按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and science isn't what they need； it's a home； a house of their own； that no one can take away from them。
It was the right time； almost the only time； for reading a book。 You could give it your full attention； you could lose yourself in it。 You bee one with it for awhile； selfless。
In the library； it took her some time to make a definitive selection。 She did a considerable amount of leaf…fluttering along the shelves； made two false starts back to the chair for an opening paragraph or two； before she'd finally settled on something that gave an indication of suiting her。
Marie Antoinette； by Katharine Anthony。
She'd never cared much for fiction； somehow。 Something about it made her slightly unfortable； perhaps a reminder of the drama in her own life。 She liked things （her mind expressed it） that had really happened。 Really happened； but long ago and far away； to someone entirely else； someone that never could be confused with herself。 In the case of a fictional character； you soon； involuntarily； began identifying yourself with him or her。 In the case of a character who had once been an actual living personage； you did not You sympathized objectively； but it ended there。 It was always； from first to last； someone else。 Because it had once； in reality； been someone else。 （Escape； they would have called this； though in her case it was the reverse of what it was for others。 They escaped from humdrum reality into fictional drama。 She escaped from too much personal drama into a reality of the past。）
For an hour； maybe more； she was one with a woman dead a hundred and fifty years； she lost track of time。
Dimly； with only a marginal part of her faculties； she heard brakes go on somewhere outside in the quiet night。
〃。 。 。 Axel Fersen drove swiftly through the dark streets。〃 （They're back。 I'll finish this chapter first。） 〃An hour and a half later； the coach passed through the gate of Saint…Martin。 。 。〃
A key turned in the front door。 It opened； then it closed。 But no murmur of homeing voices eddied in。 Vocal silence； if not the total kind。 Firm； energetic footsteps； a single pair； struck across the preliminary gap of bare flooring adjacent to the door； then blurred off along the ball carpeting。
〃。 。 。 A little way beyond； they saw a large travelling…carriage drawn up at the side of the road。〃 （No； that's Bill； not they。 He's the one just came in。 I forgot； they didn't take the car with them； the Michaelsons live just around the corner） 〃a large travelling…carriage drawn up at the side of the road 。 。 。〃
The tread went to the back。 Aunt Josie 's pantry…light flashed on again。 She couldn't have seen it from where she was； but she knew it by the click of its switch。 She knew all the lights by the clicks of their switches。 The direction from which the click came； and its sharpness or faintness of tone。 You can learn those things about a house。
She heard water surge from a tap； and then an emptied glass go down。 Then the lid of the cookie…jar went down； with its heavy； hollowed； ringing； porcelain thud。 It stayed down for some time； too； was in no hurry to go back on again。
〃。 。 。 drawn up at the side of the road。〃 （Aunt Josie'll have a fit She always scolds him。 She never scolds me； for doing the very same thing。 I guess she used to when he was a boy； and can't get over the habit） 〃The pseudo Madame Korff and her party entered the carriage。 。 。〃
The lid went back on again at long last。 The footsteps started forward again； emerged into the back of the hall。 They stopped short； backed up a step； the floor creaked slightly with doubled weight in one place。
〃。 。 。〃 （He dropped a chunk on the floor； stopped to pick it up。 Doesn't want her to see it lying there in the morning； and know what he's been up to。 I bet he's still afraid of Aunt Josie in his heart； in a little…boy way。） 〃 。 。 。〃
But her thoughts were not consciously of him or on him。 They were on her book。 It was the perimeter of her mind； the unused residue； that kept up a running mentary to itself； and which the center of her attention paid no heed to。
He subsided for awhile； was lost to awareness。 Must have been slumped somewhere； finishing his cookies。 Probably with a leg thrown over a chair…arm； if he was in a chair at all。
He had known they were going over to the Michaelsons； and must have thought she had gone with them； that he was alone in the house。 The library was to the right of the stairs； and he had taken the left channel； to the pantry and return； hadn't e near here as yet； so he couldn't have known that she was in here。 The shaded lamp she was beside had a limited radius of reflection that did not reach past the room…doorway。
Suddenly his lithe footfalls were underway again； had remenced； the nibbling interlude at an end。 They struck out into the hail again； clarifying as they emerged from wherever it was he had been； rounded the bottom of the stairs； and turned in on this side。 They were ing straight toward here； toward this room she was unsuspectedly in。
She went ahead steadily reading； trapped by the mounting interest of the passage she had just entered upon； held fast。 Didn't even raise her eyes。
His tread reached the threshold。 Then it stopped short there； almost with a recoil。
For perhaps a moment he stood stock…still； looking at her。
Then； abruptly； he took an awkward step in retreat； a full step to the rear； turned； went away again。
It was almost subconsciously that she knew all this； not in full consciousness； at least not as yet。 It was there； clinging to her awareness； but it hadn't penetrated it as yet。
〃。 。 。〃 （Why did he turn and go away like that； when he saw me in here alone？） 〃。 。 。 and disposed themselves upon the fortable cushions。 。 。 。〃 （He intended ing in here。 He did e as far as the door。 Then when he saw that I was in here； and didn't seem to have seen him yet； he backed away。 Why？ Why was that？） 〃Axel Fersen took the reins。。。。〃
Slowly the spell of the book unravelled； disintegrated。 Her eyes left its pages for the first time。 She raised her head questioningly； still holding the book open before her。
Why？ Why did he do that？
It isn't that he was afraid of disturbing me。 We're all one family； we don't stand on ceremony like that with one another。 We all go from room to room as we like without a by…your…leave； except in the upstairs…rooms； and this isn't upstairs； this is down here。 He didn't even say hello。 When he saw that I didn't see him； he wanted it left that way； did his best to keep it that way； tried not to attract my attention。 Withdrew backward the first step； and only then turned around。
The front door had reopened； but without closing behind him。 He'd gone out front for a moment； to put the car away。 She heard the thump of its door as he shut it on himself； heard its gears mesh into motion。
Doesn't he like me？ Is that why he doesn't want to find himself alone in a room with me； when no one else is here？ Is he holding something against me？ I thought…it seemed…as if his full confidence had been given to me long ago； but…To balk like that； curb himself； almost swerve away； at the very threshold。
And then suddenly； quite simply； almost matter…of…factly； s