hotel　as　it　settled　into　another　storm。　The　fact　of　their　disconnect　came　to

Wendy　with　unexpected　force　as　it　sometimes　did；　like　a　blow　under　the　heart。

〃I　want　。。。　to　tell　you　everything；〃　Danny　said。　〃I　wish　I　had　before。〃　He

picked　up　the　cup　and　held　it；　as　if　forted　by　the　warmth。

〃Why　didn't　you；　son？〃　Jack　brushed　Danny's　sweaty；　tumbled　hair　back　gently

from　his　brow。

〃Because　Uncle　Al　got　you　the　job。　And　I　couldn't　figure　out　how　it　was　good

for　you　here　and　bad　for　you　here　at　the　same　time。　It　was　。。。〃　He　looked　at

them　for　help。　He　did　not　have　the　necessary　word。

〃A　dilemma？〃　Wendy　asked　gently。　〃When　neither　choice　seems　any　good？〃

〃Yes；　that。〃　He　nodded；　relieved。

Wendy　said：　〃The　day　that　you　trimmed　the　hedges；　Danny　and　I　had　a　talk　in

the　truck。　The　day　the　first　real　snow　came。　Remember？〃

Jack　nodded。　The　day　he　had　trimmed　the　hedges　was　very　clear　in　his　mind。

Wendy　sighed。　〃I　guess　we　didn't　talk　enough。　Did　we；　doc？〃

Danny；　the　picture　of　woe；　shook　his　head。

〃Exactly　what　did　you　talk　about？〃　Jack　asked。　〃I'm　not　sure　how　much　I　like

my　wife　and　son　—　〃

〃　—　discussing　how　much　they　love　you？〃

〃Whatever　it　was；　I　don't　understand　it。　I　feel　like　I　came　into　a　movie　just

after　the　intermission。〃

〃We　were　discussing　you；〃　Wendy　said　quietly。　〃And　maybe　we　didn't　say　it　all

in　words；　but　we　both　knew。　Me　because　I'm　your　wife　and　Danny　because　he　。。。

just　understands　things。〃

Jack　was　silent。

〃Danny　said　it　just　right。　The　place　seemed　good　for　you。　You　were　away　from

all　the　pressures　that　made　you　so　unhappy　at　Stovington。　You　were　your　own

boss；　working　with