sing ribald songs. It was just as well she should be out of the way for a while. Barney knew Roaring Abel’s repertoire.

They went to the movie — Valancy had never been to a movie. And then, finding a nice hunger upon them, they went and had fried chicken — unbelievable delicious — in the Chinese restaurant. After which they rattled home again, leaving a devastating trail of scandal behind them. Mrs. Frederick gave up going to church altogether. She could not endure her friends’ pitying glances and questions. But Cousin Stickles went every Sunday. She said they had been given a cross to bear.