第26部分(第5/7 頁)

he　was　alone；　yet　strangely　peaceful。

Enjoying　herself；　she　leaped　lightly　from　stone　to　stone。

Returning　invigorated　to　the　house；　she　tackled　the　first　of　the　papers

she　had　to　translate；　making　good　headway　with　the　English…to…Spanish

piece　until　her　stomach　grumbled。　By　then　there　were　stirrings　from　the

upper　quarter。　She　worked　until　he　was　in　the　bathroom　and　dallied　in

the　kitchen　until　he　returned　to　his　room。　When　he　came　downstairs；　she

was　back　at　work；　sitting　at　the　small　desk　that　stood　beneath　a　side

window　of　the　living　room。

Then　the　trouble　began。　For　nearly　ten　minutes　he　looked　over　her

shoulder　while　she　worked　as　best　she　could。　Then　he　made　a　racket　with

pots　and　pans　in　the　kitchen。　When　that　ended；　there　was　whistling；　loud

and　persistent；　the　same　tune；　over　and　over　and　over　again。

Worst　were　interruptions　of　the　〃Hey；　where　is　。。　。〃　variety。　First　it

was；　〃Hey；　where's　the　salt？〃　Then；　〃Hey；　where's　the　ketchup？〃　Then；

〃Hey；　where's　the　large　spatula？〃

By　this　time　she　knew　he　was　baiting　her；　so　she　didn't　scream。　Calmly；

she　put　down　her　pen；　set　her　glasses　aside；　and　made　for　the　kitchen　to

register　a　civil　plaint。

〃Are　there　any　more？　migod；　what　are　you　doing？〃　She　ran　across　the　room；

only　to　drop　her　outstretched　arms　in　disgust　and　raise　her　eyes

heavenward　in　search　of　patience。

〃What's　the　trouble？〃　He　was　all　innocence。

She　peered　once　more　into　the　half…empty　jar　in　his　hand。　〃Those　are　my

macadamia　nuts。　I've　been　saving　that　itty…bitty　jar　for　this　vacation！

〃

〃So　I'll　buy　you　another　jar。　Is　money　that　tight？〃

Anne　scowled。　She　reached　for