Chapter 8 Chapter two

"I wish they hadn't come here." Cinderella said this with unusual malice, causing her husband to turn his head and stare at her in surprise.It was as if his thoughts had become words—thoughts he'd been trying his best to keep hidden.So, Sandra feels the same as him?She felt, too, that the atmosphere of Haven had been shattered, its serenity broken by neighbors a mile away across the park.He pretended to be surprised and said: "I didn't expect you to think that way about them." Soon, or maybe it was just his own feelings, she retreated back into her usual self.

"Neighbors are important in the country. You can be nice and polite to them, or you can be rude to them; you can't treat them like 'someone you know' and keep your distance like in London." "Yeah," said Stephen, "you can't wait for them like that." "And now we are restrained for their family." They all fell silent, each recalling the lunch scene in their minds.George Button was friendly, even overly polite, with a kind of excitement that they both knew each other.George Button is a real eccentric these days.Before Rosemary died, Stephen didn't pay much attention to George.George Button has always been a background figure, the benevolently mediocre husband of a beautiful young lady.Steven had never even felt uneasy about having an affair with his wife behind his back.George was the kind of husband who was meant to be cuckolded.So old--so lacking in the charm necessary to capture the heart of an attractive and fickle woman.Was George kept in the dark?Stephen doesn't think so.George knew Rosemary well, he thought.He loved her, and he was the kind of man who wouldn't use his power to get his wife's heart. _

Either way, George must be suffering... Steven becomes curious about how George feels after Rosemary's death. He and Shantila seldom saw him after the tragedy, until he suddenly appeared in a nearby "little official" and became their close neighbor, and he broke into their life circle again.And as soon as he appeared, Stephen thought so, he immediately seemed to be a different person. Become active, become decisive, clear.And—yes, it's pretty weird. Today he is eccentric.That sudden invitation.A party celebrating Iris' eighteenth birthday.He hoped so much that both Stephen and Shantila would participate.He said that both Steven and Cinderella were so kind to them.

Sandy quickly said: That's of course great.Of course Stephen would be a bit too busy when they got back to London, and she had a lot of tiring appointments herself, but she sincerely hoped they could arrange a banquet. "Then let's decide on the date now, shall we?" George's expression—sincere, smiling, determined. "I'm thinking next week—Wednesday or Thursday? Thursday is November 2. Is that okay? If it's not convenient, we can arrange another day that suits you." It was an invitation that seemed like you had to accept it - not like a normal social invitation.Stephen noticed that Iris Mar's face turned red, showing an embarrassed expression, while Shantila's expression was very good.She accepted the inevitable invitation with a smile, saying that Thursday, November 2nd, would suit us well.

Stephen blurted out suddenly and unconsciously, saying what was in his head: "We don't have to go." Shantila's face turned slightly to him, with a thoughtful expression. "You don't think it's necessary?" "It's easy to find an excuse." "He'll insist that we go some other day when we're free--or book another day right away. He--he seems to want us to go." "I can't figure out why. It was Iris's birthday party - and I don't think she likes us that much." "Yes - yes -" Sandra seemed to be thinking about something.

Then she said. "Do you know where the banquet will be held?" "have no idea." “Luxembourg Restaurant.” He was almost speechless in shock.He felt his cheeks go pale.He regained his composure and met her eyes.Is it his hallucination, or does her gaze really mean something? " "But that's unreasonable," he cried, a bit like a snarl in an attempt to hide his real emotion. "Over there at the Luxembourg restaurant—bring it all back to life. That guy must be crazy." "Then I've thought about it." Sandra said. "But of course we refused to take part. That--the whole thing was very unpleasant. You remember the reports--the photographs in the papers."

"I remember those unpleasant things." Sandra said. "Doesn't he know how much we disagree?" "He had a reason, you know, Stephen. He gave me a reason." "What reason?" He was grateful that she had turned her eyes away when she told him. "He took me aside after lunch. He said he wanted to explain. He told me that the girl — Iris — hadn't recovered from the horror of her sister's death." She paused, and Stephen said reluctantly: "Well, I dare say that's probably true—she looked awful. I remembered how she looked at lunch."

"Yes, I've noticed that too—though she seems to be in good health and in good spirits of late. Well, I was going to tell you what George Barton said. He told me that Iris, since that time, has been Always try to avoid Luxembourg restaurants." "I don't think there's anything unusual about that." "But according to him, that's not right. It's as if he went to a psychiatrist - a modern specialist - and the advice he gave him was that, after any shock, the patient must be confronted with the source of the problem. , not to escape. The principle, I think, is like sending a pilot who has just crashed into the air to fly again immediately."

