第22部分(第2/7 頁)

ncing　flames　lulled　her　into　recollection　of　a　dinner　with　her　parents

the　weekend　before。

〃I　don't　understand；〃　her　mother　had　tried　to　reason　with　her；　〃why　you

have　to　take　off　all　by　yourself。　We've　tried　so　hard　to　do　what's　best。

Have　we　failed？〃

Arodous　to　ease　her　mother's　worry；　Anne　had　forced　a　smile。　〃No；　you

didn't　fail。　I　just　want　to　get　out　of　the　city　for　a　while。　You　know；

get　a　little　of　that　fresh…air…and…color…on…my…cheeks　type　of　thing？〃

〃Well；　you　could　certainly　use　that；〃　came　her　father's　deep　voice。　Tall

and　distinguished…looking；　Anthony　Faulke's　sturdy　frame　belied　his

near　sixty　years。　Anne　took　the　darkness　of　her　hair　and　eyes　from　him；

though　her　willowed　shapeliness　was　her　mother's。　〃But　we'd　have　liked

to　have　you　join　us　on　the　shore　in　several　weeks。　Won't　you　reconsider

and　wait　until　then？〃

Anne　shook　her　head。　Not　a　hair　moved。　It　was　in　a　somber　knot　at　the

nape　of　her　neck。　〃Now's　the　time。　I've　already　made　the　arrangements

and　paid　for　the　place。〃

Her　mother　tried　again。　〃But　you've　never　enjoyed　traveling　alone。

Wouldn't　it　be　better　to　have　someone　with　you？　If　I　didn't　have　the

charity　luncheon　on　Wednesday；　I'd　go　with　you　myself。　You　need　pany；

Anne。〃

Anne　hated　worrying　her　parents。　They　had　suffered　nearly　as　much　as　she

had；　having　to　stand　by　and　watch　helplessly　as　their　elder　daughter's

life　fell　apart。　When　they　looked　at　her；　Anne　knew　what　they　saw。　She

saw　it　in　the　mirror　each　morning；　the　pallor　in　an　oval　face　framed　by

pitch…black　hair。

Still；　she　said；　〃I　really　have　no　choice；　have　I；　Mother？　I've　been

more　fortunate　th