第21部分(第7/7 頁)

lf—beautiful；

well…bred　and　widowed；　yet　with　her　honor　still　intact—and　set　it　pounding。

And　to　discover　that　the　letter　was　from　one　of　the　usual　suitors；　would；　at　the

very least； fortify my resolve and forbearance to await my husband’s return。

But these days； every time Esther leaves； I bee confused and feel all the

more　wretched。

I　listened　to　the　sounds　of　my　world。　From　the　kitchen　came　the　bubbling

sound of boiling water and the smell of lemons and onions。 Hayriye was

boiling　zucchini。　Shevket　and　Orhan　were　frolicking　and　playing　“swordsman”

in　the　courtyard　beneath　the　pomegranate　tree；　I　heard　their　shouts。　My　father

was　sitting　silently　in　the　next　room。　I　opened　and　read　Hasan’s　letter　and　was

reassured that there was no cause for alarm。 Still； I grew a little more

frightened of him； and congratulated myself for withstanding his efforts to

make　love　to　me　when　we　shared　the　same　house。　Next；　I　read　Black’s　letter；

holding it gently as if it were some delicate and sensitive bird； and my

t