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第5部分

cw.imarriedadeadman-第5部分

小说: cw.imarriedadeadman 字数: 每页4000字

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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

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