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〃Yes。 I didn't dare tell you。〃…
〃You would never have told me； Theodore。 So I had to be bold and let you know that I feel it； too。〃 She added； 〃The turn is just ahead； I think。〃
〃I think so too。 I'll need both hands to drive that lane。〃
〃Yes；〃 she agreed； surrendering his arm； 〃but only till we get tbere。'Then I want both your arms 。 and all your atten
tion。〃…
〃Yes！〃 He drove in carefully； avoiding ruts；； until the lane widened into the level grassy spot he remembered。 There he
…turned the car full circle； in part to head it out but primarily to see that no one else was there。 His headlights picked …up noth
…ing but grass and trees…good！ （Or was it good？ Oh； my darling；
do you know what you are doing？）… …
He switched off the lights； stopped the engine； set the hand brake。 Maureen came right into his arms； her mouth sought his； opened wide to him。 For long moments they needed no words； her mouth； her hands were as eager as his and even bolder； urging him on。
Presently she chuckled happily against his lips and whispered； 〃Stnprised？ But I can't say a proper good…bye to my warrior with bloomers on ？so I took them off when I went upstairs； and my corset； too。 Don't hold back； dear one； you
…can't harm me…I'm expecting。〃〃What did you say？〃
〃Theodore； must I always be the one with bold words and bold actions…？ I am pregnant； seven weeks now。 Certain。〃
〃Oh。〃 He added thoughtfully； 〃This seat is narrow。〃
〃I hear that the young people sometimes take the back seat out and put it on the ground。 Or do chiggers worry you？
Audacity； darling； … a warrior must be audacious…so says my father； …and my husband agrees。 …There is a lap rug back？there； too。〃
（Maureen； my love； there is no doubt where I got my own audacity…or my ruttiness。 From you； darling。） 〃If you'll let go of me； I'll g~t them out。 I'm not afraid of chiggers…nor of the loveliest woman I've ever held in my arms。 I just have
trouble believing it。！'…
〃I'll help！〃
She was out of the car without waiting； he slid across the
… seat and followed her。 She opened the tonneau door…and stopped。 Then she said loudly and happily； 〃Woodrow； you're a scamp！ Sergeant Theodore！ See who is sleeping in the back seat！〃 As she spoke； she fumbled behind her； trying to reach buttons of his that …she； had unbuttoned。 Lazarus quickly took over the task。
〃sergeant Ted promised to take me to Electric Park！〃
〃That's where we're going； darling； we're almost there。 Now tell Mama… Shall we take you home and put you to bed？ Or are you big enough to stay awake and go to Electric Park？〃
〃Yes； Sport；〃 Lazarus agreed。 〃Home？ Or Electric Park？〃 （Maureen； did Gramp teach you to lie？ Or is it genius？ I not only love you； I admire you。 Pershing …should have you on his staff。） He hastily refastened buttons at the back of her dress。
〃Huh？ Electric …Park！〃
〃Then settle back down and we'll have you there in no time。〃
〃I want to ride in front！〃
〃Sport； you can ride in back to Electric Park。 Or ride in back till we get you home and into bed。 I won't drive with three in the front seat。〃
〃Brian does！〃
〃Let's go home； Mrs。 Smith。 Woodie doesn't know who's driving this car…he must be quite sleepy。〃
〃I am not either！ I had a nap。 All right； I'll ride in back… to Electric Park。〃
〃Mrs。 Smith？〃…
〃We'll go to Electric Park； Sergeant Theodore。 If Woodrow will lie down and try to get another nap。〃
Woodie promptly lay down； they closed him in and Lazarus got them out of there。 Once there was enough engine noise to blanket her words； she said； 〃I must telephone。 Back where we turned off； you'll find a drugstore farther along…that's on our way to Electric Park。〃
〃Right away。 How much do you think he heard？〃
〃I think he was asleep until I opened the door。 But nothing of importance if he was not and would understand less。 Don't worry； Theodore…audacity； always audacity。〃
〃Maureen； you should be a soldier。 A general。〃
〃I would rather be loved by soldiers 。 。 and I am； and it makes me wonderfully happy。 Now you can drive with one hand again。〃
〃That's just glass； he can see us。〃
第76节
537
538〃Theodore； you can touch me without putting an arm around me。 I shall sit up straight and pretend to ignore whatever you find to do。 But I am a very frustrated woman…and I want to be touched。 By you。〃 She chuckled。 〃Aren't we a pair of
ninnies？〃
〃I suppose so。 But I'm not laughing。〃 Lazarus squeezed her thigh。 〃I'm too frustrated。〃 … … …
〃Oh； but you must laugh； Theodore。〃 She pulled up her skirt； moved his hand onto bare thigh above round garters。
… … 〃When you have as many children as I have； you must laugh。 Or go crazy。'； She pushed her skirt down over his hand。
He caressed her warm； …smooth skin； she eased her thighs and invited more。 〃I guess it is funny；〃 he admitted。 〃Two
… … full…grown ndults outflanked by a six…year…old。〃
〃Only five； Theodore。 Not six until November。〃 She
squeezed his hand between plump thighs； then relaxed。 〃How …
… well I remember。 Biggest baby I've had； eight pounds 。 。 and mbre trouble than all the rest put together； and always a scamp
and always my favorite and I try never to let it show…and you must not tell on me…that Woodrow is my favorite； I mean； I'm not afraid of your telling anything else。 I know
my reputation is safe with you。〃
〃It is。〃…
〃I knew it or …would never have plotted to take you out there。 But 'reputation' is all it is； you now know what a hussy I am under my …mask。 But I cultivate a good reputation most
carefully 。 for my children。 For my husband。〃
〃You said 'plotted。'〃
〃Weren't you sure of it？ I knew at once； when I learned how
… short your time is； that I had exactly one chance to get you
alone and make you realize that I want you to e back with
your shield； not on it。 There is only one way for a woman
… … to tell a warrior that。 So I enlisted Father's help to get you
away from my swarm of children。〃 …She chuckled again。 〃But
… the worst scamp I have ruined my carefully plotted plans。 For
he has； dear one…I don't dare risk it at home； I'll …always
regret that we didn't succeed 。 。 and I hope you will； too。〃 〃Oh； I will； I do！ You put Mr。 Johnson up to suggesting this ride？ Won't he suspect？〃
〃I'm sure he does。 And disapproves。 Of me； Theodore…not of you。 But my reputation is as。 safe in his hands as in yours。 Want to hear a sidesplitting joke？ One that will make us laugh
so hard that we'll forget how frustrated we are。〃
〃I'll laugh if you do。〃
539…〃Did you wonder how I knew the perfect place？ Because I have been there before； Theodore； for the same purpo