When Abel gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages — which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey — Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it. She got a pretty green cr�pe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it. She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.

She passed the house on Elm Street twice — Valancy never even thought about it as “home” — but saw no one. No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire — and cheating. Valancy knew that Mrs. Frederick always cheated. She never lost a game. Most of the people Valancy met looked at her seriously and passed