cw.imarriedadeadman-第5部分

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　The　girl　tried　to　falter　an　insincere　denial；　that　only　proved　the　surmise　had　been　right　〃No；　it　isn't　that…I　don't　like　to…〃
　But　her　new　friend　had　already　taken　her　acceptance　for　an　acplished　fact；　had　no　more　time　to　waste　on　it。　〃Hurry　up；　we'll　lose　him；〃　she　urged。　〃They're　closing　in　again　behind　him。〃
　She　urged　her　forward　ahead　of　herself；　a　friendly　hand　lightly　placed　just　over　her　outside　hip。
　〃You　can't　neglect　yourself　now；　of　all　times；〃　she　cautioned　her　in　an　undertone。　〃I　know。　They　told　me　that　myself。〃
　The　pioneering　husband；　meanwhile；　was　cutting　a　wide　swath　for　them　down　the　center　of　the　clogged　aisle；　causing　people　to　lean　acutely　in　over　the　seats　to　give　clearance。　And　yet　with　never　a　resentful　look。　He　seemed　to　have　that　way　about　him；　genial　but　firm。
　〃It's　useful　to　have　a　husband　who　used　to　be　on　the　football　team；〃　his　bride　mented　placently。　〃He　can　run　your　interference　for　you。　Just　look　at　the　width　of　that　back；　would　you？〃
　When　they　had　overtaken　him；　she　plained　petulantly；　〃Wait　for　me；　can't　you？　I　have　two　to　feed。〃
　〃So　have　I；〃　was　the　totally　unchivalrous　remark　over　his　shoulder。　〃And　they're　both　me。〃
　They　were；　by　dint　of　his　foresight；　the　first　ones　in　the　dining…car；　which　was　inundated　within　moments　after　the　doors　had　been　thrown　open。　They　secured　a　choice　table　for　three；　diagonal　to　a　window。　The　unlucky　ones　had　to　wait　on　line　in　the　aisle　outside；　the　door　inhospitably　closed　in　their　faces。
　〃Just　so　we　won't　sit　down　to　the　table　still　not　knowing　each　other's　names；〃　the　young　wife　said；　cheerfully　unfolding　her　napkin；　〃he's　Hazzard；　Hugh；　and　I'm　Hazzard；　Patrice。〃　Her　dimples　showed　up　in　depreciation。　〃Funny　name；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Be　more　respectful；〃　her　young　spouse　growled；　without　lifting　his　forehead　from　the　bill　of　fare。　〃I'm　just　trying　you　out　for　it　I　haven't　decided　yet　whether　I'll　let　you　keep　it　or　not。〃
　〃It's　mine　now；〃　was　the　feminine　logic　he　got。　〃I　haven't　decided　whether　I'll　let　you　keep　it　or　not〃
　〃What's　your　name？〃　she　asked　their　guest。
　〃Georgesson；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Helen　Georgesson。〃
　She　smiled　hesitantly　at　the　two　of　them。　Gave　him　the　outside　edge　of　her　smile；　gave　her　the　center　of　it。　It　wasn't　a　very　broad　smile；　but　it　had　depth　and　gratitude；　the　little　there　was　of　it。
　〃You've　both　been　awfully　friendly　to　me；〃　she　said。
　She　looked　down　at　the　menu　card　she　held　spread　between　her　hands；　so　they　wouldn't　detect　the　flicker　of　emotion　that　made　her　lips　tremble　for　a　moment
　〃It　must　be　an　awful　lot　of　fun　to　be…you；〃　she　murmured　wistfully。
　
　
　5
　
