[16]Theyplayedtheirlittlegameswiththeblanket, tryingtotrapshadetoworkunder; butagainitwasnotuntilnearlyfourthattheycouldworkseriously, andtheywereexhausted, , shewasapparentlyasleep, facedown, herbackallnakedsaveforthescarlettriangleonherbuttocks.“I’vegotagoodmindtoreporthertothepolice,”saidStanley, andHarrysaid: “What’seatingyou? Whatharm’sshedoing?”“Itellyou, ifshewasmywife!”
[17]“Butsheisn’t, isshe?”TomknewthatHarry, likehimself, wasuneasyatStanley’, quickathiswork, makingalotofjokes, goodcompany.
[18]“Perhapsitwillbecoolertomorrow,”saidHarry.
[19]“Butitwasn’t; itwashotter, ifanything, , Harrywentovertoseeifthewomanwasthere, andTomknewitwastopreventStanleygoing, , aboythesameageasTom, andtheyouthtrustedandlookeduptohim.
[20]Harrycamebackandsaid: “She’snotthere.”
[21]“Ibetheroldmanhasputhisfootdown,”saidStanley, andHarryandTomcaughteachother’seyesandsmiledbehindtheyoungmarriedman’sback.
[22]Harrysuggestedtheyshouldgetpermissiontoworkinthebasement, andtheydid, : “Let’shaveabreathoffreshair.”AgainHarryandTomsmiledateachotherastheyfollowedStanleyuptotheroof, -thirty, andacalm, , andshestoodup, inabelted, , probably, butonadifferentpatchofroof, ; hesaidnothing, butwatchedthewomanbendtocollectpapers, books, cigarettes, : Iftheyweren’there, I’dgooverandsay...what? ? Perhaps..., Stanleyletoutashrillderisiveyell; shestarted, , , , facetiously : “Betterbecarefulonthoseslipperyladders, love.”TomknewhesaidittosaveherfromStanley, , , becauseheknewherangerwasfortheothers, notforhim.
