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know the type。 When they go； you and Bill share unequally between you… Don't look so horrified； that lawyer of theirs hasn't exactly talked； but this is a small town； those things sort of seep around without even benefit of wordof…mouth。 I can wait that year； or even two or three if I have to。 The law gives a husband one…third of his wife's property。 Three…quarters of…I may be underestimating； but roughly I'd say four hundred thousand； that's three hundred thousand。 And then a third of that again… Don't cover your ears like that； Patrice； you look like someone out of a Marie Corelli novel。〃
He braked。 〃You can get out here； Patrice。 This is close enough。〃 And then he chuckled a little； watching her flounder to the pavement。 〃Are you sure you're able to walk steady？ I wouldn't want to have them think I'd plied you with…〃
The last thing he said was； 〃Make sure your clock isn't slow； Patrice。 Because the United States Mail is always on time。〃
38
The headlight…beams of his car kept slashing up the road ahead of them like ploughshares； seeming to cast aside its topsoil of darkness； reveal its borax…like white fill； and spill that out all over the roadway。 Then behind them the livid furrows would heal again into immediate darkness。
It seemed hours they'd been driving like this； in silence yet acutely aware of one another。 Trees went by； dimly lit up from below； along their trunks； by the passing reflection of their headlight…wash； into a sort of ghostly incandescence。 Then at times there weren't any trees； they fell back； and a plushy black evenness took their place…fields or meadows； she supposed…that smelled sweeter。 Clover。 It was beautiful country around here； too beautiful for anyone to be in such a hell of suffering in the midst of it。
Roads branched off at times； too； but they never took them。 They kept to this wide； straight one they were on。
They passed an indirectly lighted white sign； placed at right angles to the road so that it could be read as you came up to it。 It said 〃Wele to Hastings；〃 and then underneath； 〃Population…〃 and some figures too small to catch before they had already gone by。
She glanced briefly after it； in a sort of fascinated horror。
He'd apparently seen her do it； without looking directly at her。 〃That's across the State line；〃 he remarked drily。 〃Travel broadens one； they say。〃 It was nine forty…five now according to her wristwatch。 It had taken them only half an hour's drive to get here。
They passed through the town's nuclear main square。 A drugstore was still open； two of the old…fashioned jars of colored water that all drugstore…windows featured once upon a time flashing emerald and mauve at them as they went by。 A motion…picture theatre was still alive inside； but dying fast externally； its marquee already dark； its lobby dim。
He turned up one of the side streets； a tunnel under leafy shade trees； its houses all set back a lawn…spaced distance so that they were almost invisible in the night…shade from the roadway。 A dim light peering through from under the recesses of an ivy…covered porch seemed to attract him。 He shunted over to the walk suddenly； and back a little； and stopped opposite it。
They sat for awhile。
Then he got out on his side； came around to hers； and opened the door beside her。
〃e in；〃 he said briefly。
She didn't move； she didn't answer。
〃e on in with me。 They're waiting。〃
She didn't answer； didn't move。
〃Don't just sit there like that。 We had this all out before； back at Caulfield。 Move。 Say something； will you？〃
〃What do you want me to say？〃
He gave the door an impatient slap…to again； as if in momentary reprieve。 〃Get yourself together。 I'll go over and let them know we got here。〃
She watched him go； in a sort of stupor； as though this were happening to someone else； heard his tread go up the wooden plankwalk that led up to the house。 She could even hear the ring of the bell； from within the house； all the way out here where she was。 It was no wonder； it was so quiet。 Just little winged things buzzing and humming in a tree overhead。
She wondered： How does he know I won't suddenly start the car and drive off？ She answered that herself： He knows I won't。 He knows it's too late for that As I know it。 The time for stopping； for drawing back； for dashing off； that was long ago。 So long ago。 Long before tonight。 That was in the partment on the train ing here； when the wheels tried to warn me。 That was when the first note came。 That was when the first phone…call came； the first walk down to the drugstore。 I am as safely held fast here as though I were manacled to him。
She could hear their voices now。 A woman saying； 〃No； not at all； you made very good time。 e right in。〃
The doorway remained open； lighted。 Whoever had been standing in it had withdrawn into the house。 He was ing back toward her now。 The sound of his tread along the wooden walk。 She gripped the edge of the car…seat with her hands； dug them in under the leather cushions。
He was up to her now； standing there。
〃e on； Patrice；〃 he said casually。
That was the full horror of it； his casualness； his matter…of…factness。 He wasn't acting the part。
She spoke quietly too； as quietly as he； but her voice was as thin and blurred as a thrumming wire。
〃I can't do it。 Georgesson； don't ask me to do this。〃
〃Patrice； we've been all over this。 I told you the other night； and it was all settled then。〃
She covered her face with cupped hands； quickly uncovered it again。 She kept using the same four words； they were the only ones she could think of。 〃But I can't do it。 Don't you understand？ I can't do it。〃
〃There's no impediment You're not married to anyone。 Even in your assumed character； you're not married to anyone； much less as yourself。 I investigated all that in New York。〃
〃Steve。 Listen； I'm calling you Steve。〃
〃That doesn't melt me；〃 he assured her jocosely。 〃That's my name； I'm supposed to be called that〃 He lidded his eyes at her。 〃It's my given name； not one that I took for myself…Patrice。〃
〃Steve； I've never pleaded with you before。 In all these months； I've taken it like a woman。 Steve； if there's anything human in you at all I can appeal to…〃
〃I'm only too human。 That's why I like money as much as I do。 But your wires are crossed。 It's my very humanness； for that reason； that makes your appeal useless。 e on； Patrice。 You're wasting time。〃
She cowered away edgewise along the seat。 He drummed his fingers on the top of the door and laughed a little。
〃Why this horror of marriage？ Let me get to the bottom of your aversion。 Maybe I can reassure you。 There is no personal appeal involved； you haven't any for me。 I've got only contempt for you； for being the cheap； tricky little fool you are。 I'm leaving you on the doorstep of your ever…loving family again； just as soon as we get back to Caulfield。 This is going to be a paper marriage； in every sense of the word。 But it's going to stick； it's going to stick to the bitter end。 Now does that take care of your mid…Victorian qualms？〃
She cast the back of her hand across her eyes as though a blow had just blinded her。
He wrenched the door open。
〃They're waiting