第36部分(第6/7 頁)

sts　so　much。〃

Mitch　went　on　with　the　lesson　as　he　continued　to　work。　〃New　York　and

Vermont　produce　the　most　syrup　in　this　country；　though　the　province　of

Quebec　yields　more　than　the　two　states　bined。　Today；　most　of　the

monly　used　syrups　are　actually　a　bination　of　maple　syrup；　cane

sugar　syrup；　and　corn　syrup。　If　you　ask　me；　though；　there's　no　contest。

The　straight　stuff；　the　real　thing；　beats　all。〃

Anne　couldn't　argue　with　that。

For　a　while　they　proceeded　in　silence；　but　it　was　a　friendly　silence；　an

intimate　one。　She　noted　that　he　favored　his　right　arm；　cranking　the　hand

drill　around　with　it；　while　the　other　held　the　shaft　in　place。　When　she

offered　to　take　a　turn；　he　indulged　her；　enjoying　her　struggle　with　a

smug　smile。　When　she　finally　gave　up　and　turned　the　chore　back　to　him；

he　said；　〃That's　okay；　Annie。　I　could　never　have　cleaned　the　house　the

way　you　did　this　time。〃

〃You　noticed？〃

〃How　could　I　help　it；〃　he　teased　with　a　rewarding　grin。　〃I　was　nearly

blinded　by　the　sparkle。〃

Anne　knew　the　feeling。　She　was　nearly　blinded　now　by　the　sparkle　in　his

eyes。　When　he　pushed　two　spouts　into　her　hand；　she　was　temporarily

disoriented。

〃In　the　tree？〃　he　prodded　with　a　cockeyed　grin；　leaving　her　to　recover

while　he　went　for　more　buckets。

That　first　day；　they　drilled　holes；　inserted　spouts；　and　hung　buckets　on

the　largest　of　the　maples　near　the　house。　On　succeeding　days　they

collected　the　sap　that　had　flowed。　It　was　no　mean　feat；　carting　heavy

buckets　from　tree　to　house　and　back。

〃If　we　had　the　most　modern　equipment；〃　Mitch　teased　as　she　massaged　the

nagging　muscles　of　her　shoulders；