Chapter 25 On the evening of the day after the funeral,
Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
Before he went,
Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
He was sorry and he said so.
A distant cousin from up back was coming to keep house for him,
Quite willing to do so now.
There was no sick girl to wait on,
But Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
She won't be like you,
My girl.
Well,
I'm obliged to you.
You helped me out of a bad hole and I won't forget it.
And I won't forget what you did for Sissy.
I'm your friend and if you ever want any of the sterling spanked and sot in a corner,
Send for me.
Now I'm going to wet my whistle.
Lord,
But I'm dry.
Don't reckon I'll be back at four tomorrow night.
So if you're going home tomorrow,
Goodbye now.
I may go home tomorrow,
Said Valancy,
But I'm not going back to Deerwood.
Not going?
You'll find the key on the woodshed nail,
Interrupted Valancy politely and unmistakably.
The dog will be in the barn and the cat in the cellar.
Don't forget to feed her till your cousin comes.
The pantry's full and I made bread and pies today.
Goodbye,
Mr.
Gay.
You've been very kind to me and I appreciate it.
We've had a decent time of it together and that's a fact,
Said roaring Abel.
You're the best small sport in the world and your little finger's worth the whole sterling clan tied together.
Goodbye and good luck.
Valancy went out into the garden.
Her legs trembled a little but otherwise she felt and looked composed.
She held something tightly in her hand.
The garden was lying in the magic of the warm odorous July twilight.
A few stars were out and the robins were calling through the velvety silences of the barons.
Valancy stood by the gate expectantly.
Would he come?
If he did not come,
He was coming.
Valancy heard Lady Jane Grey far back in the woods.
Her breath came a little more quickly.
Nearer and nearer she could see Lady Jane now bumping down the lane and all at once he was there.
He had sprung from the car and was leaning over the gate looking at her.
Going home was sterling.
I don't know yet,
Said Valancy slowly.
Her mind was made up with no shadow of turning but the moment was very tremendous.
I thought I'd run down and ask to see if there was anything I could do for you,
He said.
Valancy took it with a canter.
Yes,
There is something you can do for me,
She said evenly and distinctly.
Will you marry me?
For a moment Barney was silent.
There was no particular expression on his face.
Then he gave an odd laugh.
Come now,
I knew luck was waiting just around the corner.
All the signs have been pointing that way today.
Wait,
Valancy lifted her hand.
I'm in earnest but I want to get my breath after that question.
Of course with my bringing up I realise perfectly well this is one of the things a lady should not do.
But why?
For two reasons.
Valancy was still a little breathless but she looked Barney straight in the eyes while all the dead sterlings revolved rapidly in their graves and the living ones did nothing because they did not know Valancy was at that moment proposing lawful marriage to the notorious Barney Snaith.
The first reason is I.
.
.
Valancy tried to say I love you but she could not.
She had to take refuge in a pretended flippancy.
I'm crazy about you.
The second is this.
She handed him Dr Trent's letter.
Barney opened it with the air of a man thankful to find some safe,
Sane thing to do.
As he read it his face changed.
He understood perhaps more than Valancy wanted him to.
Are you sure nothing can be done?
Valancy did not misunderstand the question.
Yes,
You know Dr Trent's reputation in regard to heart disease.
I haven't long to live,
Perhaps only a few months,
Maybe even a few weeks,
And I want to live them.
I can't go back to Dearwood.
You know what my life was like there and.
.
.
She managed it this time.
I love you.
I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
That's all.
Barney folded his arms on the gate and looked gravely enough at a white saucy star that was winking at him just over roaring Abel's kitchen chimney.
You don't know anything about me.
I might be a murderer.
No,
I don't.
You may be something dreadful.
Everything they say of you may be true but it doesn't matter to me.
You care that much for me,
Valancy?
Said Barney incredulously looking away from the star and into her eyes,
Her strange mysterious eyes.
I care that much,
Said Valancy in a low voice.
She was trembling now.
He had called her by her name for the first time.
It sounded sweeter than any other man's caress could have been just to hear him say her name like that.
Well,
If we're going to get married,
Said Barney speaking suddenly in a casual matter of fact voice,
Some things must be understood.
Everything must be understood,
Said Valancy.
I have things I want to hide,
Said Barney coolly,
And you're not to ask me about them.
I won't,
Said Valancy.
You must never ask to see my mail.
Okay,
Never.
And we are never to pretend anything to each other.
We won't,
Said Valancy.
You won't even have to pretend you like me.
If you marry me,
I know you're only doing it out of pity.
And we'll never tell a lie to each other about anything,
A big lie or a petty lie.
Especially a petty lie,
Agreed Valancy.
And you'll have to live back on my island,
I won't lie.
I won't live anywhere else.
That's partly why I want to marry you,
Said Valancy.
Barney peered at her.
I do believe you mean it.
Well,
Let's get married then.
Thank you,
Said Valancy with a sudden return of primness.
She would have been much less embarrassed if he had refused her.
I suppose I haven't any right to make conditions,
But I am going to make one.
You are never to refer to my heart or my liability to sudden death.
You are never to urge me to be careful.
You are to forget,
Absolutely forget I'm not perfectly healthy.
I have written a letter to my mother.
Here it is,
And you are to keep it.
I've explained everything in there.
If I drop dead suddenly,
As likely I will be.
Do?
It will exonerate me in the eyes of your kindred from the suspicion of having poisoned you,
Said Barney with a grin.
Exactly,
Valancy laughed gaily.
Dear me,
I'm glad this is over.
It has been a bit of an ordeal.
You see,
I'm not in the habit of going about asking men to marry me.
It is so nice of you not to refuse me or to offer to be a brother or something.
I'll go to the port tomorrow and get a licence.
We can be married tomorrow evening.
Dr Stalding,
I suppose.
Heavens no,
Valancy shuddered.
Besides,
He wouldn't do it.
He'd shake his forefinger at me and I'd jilt you at the altar.
No,
I want my old Mr Towers to marry me.
Will you marry me as I stand?
Demanded Barney.
A passing car full of tourists honked loudly then.
It seemed derisively.
Valancy looked at him.
Blue homespun shirt,
Non-descript hat,
Muddy overalls and unshaven.
Yes,
She said.
Then Barney put his hands over the gate and took her little cold ones gently in his.
Valancy,
He said,
Trying to speak lightly.
Of course I am not in love with you.
I never thought of such a thing as being in love.
But do you know,
I've always thought you were a bit of a dear.
You
