第11部分(第5/7 頁)

Instinctively　protective　of　Josh；　she　pointed　him　to　a　chair。　Then　she

said；　〃Ross；　would　you　excuse　us？　We'll　be　a　little　while。〃

〃I'll　be　waiting。〃　He　smiled　as　though　he　had　caught　onto　the　game　and

was　playing。　Then　he　turned　and　left。

Josh　wasn't　thick。　〃Listen；　Chloe；　are　you　sure　you　wouldn't　rather　go

over　this　another　time？〃

〃What？〃　she　ribbed　him　gently。　〃And　waste　the　effort　it　took　for　you　to

pull　yourself　out　of　bed？　Carry　on！〃

It　was　a　full　hour　later　when　Josh　finally　left。　Chloe　walked　him　to　the

door　and　had　only　enough　time　to　note　that　Ross　was　occupied　with　a

briefcase　of　his　own；　before　Lee　bounded　through　the　living　room。　He

delivered　a　wave　in　passing　to　Ross；　looped　an　arm　about　Chloe's　waist；

and　corralled　her　back　into　her　office。

〃It's　about　time　you're　free；〃　he　scolded　good…naturedly。　〃You're　a　busy

lady。〃

Chloe　smiled。　〃I'm　all　yours　now。　I　want　to　show　you…〃　The　look　on　his

face　cut　her　off。　〃There's　something　we　have　to　discuss　first。　I　think；〃

he　said；　giving　care　to　each　word；　〃that　we　have　a　problem。〃

〃A　problem？〃　She　frowned。　〃What　problem？〃

Eying　her　warily；　he　said；　〃I　had　two　cancellations　yesterday。〃

〃Cancellations？〃

〃That's　right。　The　schools。　They　don't　have　the　money　to　finance　us　for

the　next　semester。〃

She　sat　straighter。　〃Are　you　serious？〃

；〃Very。〃

〃But　I　thought…〃

〃So　did　I。〃

〃I　just　sent　Josh　out　of　here　with　a　great　proposal。　You　mean　to　say

that　he　won't　be　able　to　apply　it？〃

〃Not　in　Hingham　or　Westerly　he　won't。　There　are　still　the　wealthier

munities。。　。〃　His　voice　trailed　off；　his　implication　clear。