第4部分(第1/5 頁)

uickly　told　him　to　go。It　was　disturbing　and　frightening　that　he　looked　so　human。

One　day；Claire　mentioned　that　she　didn’t　think　she　was　clever。Tony　said　that　she　must　feel　very　unhappy　to　say　that。Claire　thought　it　was　ridiculous　to　be　offered　sympathy　by　a　robot。But　she　began　to　trust　him。She　told　him　how　she　was　overweight　and　this　made　her　feel　unhappy。Also　she　felt　her　home　wasn’t　elegant　enough　for　someone　like　Larry　who　wanted　to　improve　his　social　position。She　wasn’t　like　Gladys　Claffern；one　of　the　richest　and　most　powerful　women　around。

As　a　favor　Tony　promised　to　help　Claire　make　herself　smarter　and　her　home　more　elegant。So　Claise　borrowed　a　pile　of　books　from　the　library　for　him　to　read；or　rather；scan。She　looked　at　his　fingers　with　wonder　as　they　turned　each　page　and　suddenly　reached　for　his　hand。She　was　amazed　by　his　fingernails　and　the　softness　and　warmth　of　his　skin。How　absurd；she　thought。He　was　just　a　machine。

Tony　gave　Claire　a　new　haircut　and　changed　the　makeup　she　wore。As　he　was　not　allowed　to　acpany　her　to　the　shops；he　wrote　out　a　list　of　items　for　her。Claire　went　into　the　city　and　bought　curtains；cushions；a　carpet　and　bedding。Then　she　went　into　a　jeweler　shop　to　buy　a　necklace。When　the　clerk　at　the　counter　was　rude　to　her；she　rang　Tony　up　and　told　the　clerk　to　speak　to　him。The　clerk　immediately　changed　his　attitude。Claire　thanked　Tony；telling　him　that　he　was　a　“dear”。As　she　turned　around；there　stood　Gladys　Claffern。How　awful　to　be　discovered　by　her；Claire　thought。By　the　amused　and　surprised　look　on　her　face；Claire　knew　that　Gladys　thought　she　was　having　an　affair。After　all；she　knew　Claire’s　husband　name　was　Larry；not　Tony。

When　Claire　got　home；she　wept　with　anger　in　her　armchair。Gladys　was　everything　Claire　wanted　to　be