第4部分(第2/7 頁)

d　a　crock　of　steaming　beef　stew；　put

together　from　leftovers；　and　a　half…loaf　of　what　appeared　to　be

home…baked　bread　on　the　table　did　she　realize　that　she　had　done　all　the

work。　But　it　had　kept　her　mind　occupied。　Ross　had　been　in　and　out　of　the

room　as　she　worked；　finally　settling　down　on　a　tall　stool　by　a

butcher…block　counter　to　watch。

His　presence　didn't　upset　her　now　as　much　as　it　had　earlier。　She　had

gotten　over　the　shock；　she　guessed。　Still；　she　felt　vaguely　shy　when

they　were　actually　ready　to　eat。

〃Uh；　is　there　anything　else　you　want？〃　She　skimmed　the　simple　place

settings；　the　two　large　bowls　filled　with　stew。　〃A　drink？〃

He　made　no　move　to　help　himself　For　old　times'　sake；　so　the　liberated

woman　told　herself；　she　indulged　him。

〃Milk　would　be　fine。〃

He　waited　while　she　searched　for　glasses　and　filled　two。　She　sat　down

opposite　him。　Once　several　mouthfuls　of　the　thick　stew　had　warmed　her

stomach；　she　put　her　spoon　down。　Something　stuck　in　her　craw。

〃I'm　not　unhappy；〃　she　stated；　so　softly　and　apparently　unexpectedly

that　Ross　looked　perplexed。　〃You　thought　I　looked　unhappy。　I'm　not。〃

He　went　back　to　eating；　but　slowly；　thoughtfully。　〃No；　I　suppose　you're

not；　not　right　now；〃　he　finally　said。　〃But　earlier；　there　was　a　look　in

your　eyes。　It　es　and　goes。　There　it　is　again。〃

The　sound　of　his　voice　had　been　enough　to　spark　memories。　With　a　barely

perceptible　shake　of　her　head；　she　chased　them　off　again。　〃I　do　love

what　I'm　doing；〃　she　said。

〃Tell　me　about　it。　How　did　you　get　started？〃

〃You　heard　the　bare　outline　tonight。〃

〃The　bare　outline。　Now　I'd　like　to　hear　more。〃　His　pause　was