第7部分(第4/7 頁)

r　the　battery。　I'm　not　helpless。　I　can　take　care　of　myself！〃

A　muscle　worked　in　his　jaw。　〃Then　it　was　a　matter　of　principle？〃

〃Principle？　I　wasn't　thinking　about　principle。　I　simply　saw　it　as　my

responsibility。　It　was　kind　of　you　to　offer　to　pay；　but　I　feel　more

fortable　this　way。　I　wanted　to　take　care　of　it　myself〃

〃Ah。　The　independent　woman。　So　that's　how　you　intend　to　live　the　rest　of

your　life？〃　he　challenged；　and　drawled；　〃All　by　yourself。？〃

Chloe　was　startled　by　the　turn　of　the　conversation。　〃This　is　crazy；〃　she

said。　〃You　show　up　here；　out　of　the　blue；　without　so　much　as　a　civil

hello；　and　start　criticizing　me？　I　don't　have　to　defend　my　lifestyle　to

you　or　anyone　else！〃　She　turned　away；　then　turned　right　back；　confused。

〃Why　are　you　here；　Ross？　Did　you　e　all　the　way　from　Park　Avenue　to

call　me　out　for　repaying　your　loan？　Little　pton　is　on　the　way　to

nowhere。　We're　at　the　tip　of　a　peninsula。　So　don't　tell　me　you　were　just

passing　through。〃

〃No。〃　His　features　had　begun　to　relax；　though　his　eyes　remained　clear

and　direct。　〃I　wanted　to　see　you。〃

Chloe　could　deal　with　the　angry　Ross　more　easily　than　she　could　with　the

gentler　one。　Unfortable　now；　she　bent　for　her　towel　and　straightened

holding　it　tight。　〃You　could　have　called　if　you　wanted　to　discuss　the

Rye　Beach　plex。　Nothing　much　will　happen　until　the　referendum　in

November。　Unless；　of　course；　you　alter　your　proposal。〃　Satisfied　with

her　minor　dig；　she　began　to　mop　her　face　and　neck。　Ross　ignored　the

barb。　〃I'm　not　here　on　business。　I　came　to　see　you。〃

〃That's　a　mistake；〃　she　whispered；　hearing　pain；　feeling　pain。　He

replied　as　softly。　〃Then　a