Classics Out Loud

Valancy returns to her mother's house to let her know she had in fact been married, and had not gone missing.  She bumps into cousin Georgiana on the way who is desperate to tell Valancy that Edward Beck (complete with 9 children) wants to marry her.

“There’s only one obstacle,” said Valancy dreamily. “You see, I’m married already.”

It turns out most of the family are already at her mother's house. So she let's them know the great news. Naturally, they do not take it well, but Valancy only has pity for them. "I am proud that I have achieved a husband by my own unaided efforts," she says.

“Mrs. Snaith, I hope you will be very happy,” Mr. Towers was saying.

And so Barney and Valancy are married, without flowers, or flower girls, or a white dress, or family, but with Barney - who was all that mattered.

Barney describes the island they are to live on, before paddling across the lake in a canoe to reach it.

Valancy has found her Blue Castle at last.

We finally find out the momentous decision Valancy came to. She asks Barney Snaith to marry her, and considering her condition of having only some weeks or months to live, says yes. She hands him a letter to give to her family if - when - something happens to her, to ensure they find out the truth about her ailment rather than thinking something happened to her because of Barney. And with that decided, they plan to get married the next day.

Ironically, Valancy's matrimonial prospects never looked more hopeful than at Cissy's funeral. Edward Beck has taken an interest, and the Stirlings are not-so-quietly confident that all will be well, and Valancy will come home.
 
She has lain awake all night deciding on her next course of action. She won't be staying any longer with Roaring Able. If the Stirling clan had any inkling what she was planning they might not have attended the funeral at all.

Cissy tells Valancy her "poor little story", of her love and loss, and Valancy stays with her to the end. 

The adventure continues with Valancy going to the movies for the first time and enjoys dinner afterwards at a restaurant - with Barney Snaith. It was just an impulse request from Barney, but nevertheless a delight for Valancy.

Stuck on the side of the road with Barny Snaith, waiting for someone to come along with gas, Valancy has a revelation.
 
And who should it be that turns up? Of course it would be Uncle Wellington and Olive. They are outraged of course. Imagine being found with this "jail bird" on the side of the road at 10 o'clock at night!

Roaring Able invites Valancy to a party "up back" at Chidley Corners, not the sort of place a nice girl would normally go to, but she decides to attend anyway, since Able is playing violin. It starts out well enough, but as a new crowd turns up that is already intoxicated, things get rough and Valancy regrets coming.
 
Then, just as things get a bit much entirely, Barnie Snaith appears and rescues her from an rough crowd. They escape through the forest and circle back to Barney's car, Lady Jane  and make their way back to Deerwood.
 
On the way, they run out of gas and are stranded by the side of the road, and with nothing to do but sit together for what might be the entire night, Valancy could not be more delighted.

Uncle James makes a valiant attempt to persuade Valancy to come home, but is thrown out the front door by Roaring Able. Quickly followed by her old minister, Dr Stalling, who was almost successful with his hypnotic wiggling forefinger and his commands to come home.  But she finds her inner voice, telling her that fear is the root of much evil in the world.
 
Finally, cousin Georgiana comes and tried to talk with her, and also fails.  The family decide that must just wait her out.
 

Valancy's first interaction with Barnie Snaith while staying with Roaring Able leaves her breathless and wondering if one of her heart attacks is coming on.

But the man is an enigma, he tells great stories but gives so little of himself away at the same time. In any case, Valancy is intrigued and continues to listen for his noisy automobile go past in anticipation of seeing him again.