第27部分(第7/8頁)

uldn't　be　safe　to　go　near　where　he　was　with　a　booze…clouded　head。　Not　even　with　bars　between　us。

〃I　don't　know　how　long　I　can　take　this；　Paul；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃There's　a　girl　who　es　in　mornings　to　help　me　with　her；　but　the　doctors　I　say　she　may　lose　control　of　her　bowels；　and　。。。　and　。。。〃

He　stopped；　his　throat　working；　trying　hard　not　to　cry　in　front　of　me　again。

〃Go　with　it　as　best　you　can；〃　I　said。　I　reached　out　across　the　table　and　briefly　squeezed　his　palsied；　liverspotted　hand。　〃Do　that　day　by　day　and　give　the　rest　over　to　God。　There's　nothing　else　you　can　do；　is　there？〃

〃I　guess　not。　But　it's　hard；　Paul。　I　pray　you　never　have　to　find　out　how　hard。〃

He　made　an　effort　to　collect　himself。

〃Now　tell　me　the　news。　How　are　you　doing　with　William　Wharton？　And　how　are　you　making　out　with　Percy　Wetmore？〃

We　talked　shop　for　a　while；　and　got　through　the　visit。　After；　all　the　way　home；　with　my　wife　sitting　silent；　for　the　most　part　…　wet…eyed　and　thoughtful　…　in　the　passenger　seat　beside　me；　Coffey's　words　ran　around　in　my　head　like　Mr。　Jingles　running　around　in　Delacroix's　cell：　I　helped　it；　didn't　I？

〃It's　terrible；〃　my　wife　said　dully　at　one　point。　〃And　there's　nothing　anyone　can　do　to　help　her。〃

I　nodded　agreement　and　thought；　I　helped　it；　didn't　I？　But　that　was　crazy；　and　I　tried　as　best　I　could　to　put　it　out　of　my　mind。

As　we　turned　into　our　dooryard；　she　finally　spoke　a　second　time　…　not　about　her