Finally, we reach the Silver Wedding anniversary dinner, and Valency lets loose. Everything she's been thinking comes out, and they really do believe she's gone "dippy", at least according to Uncle Benjamin.
Strangely she finds herself defending the indefensible Barnie Snaith: "I don't mean to hush," said Valancy perversely. "I've hush-hushed all my life. I'll scream if I want to. Don't make me want to. And stop talking nonsense about Barney Snaith." She can't quite understand why she feels the need to stand up for him.
In the end, the excitement is too much, and with one of her attacks coming on, she makes a hasty exit. Meanwhile the family try and work out what to do about this odd development.
