第26部分(第4/7 頁)

　life　in　his　prime。　She'd　had　enough　pity　to　last　a

lifetime。

So　he　can't　be　all　bad；　she　mused；　even　if　he　does　make　bitter　coffee。

The　evening　passed　quietly。　Anne　left　her　chair　only　to　feed　the　fire。

After　a　time；　her　lids　grew　heavy。　She　fell　into　deep　sleep　from　which

only　the　sensation　of　movement　much　later　disturbed　her。　She　opened

groggy　eyes　to　find　herself　in　Mitch's　arms。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　she　cried　and　began　to　squirm。

He　held　her　tighter。　〃Putting　you　to　bed。〃　They　were　already　at　the　door

of　her　room。

〃Put　me　down。　I　don't　need　your　help。〃

He　dropped　her　on　the　bed。　〃Don't　worry。　I'm　not　doing　you　any　favors。

I'm　thinking　of　me。　You　were　sleeping　in　my　chair。〃

Before　she　could　begin　to　call　him　out；　he　pivoted　and　left；　slamming

the　door　behind　him。

Sunday　brought　more　of　the　same。　On　the　plus　side；　the　weather　was

grand；　crisp　and　clear　once　the　early…morning　fog　lifted。　Having　slept

her　fill；　Anne　was　up　early；　putting　on　her　own　pot　of　coffee　to　assure

herself　a　cup　to　her　liking；　before　showering　and　dressing。　The　door　to

the　attic　remained　closed。　If　Mitch　was　still　asleep；　he　slept　soundly。

Everything　overhead　was　silent。

After　breakfast；　she　rewalked　yesterday's　route；　this　time　extending　it

to　the　brook　that　babbled　down　the　far　hillside。　In　keeping　with　the　nip

in　the　air；　the　first　of　the　birch　leaves　were　starting　to　yellow。　The

sun　picked　them　out　from　the　rest　and　added　a　glow。

Removing　her　sneakers；　she　rolled　up　her　jeans　and；　where　the　water　was

shallow；　waded　across　flat　granite　boulders。　It　was　the　kind　of　thing

she　and　Jeff　would　have　done。　Now　s