第21部分(第6/7 頁)

　My　father’s

growing older。 What’ll bee of us； of these fatherless children？ I sense an

evil　approaching；　that　the　Devil　is　preparing　some　mischief　for　us。　Esther；　tell

me　something　that　will　hearten　me。”

“Don’t you fret in the slightest； my dearest Shekure；” I said as emotion

welled　up　within　me。　“You’re　truly　intelligent；　you’re　very　beautiful。　One　day

you’ll　sleep　in　the　same　bed　with　your　handsome　husband；　you’ll　cuddle　with

him；　and　having　forgotten　all　your　worries；　you’ll　be　happy。　I　can　read　this　in

your　eyes。”

Such　affection　rose　within　me　that　my　eyes　filled　with　tears。

“Fine；　but　which　one　will　bee　my　husband？”

“Isn’t　that　wise　heart　of　yours　giving　you　an　answer？”

“It’s because I don’t understand what my heart is saying that I’m

dispirited。”

For　a　moment　it　occurred　to　me　that　Shekure　didn’t　trust　me　at　all；　that

she　was　masterfully　concealing　her　distrust　in　order　to　learn　what　I　knew；　that

she was trying to arouse my pity。 When I saw she wouldn’t be writing a

response to the letters at present； I grabbed my sack； entered the courtyard

and　slipped　away—but　not　before　saying　something　I　told　all　my　maids；　even

those　who　were　cross…eyed：

“Fear not； my dear； if you keep those beautiful eyes of yours peeled； no

misfortune；　no　misfortune　at　all　will　befall　you。”

96

I；　SHEKURE

If　truth　be　told；　it　used　to　be　that　each　time　Esther　the　clothier　paid　a　visit；　I’d

fantasize that a man stricken with love would finally be roused to write a

letter　that　could　stir　the　heart　of　an　intelligent　woman　like　myse