第25部分(第1/7 頁)

her。　She　finally　fell　into　a　restless　sleep；　only　to　be　awaken　at

intervals　by　the　creak　of　that　bed。　It　was　nearly　dawn　when　she　realized

that　she　wasn't　brooding　about　Jeff　for　a　change。　On　that　ironic　note；

and　thoroughly　worn　out；　she　slept　soundly。

What　seemed　only　moments　later；　she　was　jolted　awake　by　a　thunderous

noise　in　the　kitchen。　Livid；　she　bolted　out　of　bed；　whipped　the　chair

from　the　door；　and　stormed　toward　the　source　of　the　racket。

〃What；　in　God's　name；　was　that　noise？〃　she　shouted；　rounding　the　kitchen

door　in　time　to　see　Mitch　picking　up　the　first　of　a　scattered　mess　of

pots；　pans；　and　metal　utensils　that　covered　the　linoleum　by　the　stove。

He　wore　a　navy　velour　robe　that　barely　touched　his　knees；　and　was

barefoot　like　her。　And　disheveled。　And　very；　very　cranky。

Shooting　her　a　sidelong　glare；　he　bellowed；　〃What　kind　of　housekeeper

are　you；　piling　things　in　the　cabi　like　that？　Did　you　really　expect

them　to　stay　put　once　I　opened　the　door？　And　where　in　the　hell　is　the

orange　juice　press？　My　Lord；　woman；　get　to　it　and　clean　up　this　mess！〃

Friends　who　knew　Anne　to　be　easygoing；　even…tempered；　understanding；　and

acmodating　would　never　have　recognized　the　spitfire　she　suddenly

became。　It　had　been　too　long　a　day　yesterday；　too　long　a　night　last

night；　too　disturbing　an　ordeal　for　months；　for　an　ounce　of　poise　to

survive。

Dark　eyes　flashing；　she　confronted　him。　〃You　clean　it　up。　I　didn't　make

the　mess；　and　I'm　not　your　slave！　It　happens　that　I　didn't　touch　that

cabi　when　I　arrived。　Put　your　blame　on　whomever　you　please；　as　long

as　it　isn't　on　me！　And　what　right　do　you　have　to　wake　me　up？　Thi