　By　the　time　the　overhead　lights　in　their　car　had　been　put　out；　around　ten；　so　that　those　who　wanted　to　sleep　could　do　so；　they　were　already　old　and　fast　friends。　They　were　already　〃Patrice〃　and　〃Helen〃　to　one　another；　this；　as　might　have　been　surmised；　at　Patrice's　instigation。　Friendship　blooms　quickly　in　the　hothouse　atmosphere　of　travel；　within　the　space　of　hours；　sometimes；　it's　already　full…blown。　Then　just　as　suddenly　is　snapped　off　short；　by　the　inevitable　separation　of　the　travelers。　It　seldom　if　ever　survives　that　separation　for　long。　That　is　why；　on　ships　and　trains；　people　have　fewer　reticences　with　one　another；　they　exchange　confidences　more　quickly；　tell　all　about　themselves；　they　will　never　have　to　see　these　same　people　again；　and　worry　about　what　opinion　they　may　have　formed；　whether　good　or　bad。
　The　small；　shaded；　individual　sidelights　provided　for　each　seat；　that　could　be　turned　on　or　off　at　will；　were　still　on　for　the　most　part；　but　the　car　was　restfully　dimmer　and　quieter；　some　of　its　occupants　already　dozing。　Patrice's　husband　was　in　an　inert；　hat…shrouded　state　on　the　valise　that　again　stood　alongside　his　original　seat；　his　crossed　legs　precariously　slung　upward　to　the　top　of　the　seat　ahead。　However；　he　seemed　fortable　enough；　judging　by　the　sonorous　sounds　that　escaped　from　inside　his　hat　now　and　then。　He　had　dropped　out　of　their　conversation　fully　an　hour　before；　and；　an　unkind　mentary　this　on　the　importance　of　men　to　women's　conversations；　to　all　appearances　hadn't　even　been　missed。
　Patrice　was　acting　the　part　of　a　look…out；　her　eyes　watchfully　and　jealously　fastened　on　a　certain　door；　far　down　the　aisle　behind　them；　in　the　dim　distance。　To　do　this；　she　was　kneeling　erect　on　the　seat；　in　reverse；　staring　vigilantly　over　the　back　of　it。　This　somewhat　unconventional　position；　however；　did　nothing　whatever　to　inhibit　her　conversational　flow；　which　proceeded　as　freely　and　blithely　as　ever。　Only；　owing　to　her　elevated　stance；　the　next　seat　back　now　shared　the　benefit　of　most　of　it；　along　with　her　own。　Fortunately；　however；　its　occupants　were　disqualified　from　any　great　amount　of　interest　in　it　by　two　facts；　they　were　both　men；　and　they　were　both　asleep。
　A　ripple　of　reflected　light　suddenly　ran　down　the　sleek　chromium　of　the　door　that　had　her　attention。
　〃She　just　came　out；〃　she　hissed　with　an　explosive　sibilance；　and　executed　an　agitated　series　of　twists；　turns；　and　drops　on　the　seat；　as　though　this　were　something　vital　that　had　to　be　acted　upon　immediately。　〃Hurry　up！　Now！　Now's　our　chance。　Get　a　move　on。　Before　somebody　else　gets　there　ahead　of　us。　There's　a　fat　woman　three　seats　down　been　taking　her　things　out　little　by　little。　If　she　ever　gets　in　first；　we're　sunk！〃　Carried　away　by　her　own　excitement　（and　everything　in　life；　to　her；　seemed　to　be　deliciously；　titillatingly　exciting）；　she　even　went　so　far　as　to　give　her　seat…mate　a　little　push　and　urge　her：　〃Run！　Hold　the　door　for　us。　Maybe　if　she　sees　you　there　already；　she'll　change　her　mind。〃
　She　prodded　her　relaxed　spouse　cruelly　and　heartlessly　in　a　great　many　places　at　once；　to　bring　him　back　to　awareness。
　〃Quick！　Hugh！　The　overnight…case！　We'll　lose　our　chance。　Up　there；　stupid。　Up　there　on　the　rack…〃
　〃All　right；　take　it　easy；〃　the　somnolent　Hugh　grunted；　eyes　still　pletely　buried　under　his　obliterating　hat…brim。　〃Talk；　talk；　talk；　Yattatta；　yattatta；　yattatta。　Woman　is　born　to　exercise　her　jaw。〃
