Chapter 9

           Atfouro’clocknextafternoonastationtaxistoppedatthegateandDickgotout.Suddenlyoffbalance,Nicoleranfromtheterracetomeethim,breathlesswithhereffortatself-control.

           "Where’sthecar?"sheasked.

           "IleftitinArles.Ididn’tfeellikedrivinganymore."

           "Ithoughtfromyournotethatyou’dbeseveraldays."

           "Iranintoamistralandsomerain."

           "Didyouhavefun?"

           "Justasmuchfunasanybodyhasrunningawayfromthings.IdroveRosemaryasfarasAvignonandputheronhertrainthere."Theywalkedtowardtheterracetogether,wherehedepositedhisbag."Ididn’ttellyouinthenotebecauseIthoughtyou’dimaginealotofthings."

           "Thatwasveryconsiderateofyou."Nicolefeltsurerofherselfnow.

           "Iwantedtofindoutifshehadanythingtooffer—theonlywaywastoseeheralone."

           "Didshehave—anythingtooffer?"

           "Rosemarydidn’tgrowup,"heanswered."It’sprobablybetterthatway.Whathaveyoubeendoing?"

           Shefeltherfacequiverlikearabbit’s.

           "Iwentdancinglastnight—withTommyBarban.Wewent—"

           Hewinced,interruptingher.

           "Don’ttellmeaboutit.Itdoesn’tmatterwhatyoudo,onlyIdon’twanttoknowanythingdefinitely."

           "Thereisn’tanythingtoknow."

           "Allright,allright."Thenasifhehadbeenawayaweek:"Howarethechildren?"

           Thephoneranginthehouse.

           "Ifit’sformeI’mnothome,"saidDickturningawayquickly."I’vegotsomethingstodooverinthework-room."