Then and ever afterward, Mrs. Frederick wondered how she'd managed to live through the scandal—no, scandals—that swept through Deerwood. Everyone who met her either looked at her in pity ("As if they know Valancy is dead to me," she intoned) or gave her judging looks, as if the scandal affected them. Mrs. Frederick stopped going to church altogether, and when James and even Dr. Stalling could not convince the prodigal to return home, she could only find comfort by saying that this was "a trial that will help me to an eternal reward."
But little prepared the entire clan for the shock that was Valancy riding in Barney Snaith's decrepit car—with the scoundrel himself. Amelia and Christine saw it and wanted to faint. The two reprobates, however, went zooming off as if they were a married couple out for a proper Sunday drive.
"I'm sorry, Amelia, I've found someone else to host the Mission Society's tea this week."
Amelia blinked back at Mrs. Rachel Merriweather. Distinguished, wealthy, and high in social circles, this was the woman Amelia was always desperate to impress. Amelia was ashamed of her near-poverty, but if she went well in social circles, she might rise above that. Thus, Amelia was always looking for the community figurehead's approval.
"Oh," Amelia said, and then went on in an ingratiating tone, "Do you mind if I ask why, Mrs. Merriweather?"
"Well—er—it's just that the Missionary Society prefers to host its social events among more—orthodox people," Mrs. Merriweather said straightly, a slightly impatient twist to her lips.
"Oh," Amelia repeated. "I—see."
She fumbled a goodbye to the woman she worked so hard to flatter and closed the door in her face.
"What is it, Amelia?" Christine asked as the former stumbled into the kitchen to remove the meticulously arranged tea set, leaving the eatables.
"What's the use of pretending Valancy is of the dead?" Amelia asked unashamedly. "That was Mrs. Merriweather. She won't have the Society tea here. She might as well have said, 'Mrs. Stirling, the Society wants to stay away from your disreputable household.'!"
"Cecily Gay can't live much longer," was Christine's dark comfort. "When Valancy returns, we will curb her. We won't allow Snaith near the house!"
Despite staying in the house as much as possible, more scandals reached Amelia's ears. Once, when going out to water her prize hydrangeas, she overheard gossipy Mrs. Barnes next door saying to a friend from the Port:
"Really? They were at the moving picture together? And the Chinese restaurant? Well! I thought Valancy Stirling couldn't get more improper! To be alone with a man so much, let alone a man like Barney Snaith!"
Amelia managed to slip into the house unnoticed. What was Providence punishing for, she thought bitterly.
To say that the clan wanted Cecily Gay to die would be uncharitable, but they were nonetheless relieved when the news came. In a feat of solidarity, they all came to the funeral. Surely seeing her loving family support her would induce Valancy to beg their forgiveness.
The gossip had also died down. The sharp-tongued, judgmental people of Deerwood had suddenly 'forgiven' Cecily's 'shameful deeds' when the Great Seal of death had been laid on her brow. As for Valancy—
"She is rather improper," Mrs. Barnes declared bluntly, "but she was doing such a kindness to poor Cecily Gay."
Never mind that Mrs. Barnes had been one of the first to tear Cecily down when the 'shameful story' had leaked out!
So, Valancy was being given a chance at redemption! Amelia and the rest had never been so at ease since Valancy had left for the Gay household.
"My child," Amelia said sweetly as Valancy was preparing a supper for the funeral guests, "you'll come home now?"
"Oh, no, I'm not going to stay here," Valancy returned earnestly. "Of course, I'll have to stay for a day or two, to put the house in order generally. But that will be all. Excuse me, Mother, won't you? I've a frightful lot to do-all those "up back" people will be here to supper."
Mrs. Frederick returned to her belief in a charitable Providence and went home with decidedly higher spirits.