“可能就在我们眼皮子底下。你说是吧，杰克？”
这时候，在另一个房间里，玛丽·马勒尼笑了起来。
Theroomwaswarmahesdrawablelampsalight-hersaheemptychairopposite。Onthesideboardbehiallglasses，sodawater，whiskey。FreshicetheThermosbucket。
MaryMaloneywaswaitingforherhusbandtowork。
Nowandagainsheattheclock，butwithoutaopleaseherselfwiththethoughtthateautegoimewhenhewoulde。Therewasaslowsmilingairabouther，ahihedropofaheadasshebentwascuriouslytranquil。Herskin-forthiswashersixthmonthwithchild-hadacquiredaworay，themouthwassoft，aheirnewplaedlarger，darkerthaheclocksaidteofive，shebegantolisten，aslater，punctuallyasalways，sheheardthetiresonthegraveloutside，andtheiepspassingthewiurninginthelock。Shelaidasidehersewing，stoodup，aforwardtokisshimashe。
"Hell，"shesaid。
"Hell，"heanswered。
&ookhisdhungiti。Thenshewalkedoverahedrinks，astrongishoneforhim，aweakoneforherself；andsoonshewasbainherchairwiththesewiheother，opposite，holdiallglasswithbothhands，rogitsotheicekledagainsttheside。
Forher，thiswasalwaysablissfultimeofday。Sheknewhedidn'teakmutilthefirstdrinkwasfinished，andshe，onherside，wasttositquietly，enjoyinghispahelonghoursalohehouse。Shelovedtoluxuriateinthepresehisman，aasasuhesun-thatwarmmaleglowthattoherwhentheywerealoher。Shelovedhimforthewayhesatlooselyinachair，forthewayheadoor，ormovedslowlyacrosstheroomwithlongstrides。Shelovedi，farlookiheyrestedihefuhemouth，ahewayheremaihistiredingstillwithhimselfuntilthewhiskeyhadtakea>
"Tired，darling？"
"Yes，"hesaid。"I'mtired。"Andashespoke，hedidanunusualthiedhisglassainoneswallowalthoughtherewasstillhalfofit，atleasthalfofitleft。Shewasn'treallywatghim，butshekhehaddonebecausesheheardtheicecubesfallingbastthebottomoftheemptyglasswhenheloweredhisarm。Hepausedamoment，leaningforwardiheupaslowlyovertofetchhimselfanother。
"I'llgetit！"shecried，jumpingup。
"Sitdown，"hesaid。
Whenhecamebaoticedthatthenewdrinkwasdarkamberwiththequantityofwhiskeyinit。
&qu，shallIgetyourslippers？"
"No。"
&chedhimashebegantosipthedarkyellowdrink，andshecouldseelittleoilyswirlsintheliquidbecauseitwass。
"Ithinkit'sashame，"shesaid，"thatoligetstobeasseniorasyou，theykeephimwalkingaboutoalldaylong。"
Hedidn'tanswer，soshebentherheadagaihhersewiimeheliftedthedrinktohislips，sheheardtheicekingagainstthesideoftheglass。
&qu，"shesaid。"Wouldyoulikemetogetyousomecheese？Ihaven'tmadeanysupperbecauseit'sThursday。"
"No，"hesaid。
"Ifyou'retootiredtoeatout，"shewenton，"it'sstillnottoolate。There'spleuffinthefreezer，andyouhaveitrighthereandnotevehechair。"
&edonhimforananswer，asmile，alittlenod，buthemadenosign。
"Anyway，"shewenton，"I'llgetyousomedcrackersfirst。"
"Idon'twantit，"hesaid。
Shemoveduneasilyinherchair，thelargeeyesstillwatghisface。"Butyoumusteat！I'llfixitanyway，andthenyouhaveitornot，asyoulike。"
&oodupandplacedhersewiablebythelamp。
"Sitdown，"hesaid。"Justforamidown。"
Itwasn'ttillthehtened。
"Goon，"hesaid。"Sitdown。"
Sheloweredherselfbackslowlyintothechair，watghimallthetimewiththe，bewilderedeyes。Hehadfihesekandwasstaringdownintotheglass，frowning。
"Listen，"hesaid。"I'vegotsomethingtotellyou。"
"Whatisit，darling？What'sthematter？"
Hehadelymotionless，ahisheaddownsothatthelightfromthelampbesidehimfellacrosstheupperpartofhisfagthedmouthinshadow。Sheherewasalittlemusgheerofhislefteye。
"Thisisgoiofashocktoyou，I'mafraid，"hesaid。"ButI'vethoughtaboutitagooddealandI'vedecidedtheonlythingtodoistellyhtaeyouwon'tblamemetoomuch。"
Aoldher。Itdidn'ttakelong，fourorfivemi，averystillthroughitall，watghimwithakindofdazedhorrorashewentfurtherandfurtherawayfromherwitheachword。
"Sothereitis，"headded。"AndIknowit'skindofabadtimetobetellingyou，buttheresimplywasn'tanyotherway。OfcourseI'llgiveyoumoneyandseeyou'relookedafter。Buttherereallybeanyfuss。Ihopenotanyway。Itwouldn'tbeverygoodformyjob。"