　〃Man　is　born　to　get　a　poke　on　his；　if　he　doesn't　get　a　move　on。〃
　He　finally　pushed　his　hat　back　out　of　the　way。　〃What　do　you　want　from　me　now？　You　got　it　down　yourself。〃
　〃Well；　get　your　big　legs　out　of　the　way　and　let　us　by！　You're　blocking　the　way…〃
　He　executed　a　sort　of　drawbridge　maneuver；　folding　his　legs　back　to　himself；　hugging　them；　then　stretching　them　out　again　after　the　passage　had　been　acplished。
　〃Where　y'going；　in　such　a　hurry？〃　he　asked　innocently。
　〃Now；　isn't　that　stupid？〃　mented　Patrice　to　her　panion。
　The　two　of　them　went　almost　running　down　the　aisle；　without　bothering　to　enlighten　him　further。
　〃He　takes　a　thirty…six　sleeve；　and　it　doesn't　do　me　a　bit　of　good　in　an　emergency；〃　she　plained　en　route；　swinging　the　kit。
　He　had　turned　his　head　to　watch　them　curiously；　and　in　perfectly　sincere　inprehension。　Then　he　went；　〃Oh。〃　Understanding　their　destination　now；　if　not　the　turmoil　attendant　on　it。　Then　he　pulled　his　hat　down　to　his　nose　again；　to　resume　his　fractured　slumbers　where　they　had　been　broken　off　by　this　feminine　logistical　upheaval。
　Patrice　had　closed　the　chromium　door　after　the　two　of　them；　meanwhile；　and　given　its　inside　lock…control　a　little　twist　of　defiant　exclusion。　Then　she　let　out　a　deep　breath。　〃There。　We're　in。　And　possession　is　nine…tenths　of　the　law。　I'm　going　to　take　as　long　as　I　want；〃　she　announced　determinedly；　setting　down　the　overnight…case　and　unlatching　its　lid。　〃If　anybody　else　wants　to　get　in；　they'll　just　have　to　wait。　There's　only　room　enough　for　two　anyway。　And　even　so；　they　have　to　be　awfully　good　friends。〃
　〃We're　nearly　the　last　ones　still　up；　anyway；〃　Helen　said。
　〃Here；　have　some？〃　Patrice　was　bringing　up　a　fleecy　fistful　of　facial　tissues　from　the　case；　she　divided　them　with　her　friend。
　〃I　missed　these　an　awful　lot　on　the　Other　Side。　Couldn't　get　them　for　love　nor　money。　I　used　to　ask　and　ask；　and　they　didn't　know　what　I　meant…〃
　She　stopped　and　eyed　her　panion。　〃Oh；　you　have　nothing　to　rub　off；　have　you？　Well；　here；　rub　some　of　this　on；　then　you'll　have　that　to　rub　off。〃
　Helen　laughed。　〃You　make　me　feel　so　giddy；〃　she　said　with　a　wistful　sort　of　admiration。
　Patrice　hunched　her　shoulders　and　grimaced　impishly。　〃It's　my　last　fling；　sort　of。　From　tomorrow　night　on　I　may　have　to　be　on　my　best　behavior。　Sober　and　sedate。〃　She　made　a　long　face；　and　steepled　her　hands　against　her　stomach；　in　mimicry　of　a　bluenosed　clergyman。
　〃Oh；　on　account　of　meeting　your　in…laws；〃　Helen　remembered。
　〃Hugh　says　they're　not　like　that　at　all；　I　have　absolutely　nothing　to　worry　about。　But　of　course　he　just　may　be　slightly　prejudiced　in　their　favor。　I　wouldn't　think　much　of　him　if　he　wasn't。〃
　She　was　scouring　a　mystic　white　circle　on　each　cheek；　and　then　spreading　them　around；　mouth　open　the　whole　while；　though　it　played　no　part　in　the　rite　itself。
　〃Go　ahead；　help　yourself；〃　she　invited。　〃Stick　your　finger　in　and　dig　out　a　gob。　I'm　not　sure　what　it　does　for　you；　but　it　smells　nice；　so　there's　nothing　to　lose。〃
　〃Is　that　really　true；　what　you　told　me？〃　Helen　said；　following　suit。　〃That　they've　never　even　seen　you　until　now？　I　can't　believe　it〃
　〃Cross　my　h