Chapter 55

Valancy began to speak mechanically. She told her tale bluntly and barely. “A year ago Dr. Trent told me I had angina pectoris and could not live long. I wanted to have some—life—before I died. That’s why I went away. Why I married Barney. And now I’ve found it is all a mistake. There is nothing wrong with my heart. I’ve got to live—and Barney only married me out of pity. So I have to leave him—free.” “God bless me!” said Uncle Benjamin. Cousin Stickles began to cry. “Valancy, if you’d only had confidence in your o…