第3部分(第3/7 頁)

He　was　that　much　taller　than　she　was。　She　had　to　tip　up　her　head。　〃Fine。

And　you？〃

〃Not　bad。　You're　looking　well。〃　He　gave　her　a　warm　once…over。　〃Very

different。〃　Humor　tugged　at　the　corners　of　his　lips。

〃So　are　you。〃　Even　in　spite　of　an　inner　trembling；　she　could　appreciate

the　humor。　〃When　I　last　saw　you；　you　were　distinctly　antiestablishment。

This　is　a　switch。〃

His　stance　was　a　casual　one；　the　hand　in　his　pocket　not　only　emphasizing

the　solid　wall　of　his　chest　but　pulling　the　fabric　of　his　trousers

across　his　thigh　in　a　way　that　showed　the　strength　of　seemingly　endless

legs。

〃Not　entirely。　It's　just　that　now　I　save　my　jeans　for　free…time　wear　and

my　boots　for　cold　weather。〃

So　he；　too；　remembered　what　he　had　worn　that　night。　〃And　the　peasant

shirt？〃　she　asked　softly。

He　laughed。　〃The　peasant　shirt　was　replaced　for　a　while　by　a　dashiki；

but　I'm　afraid　the　modern　me　is　addicted　to　ordinary　sports　shirts　and

sweaters。〃

〃Conventional；〃　she　murmured　with　a　faltering　smile；　teasing　him　as　much

as　she　dared。　It　was　hard　to　remain　indifferent　to　this　man。　She　felt

the　strain。

〃Sadly　so；〃　he　agreed　without　any　sadness。　〃But　look　at　you。　You've　done

a　turnaround。　Last　time　I　saw　you；　your　hair　was　curled；　you　wore

makeup；　higher　heels；　and　more　daring　clothes。　You　also　talked　New

Orleans。　Where'd　the　accent　go？〃

Chloe　drew　in　a　long　breath。　〃It　faded。　I've　lived　up　north　for　too

long。　Time　does　different　things　to　each　of　us；　I　guess。〃

〃It's　for　the　better。　You　look　beautiful。　Unhappy；　but　beautiful。〃

His　candor　made　her　balk。　Seeing　him　was　painful　enough。　Talking　more