第26部分(第1/7 頁)

were　drying　fast。　She　felt　more　calm　now；　purged。

〃You　sit　down；〃　he　repeated；　〃while　I　cook。　Then　we'll　decide　what's　to

be　done　about　this　。。。　mess。〃

Anne　helped　herself　to　a　fresh　cup　of　coffee；　adding　hot　water　from　the

tap；　then　returned　to　her　chair。　He　worked　in　silence；　cracking　eggs

into　the　heavy　iron　skillet；　toasting　a　fresh　batch　of　bread；　pouring

two　glasses　of　orange　juice；　toting　it　all　to　the　table。

She　ate　everything　on　her　plate；　matching　him　egg　for　egg；　toast　for

toast；　juice　for　juice。　Then　he　poured　her　a　second　cup　of　coffee；

filled　the　creamer　with　water　and　put　that　too　before　her。

Back　in　his　chair；　he　said；　〃I　spent　a　lot　of　time　last　night　thinking

about　this。　I　planned　to　do　some　fishing；　some　hiking；　some　reading；　and

a　lot　of　sleeping。　What　had　you　wanted　to　do？〃

She　tipped　up　her　chin。　〃Read。　Work。　Take　walks；　explore　the

neighborhood；　enjoy　the　solitude。〃

He　looked　out　the　window。　Bright　sun　lit　the　yard。　〃Look；　this　may　sound

crazy；　but　I　think　we　can　both　stay　here。　We　both　seem　to　want　quiet　and

solitude。　We　can　each　just　go　our　own　way。〃　He　looked　at　her。　〃I　know

this　area；　and；　trust　me；　there　won't　be　another　place　to　stay　on　such

short　notice。〃

She　tucked　a　handful　of　hair　behind　her　ear。　This　wasn't　quite　the

vacation　she　had　imagined；　but　he　had　a　point。　He　didn't　seem　willing　to

leave。　Barring　her　own　return　to　New　York；　there　wasn't　any　alternative。

Her　thumb　moved　on　the　ceramic　mug。　〃This　isn't　what　I　wanted。〃

〃Me；　neither。　But　it's　the　only　fair　thing。　If　I　have　to　put　up　with

your　hot　showers；　you　can　put　up　with　my　black　coffee。〃

〃What　ab