Chapter 18

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​⁠Valancy was acquainted with Barney by now—well acquainted, it seemed, though she had spoken to him only a few times. But then she had felt just as well acquainted with him the first time they had met. She had been in the garden at twilight, hunting for a few stalks of white narcissus for Cissy’s room when she heard that terrible old Grey Slosson coming down through the woods from Mistawis—one coul