博炮作文网

第39部分（第4页）

forcefully。　〃Unless　you　have　anything　different　to　ask；　I　suggest　we　let

Mrs。　Boulton　go。　There　are　other　depositions　to　be　taken；　from　my　client

and　yours。〃

Reluctantly　the　other　lawyer　agreed。　〃Very　well。　Thank　you；　Mrs。

Boulton。　I　have　no　further　questions。〃

Anne　heard　nothing　of　the　remaining　exchange。　Feeling　hollowed　out；　she

let　her　father…in…law　guide　her　from　the　room　and　the　building；　then

drive　her　home。

〃There；　now；　that　wasnt　so　bad；〃　he　said　when　they　were　back　at　Annes

place；　but　her　silence　must　have　tipped　him　off。　He　went　to　the　liquor

cabi　and　returned　with　a　glass　of　amber　liquid。　〃Drink　this。　Itll

help。〃

She　downed　the　liquid　quickly；　sputtering　in　reaction　to　the　flame　that

scared　her　throat。　Unable　to　think；　much　less　speak；　she　let　her　head

fall　back　against　the　sofa　and　closed　her　eyes　to　the　world。

〃Let　me　call　your　mother；　Anne。　Shell　want　to　be　with　you。〃

Anne　shook　her　head　once；　then　again。

〃Are　you　sure？　Would　you　like　me　to　stay　awhile？〃

She　forced　her　head　up　and　her　eyes　open。　〃No。　I　think　Id　like　to　be

alone。〃

He　looked　torn；　but　he　bent　and　kissed　her　head。　〃Its　over　now。　Keep

telling　yourself　that。　Its　all　over。〃　With　a　reassuring　pat　to　her

shoulder；　he　let　himself　out。

Over。　Well；　it　certainly　was　that。　Annes　heart　might　have　grieved　for

what　had　been　lost　that　day；　but　her　mind　simply　shut　down。　Exhausted

and　in　need　of　escape；　she　dozed　off　within　minutes　right　there　on　the

sofa。　The　harsh　peal　of　the　phone　brought　her　awake　with　a　jolt。

It　was　her　mother；　filled　with　concern。　〃Ted　just　called　and　explained

what　happened。　Are　you　all　right？〃

〃Yes。　Im　fine。〃

〃You　dont　sound　it。〃

〃I　was　sleeping。　Im　worn　out。〃

〃Would　you　like　me　to　run　over　and　take　you　out　。。。　for　a　late　lunch；

perhaps？〃

Anne　shot　a　startled　look　at　her　watch。　It　was　nearly　two…thirty。　Lunch

had　fallen　by　the　wayside；　along　with　her　appetite。　The　thought　of　food

turned　her　stomach。

〃Anne？〃

〃Yes；　Mother。　No；　thanks。　I　dont　feel　like　eating。〃

〃Was　the　deposition　that　bad？〃