthatmatter,therewereagoodmanythingsaboutValancythatnobodysuspected.
Butherlaughterwasverysuperficialandpresentlyshelaythere,ahuddled,futilelittle
figur
figure
,listeningtotherainpouringdownoutsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,mercilesslightcreepingintoher
fula
ugly
,sordidroom.
Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewitandhatedit.
Theyellow-painted
golvet
floor
,withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythebed,withagrotesque,“hooked”dogonit,alwaysgrinningatherwhensheawoke;
thefaded,dark-redpaper;
theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaksandcrossedbycracks;
thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;
thebrown-paperlambrequinwithpurplerosesonit;
thespottedoldlooking-glasswiththecrack
över
across
it,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;
thejarofancientpotpourrimadebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;
theshell-coveredbox,withoneburstcorner,which
Kusin
Cousin
Stickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;
thebeadedpincushionwithhalfitsbeadfringegone;
theonestiff,yellowchair;
thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimoldface;
theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfromtheroomsbelow.
Therewereonlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.
One,anoldchromoofapuppysittingonarainydoorstep.
ThatpicturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.
Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedriving
regnet
rain
!
Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoorandlethimin?
Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingof
Drottning
Queen
Louisecomingdownastairway,which
Moster
Aunt
Wellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenth
födelsedag
birthday
.
Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatitandhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfied
Drottning
Queen
Louise.
Butshenever
vågade
dared
destroyitorremoveit.
Motherand
Kusin
Cousin
Stickleswouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehada
anfall
fit
.
Everyroominthehousewas
fula
ugly
,ofcourse.
Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.
Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.
Valancysometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedonesomethingforherroomherself,evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.
ButhermotherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.
Valancyneverpersisted.
Shewasafraidto.
Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.
Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordaysifoffended,withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.
TheonlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnightto
gråta
cry
ifshewantedto.
But,afterall,whatdiditmatterifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexceptsleepingand
klä
dressing
in,wereugly?
Valancywasneverpermittedtostayaloneinherroomforanyotherpurpose.
Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingand
Kusin
Cousin
Sticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.
Butherroominthe
Blå
Blue
Castlewaseverythingaroomshouldbe.
Valancy,socowedandsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreallife,waswonttoletherselfgo
ganska
rather
splendidlyinherday-dreams.
NobodyintheStirlingclan,oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallhermotherand
Kusin
Cousin
Stickles.
TheyneverknewthatValancyhadtwohomes—the
fula
ugly
redbrickboxofahome,onElmStreet,andthe
Blå
Blue
CastleinSpain.
Valancyhadlivedspirituallyinthe
Blå
Blue
Castleeversinceshecouldremember.
Shehadbeenaverytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.
Always,whensheshuthereyes,shecouldseeitplainly,withitsturretsandbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,
blå
blue
loveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofafairandunknown
land
land
.
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.
Jewelsthatqueensmighthave
burit
worn
;
robesofmoonlightandfire;
couchesofrosesand
guld
gold
;
longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingupanddownthem;
courts,marble-pillared,whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessangamongthemyrtles;
hallsofmirrorsthatreflectedonlyhandsomeknightsandlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofall,for
vars
whose
glancemendied.
Allthat
stödde
supported
herthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthehopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnight.
Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorroriftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancydidinher
Blå
Blue
Castle.
Foronethingshehadquiteafewloversinit.
Oh,onlyoneatatime.
Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalryandwonherafterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,andwasweddedtoherwithpompandcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapelofthe
Blå
Blue
Castle.
Attwelve,thisloverwasafairladwithgoldencurlsandheavenly
blå
blue
eyes.
Atfifteen,hewastalland
mörk
dark
andpale,butstillnecessarilyhandsome.
Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.
Attwenty-five,hehadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,andaface
starkt
strong
andruggedratherthanhandsome.
Valancynevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinher
Blå
Blue
Castle,butrecently—veryrecently—her
hjälte
hero
hadhadreddish,tawnyhair,atwisted
leende
smile
andamysteriouspast.
