第21部分(第7/7 頁)

with　meadow　grass　in　the　breeze。

Darkness　was　only　a　thin　veil　over　this　primal　beauty。　Seeing　through

it；　Anne　Boulton　felt　blessed；　and　doubly　grateful　that　she　had　left　the

city。

The　summer　had　been　an　oppressive　one　in　New　York。　Heat　and　humidity　had

rivaled　each　other；　stubbornly　clinging　to　highs　that　beaded　foreheads

and　furniture　with　sweat；　and　made　everyone　and　everything　sticky。　As

the　sky　scrapered　congestion　closed　in　on　her；　so　had　wellintending

friends　and　family；　coaxing　her　out　to　lunch；　when　she　wanted　a　tall

cola　and　a　salad　at　home；　dragging　her　to　the　theater；　when　she　craved　a

quiet　evening　alone；　spiriting　her　away　for　a　weekend　of　busy

panionship；　when　she　fancied　a　good　book　and　healing　solitude。　In　the

end　she　wanted　Jeff；　but　Jeff　was　gone。

Now；　cocooned　by　darkness；　she　curled　in　a　large　upholstered　chair。　The

wood　fire　in　the　hearth　offered　the　only　light；　its　orange　and　gold

flames　flickering　hypnotically　before　her　dark　eyes。　This　was　her　first

evening　here。　If　the　isolation；　the　peace　were　a　harbinger；　she　had　made

the　right　decision　in　renting　the　house　for　the　week。　Time　was　precious；

but　it　abounded　here。　She　planned　to　read；　to　take　walks；　even　to　work。

Mostly；　though；　she　planned　to　think。

Late　September　in　Vermont　was　the　perfect　time　for　soul…searching。　With

promises　of　misty　mornings　and　golden　afternoons；　newly　ripening　apples

and　sountain