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PAlttl5AN IUVIEW
no longer project herself in any direction without refreshing in them
the memory of her indiscretion. She wrote to Aunt Taka, her favorite
sister, in America, threatening to kill herself
if
Aunt Taka would not
send for her. Aunt Taka hastily arranged a marriage with a young
man, but lately arrived from Japan, of whom she knew, a young man
of simple mind, it was said, but of kindly heart. The young man was
never told why his unseen betrothed was so eager to hasten the day
of meeting.
.
The story was told perfectly, with neither groping for words
nor untoward passion. It was as though her mother had memorized
it by heart, reciting it to herself so many times over that its nagging
vileness had long since gone.
"I had a brother then?" Rosie asked, for this was what seemed
to matter now; she would think about the other later, she assured
herself, pushing back the illumination which threatened all that
dark~
ness that had hitherto been merely mysterious or even glamourous.
"A half-brother?"
"Yes."
"I would have liked a brother," she said.
Suddenly, her mother knelt on the floor and took her by the
wrists. "Rosie," she said urgently, "Promise me you will never marry!"
Shocked more by the request than the revelation, Rosie stared at her
mother's face. Jesus, Jesus, she called silently, not certain whether she
was invoking the help of the son of the Carrascos or of God, until
there returned sweetly the memory of J estis' hand, how it had touched
her and where. Still her mother waited for an answer, holding her
wrists so tightly that her hands were going numb. She tried to pull
free. Promise, her mother whispered fiercely, · promise. Yes, yes, I
promise, Rosie said. But for an instant she turned away, and her
mother, hearing the familiar glib agreement, released her. Oh, you,
you, you, her eyes and twisted mouth said, you fool. Rosie, covering
her face, began at last to cry, and the embrace and consoling hand
came much later than she expected.
