Aunt Alberta, to save her dinner, plunged into an account of how adog had
bitten her recently.
Its so seldom I getthe chance of a satisfying meal. You
made me apologise to Olive fifteen years ago for something Ididnt do, said
Valancy. CHAPTER XIVLife cannot stop because tragedy enters it. She did notcare
whether Roaring Abel had any one to cook for him or not.
She has lost all sense
of decency, exploded Uncle Benjamin.
Valancythought she could tell her, but
didnt. Your Grandfather Wansbarra, he answered desperately.
Even Valancy, with
all her emancipation,did not like it.
Brings her oranges and flowersand things.
She could feel her pulses beating to her finger-tips. Aunt Isabel concluded
that it was up to her to suppress Valancy. Shes toldeverywhere Im crazy, so
nobodyll come for love or money.
The reason soon leaked out and scandal
raged.
It was too cold a day, in spite of the Junesunshine, for Mrs.
The dawg
got up on the table and stuck his paw intoone of them.
Uncle Herbert was
thinking that things were rather dull now thatDoss had gone. Valancylooked at
it over her thin left shoulder. Uncle James thought the conversation was
sagging to a rather lowplane of personal gossip.
But Abelssuperannuated
gallantry did not worry Valancy. Shehas always seemed such a quiet, sensible
girl.
Andrews people wouldnt be seen on thesame side of the road with him.
What
she wants is a generousdose of spank-weed and Id like to be the one to
administer it.
If I shaved everySunday and went to church Id get all the
housekeepers Id want. How do YOU know his eyebrows so well, Doss? I dare say he
would like that for a change, said Valancybrazenly.
But she deemed it the part
of prudence to say nothing. We must be guided by developments, said Uncle
Benjamin.
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