第39部分(第6/7 頁)

what　had　been　lost　that　day；　but　her　mind　simply　shut　down。　Exhausted

and　in　need　of　escape；　she　dozed　off　within　minutes　right　there　on　the

sofa。　The　harsh　peal　of　the　phone　brought　her　awake　with　a　jolt。

It　was　her　mother；　filled　with　concern。　〃Ted　just　called　and　explained

what　happened。　Are　you　all　right？〃

〃Yes。　I'm　fine。〃

〃You　don't　sound　it。〃

〃I　was　sleeping。　I'm　worn　out。〃

〃Would　you　like　me　to　run　over　and　take　you　out　。。。　for　a　late　lunch；

perhaps？〃

Anne　shot　a　startled　look　at　her　watch。　It　was　nearly　two…thirty。　Lunch

had　fallen　by　the　wayside；　along　with　her　appetite。　The　thought　of　food

turned　her　stomach。

〃Anne？〃

〃Yes；　Mother。　No；　thanks。　I　don't　feel　like　eating。〃

〃Was　the　deposition　that　bad？〃

It　couldn't　have　been　worse；　she　thought。　〃It　was　。。。 difficult。〃

〃Are　you　sure　there's　nothing　I　can　do？〃

〃I'm　sure。〃　She　forced　a　smile　into　her　voice；　for　her　mother's　sake；

but　it　vanished　the　instant　the　words　were　out。

The　older　woman　sighed。　〃All　right。　I'll　call　you　later。　Get　some　rest。〃

〃I　will。　And　thanks　for　calling；　Mom。〃

〃You're　wele；　darling。　Bye…bye。〃

She　hung　up　the　phone　thinking　that；　more　than　anything；　she　needed　a

shoulder　to　cry　on；　but　the　tears　refused　to　e。　For　a　time；　she

wandered　aimlessly　from　room　to　room；　window　to　window。　Eventually　she

changed　into　jeans　and　an　oversized　shirt　and；　barefoot；　returned　to　the

living　room。　She　felt　every　bit　the　hollow　shell　she　must　have　looked。

The　view　from　the　window　held　nothing　for　her。　Nor　did　a　glance　at　the

day's　mail。　Unable　to　muster　energy；　she　stretched　out　on　the　sofa。

One　hour