第34部分(第4/7 頁)

e　thrust　his　tongue　deeper　into　her　mouth；　and　Anne　reeled

at　the　sensation。　She　would　have　happily　returned　to　the　house；　to　that

same　bedroom；　that　same　large　bed　if　he'd　asked　just　then。　But　he

didn't。

With　a　shaky　breath；　he　drew　back。　He　took　her　hand；　pressed　something

in　it；　and　closed　her　fingers。　〃I　want　you　to　take　this。　It's　a　key　to

the　place。　I　have　a　few　hectic　weeks　ahead；　but　I'll　be　up　again　at　the

end　of　March。　If　you　want　to　e　at　any　time；　I　want　you　to。〃

Anne　was　deeply　touched；　but　that　wasn't　the　only　reason　her　eyes　filled

with　tears。　Frightened　that　she　would　make　a　fool　of　herself；　she

whispered　a　soft　thanks　against　his　cheek　in　a　final　hug；　pulled　away；

and　got　into　her　car。　She　headed　down　the　sanded　road　without　a　look

behind。　Parting　was　getting　harder　and　harder。

March　in　Vermont　was　the　time　of　unlocking；　that　period　during　which　the

frozen　ground　gradually　yielded　one　frigid　layer　after　another　to　the

power　of　an　ever…stronger　sun；　when　the　brooks　and　ponds；　rivers　and

lakes　lost　their　ice　to　the　rush　of　the　downstream　current。　It　was　a

time　of　the　loud　thrashing　of　formidably　cold　waters　against　their

banks。　It　was　a　time　of　mud。

Anne　hadn't　expected　that　when　she　left　New　York。　Taking　Mitch　up　on　his

offer　and　using　his　key；　she　arrived　several　days　in　advance　of　him。　The

excitement　was　in　being　there；　in　these　hills；　in　Mitch's　house。　Nothing

could　have　kept　her　away　longer。

〃You're　going　again？〃　her　mother　had　asked　in　surprise。

Anne　was　prepared　for　the　question。　She　had　done　her　homework。　〃It's

maple…sugaring　time。　I　wouldn't　miss　it　for　the　world。〃

Her