Idon’tsayValancydeliberately
mördade
murdered
theseloversassheoutgrewthem.
Onesimplyfadedawayasanothercame.
Thingsareveryconvenientinthis
avseende
respect
inBlueCastles.
But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancycouldnotfindthekeyofher
Blå
Blue
Castle.
Realitypressedonhertoohardly,barkingatherheelslikeamaddeninglittledog.
Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withnopastandno
framtid
future
.
Asfarasshecouldlookback,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotone
enda
single
crimsonorpurplespot
någonstans
anywhere
.
Asfarasshecouldlook
framåt
forward
itseemedcertaintobejustthesameuntilshewasnothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.
Themomentwhenawomanrealisesthatshehasnothingtolivefor—neitherlove,
plikt
duty
,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessofdeath.
“AndIjusthavetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’tstop.
Imayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.
“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmetothinkofit.”
Shewas
glad
glad
itwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwas
regnade
raining
.
Therewouldbenopicnicthatday.
Thisannualpicnic,whereby
Moster
Aunt
andUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementatapicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,averitablenightmaretoValancy.
Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthesamedayasher
födelsedag
birthday
and,aftershehad
passerat
passed
twenty-five,nobodyletherforgetit.
Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.
There
verkade
seemed
tobenothingoftherevolutionaryinher
natur
nature
.
Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewouldsaytoheratthepicnic.
UncleWellington,whomshedislikedanddespisedeventhoughhehadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”wouldsaytoherinapig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarriedyet,mydear?”
andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.
Faster
Aunt
Wellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snewchiffondressandCecil’slastdevoted
brev
letter
.
Valancywouldhavetolookaspleasedand
intresserad
interested
asifthedressand
brevet
letter
hadbeenhersorelse
Moster
Aunt
Wellingtonwouldbeoffended.
AndValancyhadlongago
bestämt
decided
thatshewouldratheroffendGodthan
Moster
Aunt
Wellington,becauseGodmight
förlåta
forgive
herbutAuntWellingtonneverwould.
Moster
Aunt
Alberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablehabitofalwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifheweretheonlymalecreatureintheworld,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeenagreat
skönhet
beauty
inheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallow
hud
skin—
.
“Idon’tknowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.
WhenIwasagirlmy
hud
skin
wasrosesandcream.
IwascountedtheprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orperhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“How
tjock
fat
you’regetting,Doss!”
Andtheneverybodywould
skrattade
laugh
overtheexcessivelyhumorousideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgetting
fet
fat
.
Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedbut
respekterade
respected
becausehewasreputedtobeverycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprobablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“I
antar
suppose
you’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”
AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhisabominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.
“Whatisthe
skillnaden
difference
betweenDossandamouse?
“ThemousewishestoharmthecheeseandDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”
Valancyhadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimesandeverytimeshewantedto
kasta
throw
somethingathim.
Butsheneverdid.
Inthefirstplace,theStirlingssimplydidnot
kastade
throw
things;
inthesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasawealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthe
rädsla
fear
andadmonitionofhismoney.
Ifsheoffendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.
ValancydidnotwanttobecutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.
Shehadbeenpoorallherlifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.
Sosheenduredhisriddlesandeven
log
smiled
torturedlittlesmilesoverthem.
Faster
Aunt
Isabel,downrightanddisagreeableasaneastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,for
Faster
Aunt
Isabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shefoundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoueverytime.
Faster
Aunt
Isabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.
Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.
Kusin
Cousin
Georgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesofallrelativesandfriendswhohaddiedsincethelastpicnicand
undra
wonder
“whichofuswillbethefirsttogonext.”
Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.
Forthesamereason,
Kusin
Cousin
Gladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,
enligt
according
tothestrictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thinladywhoadmittedshehadasensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.
AndOlive,thewondergirlofthewholeStirlingclan,whohadeverythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldshowoffher
skönhet
beauty
andpresumeonherpopularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofloveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.
