Of course, Valancy is just assuming that Barney wants to divorce her. Since he's pulled a disappearing act, he's the unknown quantity. She's decided how he must feel about their marriage and everything else that's happened based on her fears and insecurities, which drive her to decide to leave and return to her mother's house- where she developed those insecurities to begin with.
In this section of the novel Valancy, still reeling from the news that she's not dying-and dreading to tell Barney that she married him under false pretences- arrives home to be hit with another shock. Barney's father is there and he is "Doctor" Redfern of Redfern's patent medicines, a self-made multi-millionaire. Montgomery's description of him makes it clear that he is nouveau riche, with all the stereotypical characteristics that term implies- flashy clothes and car, expensive rather than elegant. But if he is tasteless and a bit tacky, he's also cheerful and without pretence; when his stuffy chauffeur refuses to try to contact the island, Redfern hops out of the car, shouting and waving unreservedly. He also unquestioningly and unreservedly accepts Valancy as his daughter-in-law. He is dismayed only by the fact that Barney got married without telling him. It's a moment of humour when Valancy asks him not to blame Barney, saying that it was all her doing: Redfern humorously says that he doesn't suppose that she proposed to Barney... awkward. The stray thoughts which keep popping into Valancy's head while her father-in-law is speaking are also quite funny. For example, when he rubs his hairless head the ad for Redfern's hair tonic runs through her mind "Why be bald?..." Despite his idiosyncrasies, Doctor Redfern comes off very well- benign if a little ridiculous. He is kind and friendly with Valancy though she's been sprung on him as a daughter-in-law, and he is self-aware and capable of laughing at himself. He obviously loves and misses his son and is anxious to reconnect with him although he equally obviously doesn't understand him. Starting with nothing, Redfern amassed a large fortune with his patent medicines. Wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, he wanted to shower Barney with all the benefits of his fortune: an ostentatious mansion, private schools, entrance into high society, acquaintance with the cream of Montreal society. To his mind, these are the things which should have made Barney happy and fulfilled and he is mystified by the knowledge that his son never was particularly happy. He can't comprehend that Barney would give up all of these advantages to live in a small cabin on a remote island in the middle of nowhere, and be much more content with his life under these circumstances. To his mind the only explanation is, disappointed in love, Barney vowed never to return and is now too "stubborn" to go back on his word and come home. To this end, Redfern has tracked his son down to tell him that Ethel Traverse is now a widow and back on the market, so to speak, thinking this might convince Barney to come back to Montreal. The thought of the woman that Barney loved to the point where he would leave his whole life behind when they broke up fills Valancy with pain. Yes, she's married to him and he likes Valancy- or did- but Barney made it clear from the start that he didn't love her. It seems obvious to her that he never got over Ethel Traverse and now that she's free, he's tied to Valancy. How can he not resent her, especially since Valancy assured him that she would die within a year but is now perfectly healthy; however involuntarily, she has deceived him. Of course, Barney hasn't exactly been straightforward with Valancy, either. Not only is he sole heir to the Redfern millions, he's also John Foster, bestselling author of a series of nature books which happen to be Valancy's favourite reading material. This explains a few things, including how Barney gave her Foster's latest book as a gift when it wasn't yet available at the local bookstore. When Valancy realises this, she's not even shocked; at this point it's just one more revelation piled on top of all the others which have hit her this day. The only thing she can think is that Barney will be able to divorce her with no trouble whatsoever. Of course, Valancy is just assuming that Barney wants to divorce her. Since he's pulled a disappearing act, he's the unknown quantity. She's decided how he must feel about their marriage and everything else that's happened based on her fears and insecurities, which drive her to decide to leave and return to her mother's house- where she developed those insecurities to begin with.
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