新编大学英语第一册课文文档格式.docx

新编大学英语第一册课文文档格式.docx

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theyoungcanonlyguess.

KateandChriswerealwaystogether—inthediningroom,thelounge,strollingaroundthebigporchesandlawns,alwaysholdinghands.Aswestaffmembersateoureveningmeal,sometimesKateandChriswouldwalkslowlybythedining-roomdoors.Thenconversationwouldturntoadiscussionofthecouple'

sloveanddevotion,andwhatwouldhappenwhenoneofthemdied.WeknewChriswasthestrongone,andKatewasdependentuponhim.

HowwouldKatefunctionifChrisweretodiefirst?

Weoftenwondered.

Bedtimefollowedaritual.WhenIbroughttheeveningmedication,Katewouldbesittinginherchair,innightgownandslippers,awaitingmyarrival.UnderthewatchfuleyesofChrisandmyself,Katewouldtakeherpill,thencarefullyChriswouldhelpherfromthechairtothebedandtuckthecoversinaroundherfrailbody.

Observingthisactoflove,Iwouldthinkforthethousandthtime,goodheavens,whydon'

tnursinghomeshavedoublebedsformarriedcouples?

Alltheirlivestheyhaveslepttogether,butinanursinghome,they'

reexpectedtosleepinsinglebeds.Overnightthey'

redeprivedofacomfortofalifetime.

Howveryfoolishsuchpoliciesare,IwouldthinkasIwatchedChrisreachupandturnoffthelightaboveKate'

sbed.Thentenderlyhewouldbend,andtheywouldkissgently.Chriswouldpathercheek,andbothwouldsmile.Hewouldpullupthesiderailonherbed,andonlythenwouldheturnandaccepthisownmedication.AsIwalkedintothehall,IcouldhearChrissay,"

Goodnight,Kate,"

andherreturningvoice,"

Good-night,Chris,"

whilethespaceofanentireroomseparatedtheirtwobeds.

IhadbeenoffdutytwodaysandwhenIreturned,thefirstnewsIheardwas,"

Chrisdiedyesterdaymorning."

"

How?

Aheartattack.Ithappenedquickly."

How'

sKate?

Bad."

IwentintoKate'

sroom.Shesatinherchair,motionless,handsinherlap,staring.Takingherhandsinmine,Isaid,"

Kate,it'

sPhyllis."

Hereyesnevershifted;

sheonlystared.Iplacedmyhandunderherchinandslowlyturnedherheadsoshehadtolookatme.

Kate,IjustfoundoutaboutChris.I'

msosorry.

Attheword"

Chris"

hereyescamebacktolife.Shelookedatme,puzzled,asthoughwonderinghowIhadsuddenlyappeared."

sme,Phyllis.I'

msosorryaboutChris."

Recognitionandsadnessfloodedherface.Tearswelledupandsliddownhercheeks."

Chrisisgone,"

shewhispered.

Iknow,"

Isaid."

Iknow."

WepamperedKateforawhile,lettinghereatinherroom,surroundingherwithspecialattention.Thengraduallythestaffworkedherbackintotheoldschedule.Often,asIwentpastherroom,IwouldobserveKatesittinginherchair,scrapbooksonherlap,gazingsadlyatpicturesofChris.

BedtimewastheworstpartofthedayforKate.AlthoughshewasallowedtomovefromherbedtoChris'

sbed,andalthoughthestaffchattedandlaughedwithherastheytuckedherinforthenight,stillKateremainedsilentandsadlywithdrawn.Passingherroomanhouraftershehadbeentuckedin,I'

dfindherwideawake,staringattheceiling.

Theweekspassed,andbedtimewasn'

tanybetter.Sheseemedsorestless,soinsecure.Why?

Iwondered.Whythistimeofdaymorethantheotherhours?

ThenonenightasIwalkedintoherroom,onlytofindthesamewide-awakeKate,Isaidimpulsively,"

Kate,coulditbeyoumissyourgood-nightkiss?

Bendingdown,Ikissedherwrinkledcheek.

ItwasasthoughIhadopenedthefloodgates.Tearsrandownherface;

herhandsgrippedmine."

Chrisalwayskissedmegood-night,"

shecried.

Iwhispered.

Imisshimso,allthoseyearshekissedmegood-night."

ShepausedwhileIwipedthetears."

Ijustcan'

tseemtogotosleepwithouthiskiss."

Shelookedupatme,hereyesfulloftears."

Oh,thankyouforgivingmeakiss."

Asmallsmileturnedupthecornersofhermouth."

Youknow,"

shesaidconfidentially,"

Chrisusedtosingmeasong.

Hedid?

Yes,"

—herwhiteheadnodded—"

andIliehereatnightandthinkaboutit."

Howdiditgo?

Katesmiled,heldmyhandandclearedhe