cw.imarriedadeadman-第5章
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in room bright； you don't have to have a whole chandelier。 When it smiled； everything else smiled with it Her nose crinkled； and her eyebrows arched； and her eyes creased； and dimples showed up where there hadn't been any a minute before。 She looked as though she smiled a lot。 She looked as though she had a lot to smile about。
She continually toyed with a wedding…band on her third finger。 Caressed it； so to speak； fondled it。 She was probably unconscious of doing so by this time； it must have bee a fixed habit by now。 But originally； months ago； when it was first there； when it was new there； she must have taken such a fierce pride in it that she'd felt the need for continually displaying it to all the world…as if to say； 〃Look at me！ Look what I've got！ 〃…must have held such an affection for it that she couldn't keep her hands off it for very long。 And now； though pride and affection were in nowise less； this had formed itself into a winning little habit that persisted。 No matter what move her hands made； no matter what gesture they expressed； it always managed to e uppermost； to be foremost in the beholder's eye。
It had a row of diamonds； and then a sapphire at each end for a stop。 She caught her new seat…mate's glance resting upon it； so then she turned it around her way a little more； so she could see it all the better； gave it a pert little brush…off with her fingers； as if to dispel the last； lingering； hypothetical grain of dust。 A brush…off that pretended she didn't care any more about it just then。 Just as her attitude toward him pretended she didn't care anything about him either。 A brush…off that lied like the very devil。
They were both chatting away absorbedly； as new…found friends do； by the time he reappeared some ten minutes later。 He came up to them acting secretive and mysterious in a rather conspicuous way。 He looked cautiously left and right first； as if bearing tidings of highest secrecy。 Then screened the side of his mouth with the edge of one hand。 Then leaned down and whispered； 〃Pat； one of the porters just tipped me off。 They're going to open up the dining…car in a couple of minutes。 Special； inside； advance information。 You know what that'll mean in this mob。 I think we better start moving up that way if we want to get in under the rope on the first shift。 There'll be a stampede under way as soon as word gets around。〃
She jumped to her feet with alacrity。
He immediately soft…pedalled her with the flats of both hands； in ic intensity。 〃Sh！ Don't give it away！ What are you trying to do？ Act indifferent。 Act as if you weren't going anywhere in particular； were just getting up to stretch your legs。〃
She smothered an impish chuckle。 〃When I'm going to the dining…car； I just can't act as if I weren't going anywhere in particular。 It stands out all over me。 You're lucky if you hold me down to a twenty…yard dash。〃 But to oblige his ideas of Machiavellian duplicity； she exaggeratedly arched her feet and tiptoed out into the aisle； as though the amount of noise she made had any relation to what they were trying to do。
In passing； she pulled persuasively at the sleeve of the girl beside her。 〃e on。 You're ing with us； aren't you？〃 she whispered conspiratorially。
〃What about the seats？ We'll lose them； won't we？〃
〃Not if we put our baggage on them。 Here； like this。〃 She raised the other girl's valise； which had been standing there in the aisle until now； and between them they planked it lengthwise across the seat； effectively blocking it。
The girl was on her feet now； dislodged by the valise； but she still hung back； hesitant about going with them。
The young wife seemed to understand； she was quick that way。 She sent him on ahead； out of earshot； to break trail for them。 Then turned to her recent seat…mate in tactful reassurance。 〃Don't worry about…anything； he'll look after everything。〃 And then； making confidantes of the two of them about this； to minimize the other's embarrassment； she promised her： 〃I'll see that he does。 That's what they're for； anyway。〃
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
