第22部分(第7/7 頁)

she　laid　it　over　the　broken　embers。　The　log　heated；　then　burst　into

flame。　It　was　an　omen；　she　vowed；　as　she　picked　up　her　book　from　the

floor　by　her　chair。　Slipping　large　tortoiseshell　glasses　over　the　bridge

of　her　nose；　she　settled　back　between　the　chair's　wide　wings。　They　were

a　fort；　these　wings；　serving　to　keep　her　sights　on　the　fire　before

her；　rather　than　on　the　darkness　behind。

Her　ticket　to　freedom　lay　in　her　lap。　Ever　an　avid　reader；　Anne　had

escaped　into　books　in　recent　months；　when　all　else　failed　to　calm　her。

As　a　friend；　a　book　had　advantages　over　the　human　variety。　It　was　there

whenever　she　needed　it；　it　vanished　as　easily；　and　it　never　asked

questions；　expected　witty　replies；　made　awkward　suggestions；　or

otherwise　overpensated　for　its　own　inability　to　right　the　wrongs　of

the　world。　She　had　packed　a　friend…a…day　supply　for　this　trip。　That　was

all　the　pany　she　needed。

The　hardcover　in　her　hand　was　a　biography。　She　opened　it　now；　and　was

suddenly　caught　up　in　the　same　world　she　was　trying　to　flee。　On　the

inside　cover　of　the　volume　was　an　inscription　that　she　hadn't　noticed

earlier。　It　brought　back　a　storm　of　memories。

〃To　my　favorite　sister…in…law。　Have　a　marvelous　vacation　and　be　sure　to

spend　a　week　with　us　when　you　get　back。　Maryellen。〃

From　the　first；　Jeff's　family　had　adored　her。　They　had　always　insisted

that　they　would　hold　Jeff　personally　to　blame　if　the　m