第39部分(第2/7 頁)

ng　had　they　been　married？　Where　did　his　family　live？

Her　family？　How　many　members　in　each？

The　questions　grew　more　personal。　What　had　Jeff　done　for　a　living？

How　long　had　he　done　it？　Annual　ine？　Rising　or　steady？　Did　their

parents　help　them　financially？　Did　they　travel？　How　often　and　where　to？

How　much　rent　did　she　pay　each　month？

Had　Anne　been　herself；　she　would　have　been　annoyed　with　the　questions。

When；　after　an　hour　of　questions；　they　took　a　short　break；　her　lawyer

explained；　〃He　has　to　establish　a　lifestyle。　He　needs　to　determine　the

way　you　live　in　order　to　estimate　the　value　of　your　loss。〃

〃I　lost　Jeff！　How　do　you　put　a　dollar　sign　on　that？〃

The　lawyer　shrugged；　and　when　they　returned　to　the　table；　Anne　was　on

the　hot　seat　again。　Had　she　loved　her　husband？　Had　they　been　faithful　to

one　another？　What　had　she　done　when　he　was　away　on　business？

Did　she　have　friends？　Did　she　have　male　friends？

Anne　responded　in　a　low　voice；　willing　it　to　be　steady；　but　she　couldn't

hide　the　shake　of　the　hand　she　used　to　wipe　away　tears。

Mitch　whispered　something　to　his　lawyer；　who　shook　his　head　and　went　on

with　a　vengeance。

Had　Jeff　been　generous　with　her？　Did　he　buy　her　gifts？　Did　he　call　her

when　he　traveled？　How　often？　Did　he　ever　invite　her　along　on　business

trips？　；Anne　had　broken　out　in　a　cold　sweat；　but　the　questions　went　on。

〃Mrs。　Boulton；　you　were　married　for　seven　years。　Did　you　have　any

children？〃

〃No；〃　she　whispered。　〃Why　not？〃

She　was　mortified。　〃We　just…didn't　have　any。〃

〃Did　you　want　a　child？〃

〃Yes！　〃

〃Did　your　husband　want　a　child？〃

〃Yes。〃　She　brushed　at　more　tears。　〃