第39部分(第5/7 頁)

was　a　wasteland　inside。

〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　marry　again？〃

〃No。〃

Disappointed　at　not　ferreting　out　information　that　would　help　his

client；　Parks　made　a　final　stab。　〃You　mean；　there　have　been　no　men　in

your　life…〃

〃The　woman　answered　you　once；　Mr。　Parks；〃　Peter　Simmons　broke　in

forcefully。　〃Unless　you　have　anything　different　to　ask；　I　suggest　we　let

Mrs。　Boulton　go。　There　are　other　depositions　to　be　taken；　from　my　client

and　yours。〃

Reluctantly　the　other　lawyer　agreed。　〃Very　well。　Thank　you；　Mrs。

Boulton。　I　have　no　further　questions。〃

Anne　heard　nothing　of　the　remaining　exchange。　Feeling　hollowed　out；　she

let　her　father…in…law　guide　her　from　the　room　and　the　building；　then

drive　her　home。

〃There；　now；　that　wasn't　so　bad；〃　he　said　when　they　were　back　at　Anne's

place；　but　her　silence　must　have　tipped　him　off。　He　went　to　the　liquor

cabi　and　returned　with　a　glass　of　amber　liquid。　〃Drink　this。　It'll

help。〃

She　downed　the　liquid　quickly；　sputtering　in　reaction　to　the　flame　that

scared　her　throat。　Unable　to　think；　much　less　speak；　she　let　her　head

fall　back　against　the　sofa　and　closed　her　eyes　to　the　world。

〃Let　me　call　your　mother；　Anne。　She'll　want　to　be　with　you。〃

Anne　shook　her　head　once；　then　again。

〃Are　you　sure？　Would　you　like　me　to　stay　awhile？〃

She　forced　her　head　up　and　her　eyes　open。　〃No。　I　think　I'd　like　to　be

alone。〃

He　looked　torn；　but　he　bent　and　kissed　her　head。　〃It's　over　now。　Keep

telling　yourself　that。　It's　all　over。〃　With　a　reassuring　pat　to　her

shoulder；　he　let　himself　out。

Over。　Well；　it　certainly　was　that。　Anne's　heart　might　have　grieved　for