第42部分(第3/6 頁)

　once　you　knew；

you'd　despise　me。〃　For　a　long　and　heartrending　moment；　he　stared　at　her。

Then　he　cursed　softly。　〃What's；　what's　the　use。　It's　happened；　and　I

deserve　it。　I　was　too　blinded　by　my　own　need　to　see　to　yours。〃　He　took　a

ragged　breath。　〃I　just　wonder　when　the　punishment　will　end。〃　Turning　on

his　heel；　he　stalked　out　of　the　room；　leaving　Anne　alone　and　in　shock。

The　slam　of　the　back　door　jolted　her；　but　even　then　it　was　a　minute

before　she　could　move。　Bolting　up；　she　ran　after　him　out　of　the　house；

stumbling　on　the　steps；　catching　herself　and　running　on。　The　hammer　of

her　heart　made　breathing　difficult；　but　she　didn't　stop。

He　was　fast　disappearing　into　the　woods。　Frantically　she　followed；

running　on　through　the　low　growth　until　she　reached　a　clearing。　He　sat

there　with　his　back　to　her；　brooding　among　the　dandelions。　The　sun

glanced　off　his　hair　in　sparkles；　but　his　hunched　form　was　grim。

〃Mitch？〃

She　crept　nearer。

〃Mitch；　I'm　sorry；　so　sorry。〃　She　tried　to　touch　him；　but　pulled　back

when　he　flinched。　So　she　hunkered　down　inches　behind　him　and　said；　〃I've

been　wrong。　Please　forgive　me。　It　was　cruel　of　me　not　to　listen；　not　to

even　ask　questions；　but　it　hurt　to　know　that　there　was　so　much　I　didn't

know；　after　everything　that　we'd　shared。　Because　of　what　we'd　shared；　I

should　have　given　you　the　chance　to　explain；　but　I　loved