第41部分(第1/7 頁)

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

He　grinned。　〃They're　wonderful　people。　When　I　explained　the　situation；

they　were　more　than　glad　to　help　out。〃

〃Well；　that's　just　fine；　but　I'm　not　going！　For　all　your　smugness　and

your　crafty　little　plans；　I'm　not　going！〃

His　grin　died。　〃I　told　Rachel　that　you'd　be　spending　the　week　with　us。〃

〃You　had　no　right　to　do　that。〃

〃But　it's　done。　She's　counting　on　your　being　there。　Would　you　disappoint

her？〃

Anne　was　exasperated。　〃How　can　you　use　her　like　this？　You　know　I　can't

hurt　her。〃

〃I　was　counting　on　that。〃

〃So　you're　going　to　go　out　there〃…she　pointed　a　shaky　finger　toward　the

street…〃and　tell　her　I　can't　go。〃

〃But　you　can。　Your　bags　are　packed　and　loaded。　Your　work　has　been

cleared　for　the　next　two　weeks。　There's　nothing　left　to　hold　you　here。〃

Anne　felt　trapped。　With　a　tired　sigh；　she　slumped　back　against　the　wall。

〃Why　don't　you　leave　me　alone？　Can't　you　see　that　I　don't　want　to　be

with　you？〃

He　was　sober　then。　〃That's　because　you　won't　listen　to　reason。　I've

tried　to　explain；　and　more　than　once；　but　you　wouldn't　answer　my　calls

or　let　me　in　when　I　banged　on　your　door。　You　wouldn't　give　me　the

courtesy　of　hearing　me　out。　So　now　I'm　asking　you；　for　Rachel's　sake；　to

e　with　us。　Just　this　once。　At　the　end　of　the　week；　if　you　still　feel

this　way；　I　will　leave　you　alone。〃

Anne　wondered　if　it　was　the　only　way　out。　She　couldn't　bear　the　thought

of　hurting　a　child　who　had　already　been　so　badly　hurt　in　life。　And　the

little　girl　would　be　a　chaperon　of　sorts。　What　harm　could　there　be？

〃Is　that　a　promise？〃　she　aske