第19部分(第7/7 頁)

can？t　make　up　my　mind。？　Nate　took　a　deep　swallow　and　handed　the　glass　gratefully　back　to

Chips。　？Aboutanything。　？　He　glanced　out　at　the　water　again；　hoping　for　a　sign？aB　…shaped　cloud

in　the　sky　or　anS　reflected　on　the　water？s　surface。　Instead；　all　he　could　see　was　the　two　girls？　faces

winking　at　him。You　know　you　love　me　；　each　one　was　saying。

Chips　took　a　sip　of　scotch　and　looked　thoughtfully　at　Nate；　his　gold　wedding　band　glinting　in　the

light。　？Well；　Nate；　I？ve　always　believed　that　honesty　is　an　essential　ponent　to　happiness？along

with　all　of　this；？　he　said；　gesturing　with　his　hand　at　the　boat。　？But　there？s　also　something　to　be

said　for　protecting　someone　you　love　from　unnecessary　pain。？　He　stood　and　tapped　the　ashes　of

his　cigar　over　the　side　of　the　yacht　before　sitting　back　down　again。　Nate　noticed　for　the　first　time

that　Chips？s　left　leg　looked　a　little　stiff　as　he　walked。

？You？re　right；？　Nate　mused　aloud。　He　leaned　his　head　back　to　take　in　the　warmth　of　the　sun　on

his　face；　and　closed　his　eyes　for　a　minute。　？I　mean；　what　good　would　it　do　t