"Did that expert suggest another suicide?" Shantila replied calmly: "He suggested that the association of that restaurant must be overcome. After all, it is just a restaurant. He proposed to have an ordinary and pleasant banquet, and try to let the original guests participate as much as possible." "That would be great for those guests!" "Do you mind that much, Stephen?" Suddenly alert, he went on quickly: "Of course I don't mind. I just think it's a kind of horrible idea. I personally don't mind at all. . . . I'm thinking of you. If you don't mind—"

She interrupted him. "I mind. Very much. But it was hard to say no to George Patton. After all, after that incident, I still go to the Luxembourg restaurant--and you do. People are often invited there." "But not in this case." "good" Steven said: "As you said, it's hard to refuse—and if we turn it down, he will continue to invite again. But Sandra, there is really no reason for you to have to endure it. I think I'll go, and you will Find an excuse—headache, cold, whatever." He saw her jaw go up. "That would be gutsy. No, Stephen, if you go, I will too. After all," she put her hand on his arm, "whatever our marriage means, at least it means Dilemma."

And yet he stared at her -- tongue-tied at the pain and ease of her words.She spoke as if she were speaking of a very familiar and unimportant fact. " When he recovered, he said, "Why do you say that? No matter how little our marriage means?" Her eyes wide open, frankly, fixed on him. "Isn't that true?" "No, not at all. Our marriage means a lot to me." She laughed. "I think you're right—in a way. We're a good team, Steven. We've produced a very satisfying result together." "I didn't mean that." He found himself breathing more and more unevenly.He took her hands and held them tightly—"Xiandaila, don't you know that you are the whole world to me?" Suddenly, he knew.It was unbelievable -- unpredictable, but it was. She nestled in his arms, and he hugged her, hugged her tightly, kissed her, and stammered: "Cinderella—Cinderella—darling. I love you—I've been worried—I'm going to lose you." She said unconsciously: "Because of Rosemary?" "Yes." He let go of her, and stepped back, his face full of panic and embarrassment. "You know—about Rosemary?" "Of course—always knew." "Then you can forgive me?" She shook her head. "No, I don't understand. I don't think I should. You love her?" "Not really. I love you." A wave of resentment surged in her mind.She said: "Start seeing her first at the party. Don't repeat it - that's a lie!" He didn't flinch from her sudden attack.He seemed to be taking her words seriously. "Yes, that's a lie—and yet, strangely enough, it's not a lie. I'm beginning to believe it's the truth. Ah, Shantila, try to understand. You know some people always have noble and beautiful reasons to hide them Despicable behavior, huh? People who 'have to be honest' even though they're full of thugs and whores, 'think it's their duty to repeat it', are hypocrites to themselves, and all their lives have been convinced that Any act of despicableness comes out of a selfless spirit! Try to understand, Shantila, that the opposite is possible. Some people are so cynical, so disloyal to themselves, unfaithful to life , to believe only their own bad motives. You are the woman I need. At least, this is true. And looking back, I really believe: If that was not true, I would never have survived to this day. " She said angrily: "You're not in love with me." "True. I never fell in love with anyone. I was a horny, sexless animal who prided itself on my harsh, callous nature! And then I did fall in love—a brutish kind of , immature love. Like a thunderstorm in midsummer, short-lived, unreal, and disappearing quickly." He bitterly added: "Really, it's like a story told by an idiot, full of sensuality and madness, yes, It makes no sense.'" He pauses, then continues: "Right here, in 'Safe Haven', I suddenly woke up and realized a truth at the same time." "truth?" "The only thing that matters in my life is you - and keeping your love." "If only I knew..." "what are you thinking?" "I thought you were planning to elope with her." "With Rosemary?" He gave a short laugh. "It's like being sentenced to life imprisonment!" "Didn't she ask you to elope with her?" "Yes, she thinks so." "Then what happened?" Stephen took a deep breath.They circled back and faced the elusive "threat" again.He said: "What happened at the Luxembourg restaurant." They fell silent at the same time, and the same scene appeared in front of their eyes, the face of a woman who was once extremely beautiful but turned blue due to potassium cyanide poisoning. Staring at the dead woman, and then—raised his head and looked at each other... Steven said: "Forget it, Sandra, for God's sake, let's forget it!" "Forgetting is useless. We are not allowed to forget." There was a brief silence.Then Sandra said: "What are we going to do?" "As you just said, let's face it—the two of us together. To that dreadful party. Whatever the purpose of the party." "You don't believe what George Patton said, that it was a banquet held for Erie?" "No. Do you believe it?" "That might be the truth. But even if it were the truth, it's not the real purpose." "Then what do you think is real?" "I don't know, Stephen. But I'm afraid." "Afraid of George Patton?" "Yes, I think he—knows." Stephen suddenly said: "what do you know?" She turned her head slowly until her eyes met his. She murmured: "We shouldn't be afraid, we have to have courage - all the courage. You're going to be great, Stephen - the great man the world needs, and nothing can stop you. I'm your wife and I love you .” "What kind of trick do you think this banquet is, Sandra?" "I think it's a trap." He said slowly: "Then we still throw ourselves into the trap?" "We can't show that we know it's a trap." "Yes, that's true." Cinderella suddenly looked up and laughed.She said, "Go for it, Rosemary, you ain't gonna win." He grabs her by the shoulders. "Hold on, Chantilly. Rosemary is dead." "Really? Sometimes—she seems alive..."