第47部分(第4/7 頁)

at　childishly。　“Yes。　I　agree　to

make　you　mine。”

You remember how only recently I declared I didn’t know why I was

speaking　to　Black　in　such　a　high…handed　and　insincere　manner。　Now　I　know：

I’ve e to realize that only by assuming such a tone might I convince

Black—who　has　yet　to　outgrow　his　childhood　muddle…headedness—to　believe

in　the　possibility　of　events　that　even　I　have　a　hard　time　believing　will　e　to

pass。

211

“We　have　a　lot　to　do　in　fighting　our　enemies；　those　who　would　obstruct　the

pletion　of　my　father’s　book　and　those　who　could　contest　my　divorce　and

our　marriage　ceremony—which　will　be　performed　tonight；　God　willing。　But　I

suppose I shouldn’t further confuse you； since you are already even more

confused　than　I。”

“You　aren’t　confused　at　all；”　said　Black。

“Perhaps；　but　only　because　these　aren’t　my　own　ideas；　I　learned　them　from

my father over the years。” I said this so he wouldn’t dismiss what I said；

assuming　that　these　plans　had　sprung　from　my　feminine　mind。

Next；　Black　said　what　I’d　heard　from　every　man　who　wasn’t　afraid　to　admit

he　found　me　very　intelligent：

“You’re　very　beautiful。”

“Yes；”　I　said；　“it　pleases　me　to　be　praised　for　my　intelligence。　When　I　was　a

child；　my　father　would　often　do　so。”

I　was　about　to　add　that　once　I’d　grown　up　my　father　ceased　to　praise　my

intelligence；　but　I　began　to　weep。　As　I　cried；　it　was　as　if　I’d　left　myself　and　was

being another； entirely separate woman。 Like some reader troubled by a

sad　picture　in　the　pages　of　a　book；　I　saw　my　life　from　the　outside　and　pitied

what I saw。 There’s