Therewouldbenoneofallthistoday.
Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.
ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancyand
Kusin
Cousin
Stickles.
Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfrom
Moster
Aunt
Wellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.
Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.
Its
spöke
ghost
appearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.
Oh,yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeandsheblessedthe
regnet
rain
thathadsavedherfromit.
Therewouldbenopicnicthisyear.
If
Moster
Aunt
Wellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldhavenocelebrationatall.
Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.
Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,ifthe
regnet
rain
heldupintheafternoon,shewouldgouptothelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.
Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.
Theywere“naturebooks”—sothelibrariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allaboutthewoodsandbirdsandbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”
SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoomuch.
Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,toreadtoimproveyourmindandyourreligion,butabookthatwasenjoyablewas
farlig
dangerous
.
Valancydidnotknow
om
whether
hermindwasbeingimprovedornot;
butshefeltvaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearsagolifemighthavebeenadifferentthingforher.
They
verkade
seemed
tohertoyieldglimpsesofaworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,thoughthedoorwas
evigt
forever
barredtohernow.
ItwasonlywithinthelastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenawell-knownwriterfor
flera
several
years.
“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancyhadasked.
“Nobodyknows.
FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,butnomore
information
information
canbehad.
Hispublisherswon’tsayaword.
QuitelikelyJohnFosterisanomdeplume.
Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeoplefindinthemtoraveover.”
“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.
“Oh—well—”
MissClarkson
log
smiled
inapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.
ButcertainlyFoster
verkar
seems
toknowallthereistoknowaboutthem.”
Valancydidn’tknow
om
whether
shecaredmuchforbugseither.
ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeof
vilda
wild
creaturesandinsectlifethatenthralledher.
Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysteryneverrevealed—somehintofagreat
hemlighet
secret
justalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechoof
vackra
lovely
,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.
Yes,shewouldgetanewFosterbook.
Itwasa
månad
month
sinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.
Valancyhadreaditfourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.
And—shealmostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueerpainaroundtheheart.
Ithadcome
ganska
rather
oftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.
Butcouldshegotoseehimwithouttellinganyone?
Itwasamostdaringthought.
Ingen
None
oftheStirlingseverconsultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.
Then,theywenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.
And,besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,withoutbeingtakenthere.
Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowaboutherheart.
Therewouldbesuchafussmadeandeverymemberofthefamilywouldcomedownandtalkitoverandadviseherandcautionherandwarnherandtellherhorribletalesofgreat-auntsandcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”
Faster
Aunt
IsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalwayssaidDosslookedlikeagirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;
andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasa
personlig
personal
insult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;
andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,dearlittleDossisn’tlongforthisworld,I’mafraid”;
and
Kusin
Cousin
Gladyswouldsay,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventohaveaheart;
andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“WhyallthisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”
Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’ttellanybody
om
unless
shehadto.
Shefeltquitesuretherewasnothingatall
allvarligt
seriously
wrongwithherheartandnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensueifshe
nämnde
mentioned
it.
ShewouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trentthatveryday.
Asforhisbill,shehadthetwohundreddollarsthatherfatherhadputinthe
banken
bank
forherthedayshewasborn.
Shewasneverallowedtouseeventheinterestofthis,butshewouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.
Dr.
Trentwasagruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,evenifhewereonlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.
Dr.Trentwasoverseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretiresoon.
Ingen
None
oftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohimsincehehadtold
Kusin
Cousin
Gladys,tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryandthatshe
njöt
enjoyed
it.
Youcouldn’tpatroniseadoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewasaPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglican
kyrkan
church
.
CHAPTERII
WhenCousinStickles
knackade
knocked
atherdoor,Valancyknewitwashalf-past
sju
seven
andshemustgetup.
Aslongasshecouldremember,
Kusin
Cousin
Stickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-past
sju
seven
.
CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsince
sju
seven
,butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.
Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.