Good evening. Welcome to the Just Sleep podcast. I'm Tasia, your host.

Every week, I will read you an old story to help you relax, put the stressful day behind you, and drift off to sleep.

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Tonight, I will be continuing the story,

The Blue Castle, by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

So lie down, close your eyes,

and let me read you a story.

Chapter 20

When Abel Gay paid Valency her first month's wages, which he did promptly,

in bills reeking with the order of tobacco and whiskey,

a Valency went into Darewood and spent every scent of it. She got a pretty green craped dress with a girdle of crimson beads

at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a

crimson rose in it. She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.

She passed the house on Elm Street twice.

Valency never even thought about it as home, but saw no one.

No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire and cheating.

Valency knew that Mrs. Frederick always cheated. She never lost a game.

Most of the people Valency met looked at her seriously and passed her with a cool nod.

Nobody stopped to speak to her.

...