ould； I suppose； but。。。〃
〃You shouldn't。〃
〃No。 I shouldn't。〃
Now； I thought； she'll ask me where I go； what I have to do down in those woods that's so damned important。
But she didn't。 Instead she gave me that imp's smile again。 It looked strange and absolutely wonderful on her too…gaunt； pain…haunted face。 〃Do you know Mr。 Howland？〃 she asked。
〃Sure；〃 I said； although I didn't see him much； he was in the west wing； which at Georgia Pines was almost like a neighboring country。 〃Why？〃
〃Do you know what's special about him？〃
I shook my head。
〃Mr。 Howland；〃 Elaine said； smiling more widely than ever； 〃is one of only five residents left at Georgia Pines who have permission to smoke。 That's because he was a resident before the rules changed。〃
A grandfather clause； I thought。 And what place was more fitted for one than an old…age home？
She reached into the pocket of her blue…and…white…striped dress and pulled two items partway out： a cigarette and a book of matches。 〃Thief of green； thief red；〃 she sang in a lilting； funny voice。 〃Little Ellie's going to wet the bed。〃
〃Elaine； what … 〃
〃Walk an old girl downstairs；〃 she said； putting the cigarette and matches back into her pocket and taking my arm in one of her gnarled hands。 We began to walk back down the hall。 As we did； I decided to give up and put myself in her hands。 She was old and brittle； but not stupid。
As we went down； walking with