第40部分(第7/7 頁)

he　grin；　along　with　owl　eyes。　〃I　got　a　whole　dollar　for　each　of

them。　Daddy　says　he　only　got　a　quarter　when　he　was　a　little　boy；　but

that　the　good　fairy　was　afraid　I　might　swallow　a　coin；　so　she　gave　me

paper。　I'm　really　glad；〃　she　bubbled　and　lowered　her　voice　in

confidence；　〃'cause　you　can't　buy　much　for　a　quarter。〃

Anne　laughed。　〃You're　a　perceptive　little　girl。〃

Mitch　appeared　to　agree。　Pride　was　written　all　over　his　face；　and　he　had

a　right　to　that　pride　where　the　child　was　concerned。　Not　where　his　own

behavior　was　concerned；　though。　For　starters；　he　should　be　ashamed　of

himself　for　using　her　as　a　shield。

〃Uh；　perhaps　you　ladies　are　ready　to　go。　The　sooner　we　leave　the　city；

the　sooner　we'll　reach　the　cabin。〃

The　cabin？　Her　heart　stopped。　She　couldn't　go　to　the　cabin。

But　Rachel's　eyes　were　glued　to　hers　and　Mitch's　held　clear　warning。

〃Rachel；〃　she　began　softly；　checking　back　over　her　shoulder；　〃do　you

think　you　might　wait　here　while　your　father　helps　me　out　with　one　last

thing　upstairs？　Maurice；　the　doorman；　will　keep　you　pany。〃

The　child　looked　to　her　father　for　permission。　He　kissed　her　and　set　her

back　in　the　car。　〃We'll　be　down　in　a　jiffy。〃　He　spoke　gently；　repeating

the　same　for　the　doorman。　Taking　Anne's　elbow；　he　escorted　her　inside。

As　soon　as　they　rounded　the　corner　and　were　out　of　the　child's　sight；

Anne　turned　on　him。　〃You　arranged　this　with　my　parents；　didn't