e,allright.AndIenjoyedreadingaloud.WhenIlivedinJapan,Iusedtoreadpicturebooksaloudtomyson.Readingaloudisdifferentfromjustsentehyoureyes.Somethingquiteuedwellsupinyourmind,akindofindefinableresoIfindimpossibletoresist.

    Takingtheoccasionalsipofbittercoffee,Islowlyreadtheartii.Idreadafewliomyself,mulloverhowtoputthemintoJapahentranslatealoud.Afewbeespoppedupfromsomewheretolickthejamthatapreviouserspilledoable.Theyspentamomentlappingitup,then,asifsuddenlyrememberingsomething,flewintotheairwithaceremoniousbuzz,circledthetableacoupleoftimes,andthen--againasifsomethinghadjoggedtheirmemory--settledoncemoreoabletop.AfterIhadfinishedreadingthewholearticle,Izumisatthere,unmoving,elbowrestingoable.Sheputthetipsofthefingershthandagainstthoseofherlefttoformatent.Irestedthepaperonmylapandgazedatherslimhands.Shelookedatmethroughthespacesbetweenherfingers.

    "Thenpened?"sheasked.

    "Thatsit"Ireplied,andfoldedupthepaper.Itookahandkerchiefoutofmypocketandwipedtheflecksofcoffeegroundsoffmylips."Atleast,thatsallitsays."

    "Butpehecats?"

    Istuffedthehandkerchiefbamypocket."Ihavedoesntsay."

    Izumipursedherlipstooneside,herownlitt1ehabit.Whenevershewasabouttogiveanopinion?whichalwaystooktheformofamini-declaration?shepursedherlipslikethat,asifshewereyankingabedsheettosmoothoutastraywrinkle.WhenIfirstmether,Ifoundthishabitquitecharming.

    "Neersareallthesame,nomatterwhereyougo,"shefinallyannounced."T