The Blue Castle

by L.M. Montgomery

But she knew it and it made a tremendous difference to her. Just to love! She did not ask to be loved.

Isn't it awful that I don't love my mother?" "Rather awful—for her," said Barney drily.

They'd rather believe me mad than bad.

Valancy submitted with secret delight. How nice it was to have some one look after you so! She snuggled down into the tobaccoey folds and wished the night could last forever.

in its light her eyes were full of deviltry. "Are you a jail-bird?" "Does it matter?" said Barney, gleams of fun in his eyes.

Cissy used to be a pretty little girl. And a good little girl." "She has always been a good little girl," said Valancy.

Death, the miracle worker, suddenly made the thing quite respectable.

"I should pray to be forgiven for obeying you so long," said Valancy stubbornly. "But I don't pray about that at all. I just thank God every day for my happiness."

Valancy looked at her mother and aunts, and wondered if they could ever have known anything of the real meaning of love. She felt sorrier for them than ever. They were so very pitiable. And they never suspected it.

"Doss, dear," said Cousin Georgiana mournfully, "some day you will discover that blood is thicker than water." "Of course it is. But who wants water to be thick?" parried Valancy. "We want water to be thin—sparkling—crystal-clear."

You think you are free now because you've escaped from a peculiarly unbearable kind of bondage. But are you? You love me—that's a bondage."