第41部分(第7/7 頁)

　I

have　to　say。〃

〃Do　I　have　a　choice？〃　she　finally　whispered。

He　smiled。　〃No。〃

She　remained　docile　as　he　led　her　to　the　chair　before　the　cold　hearth。

The　same　wings　that　had　once　been　blinders　against　the　dark；　now　blotted

out　all　but　Mitch。

He　raked　a　hand　through　his　hair。　〃I　know　what　you　must　be　thinking

about　me；　but　you're　wrong。　It's　unfair　of　you　to　blame　me　for　what

happened　to　Jeff。〃

Anne　had　never　blamed　him　for　the　crash。　But　before　she　could　tell　him

that；　he　said；　〃It　wasn't　until　February；　when　you　were　so　sick　and　had

that　nightmare　about　the　accident　and　mentioned　the　court　hearing；　that

I　began　to　wonder　if　there　was　a　connection。　Contrary　to　your

assumption；　I　did　not　run　right　back　to　New　York　to　check　it　out。〃　He

turned　away　and　approached　the　hearth。　With　an　arm　on　its　mantel；　and　a

foot　on　the　ashstrewn　grate；　he　was　silent　for　several　minutes。　〃I

didn't　want　to　know；〃　he　finally　said。　〃My　guilt　feelings　about　that

accident　were　bad　enough；　without　having　to　bear　your　scorn。〃

But　he　was　missing　the　point！　She　didn't　blame　him　for　the　accident！

That　wasn't　the　problem！

He　went　on　without　turning。　〃I　was　tortured　ing　back　here　in　March。　I

knew　I　had　to　be　with　you；　but　I　also　knew　you　might　hate　me　even　more

afterward。〃　He　pushed　a　hand　through　his　hair。　〃You　were　bound　to　learn

the　truth　sooner　or　later。　I　wanted　to　tell　you　myself　I　just　。。。

couldn