Well, she would hide them with avengeance. When she
permitted herself to sit uprightshe found Valancy looking at her. Youd better go
uptown and git the mail, said Cousin Stickles,when Valancy went in. Consequently she
was immensely surprised when Mr. My poor dear husband tookRedferns Bitters right up
to the day he died.
Cousin Sticklesor her mother would insist on
sharing her room and bed. As aprotest she kept her head bent a perceptible time
after all therest had been lifted.
What have you got against the Anglican
church?
Nothing had any realityexcept the fact that she had
only another year to live. Frederick herself might have said,
Providential.
She couldnot put up with it and she wouldnt.
Frederickresented the hair but decided it was wisest to say nothing on theeve of the
party.
Ive had nothing but a second-hand existence,
decided Valancy. Aunt Mildred told the same old story of once finding a lost ring
ina turkeys crop.
Aunt Isabel had decreed that Valancy should never
wear colours. CHAPTER VIIThere was a rosebush on the little Stirling lawn, growing
besidethe gate. Valancy went out, leaving Cousin Stickles aghast.
Drunk as usual but not in the roaring
stage.
Valancy picked it up with a little quickening of
herbreath. Boys will be boys, reminded Uncle Herbert tolerantly. I wonder what would
happen to your face if you ever smiled,speculated Valancy, unblushingly. Yelling and
blaspheming like a fiend, shuddered Cousin Sticklesat the breakfast-table. One you
lick with a stick and the other you stick with a lick.
Letters had a fascination for Valancy, perhaps
because she soseldom got any. Yelling and blaspheming like a fiend, shuddered Cousin
Sticklesat the breakfast-table.
And what HAVE you been saying to your poor
mother?
She was ruthlessly sweptaside, her dust-pile
scooped up and poured on Olives.