‘still young’ — but that’s so different from young,” said Valancy bitterly. For a moment she was tempted to tell Barney why her years had nothing to do with her future; but she did not. She was not going to think of death tonight.

“Though I never was really young,” she went on — ”until tonight,” she added in her heart. “I never had a life like other girls. You couldn’t understand. Why,” — she had a desperate desire that Barney should know the worst about her — ”I didn’t even love my mother. Isn’t it awful that I don’t love my mother?”

“Rather awful — for her,” said Barney drily.

“Oh, she didn’t know it. She took my love for granted. And I wasn’t