hr.thecarpetbaggers-第48节

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again。
　〃Now　take　off　your　bathrobe　and　let　me　see　all　of　you；〃　she　said。
　As　if　in　a　daze；　he　let　the　bathrobe　slip　to　the　floor。　With　a　groan；　he　sank　to　his　knees　beside　the　bed；　holding　himself。
　Quickly　she　rolled　across　the　bed　and　looked　down　at　him。　A　faint　sound　of　triumph　came　into　her　voice。　〃Now；〃　she　said；　〃you　can　do　it　for　me。〃
　His　hand　reached　up　to　touch　her　breast。　She　let　it　rest　there　for　a　moment；　then　suddenly　moved　away　from　him。　〃No！〃　she　said　sharply。　〃Don't　touch　me！〃
　He　stared　at　her　dumbly；　the　agony　pouring　through　him　in　waves。
　Her　heavy…lidded　eyes　watched　him。
　〃Do　it　for　me；〃　she　said　in　a　husky　voice。　〃And　I'll　do　it　for　you。　But　don't　touch　me！〃
　
　6
　
　ALL　THROUGH　THE　MOVIE；　LADDIE　COULD　HEAR　THEM　giggling　and　whispering。　He　could　imagine　what　they　were　doing　in　the　darkened　theater；　even　though　he　couldn't　see。　His　mind　flamed　with　visions。
　Now　Tommy　was　offering　Rina　a　gumdrop。　He　could　see　him　casually　holding　the　bag　toward　her；　the　back　of　his　hand　seemingly　accidentally　pressing　against　her　breast。　Laddie　shifted　restlessly　in　his　seat；　trying　to　pierce　the　dark　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　but　it　was　a　waste　of　time。　He　couldn't　see　anything。
　〃May　I　have　some　candy？〃　Joan's　voice　came　from　the　darkness。
　〃What？〃　he　asked；　startled　for　a　moment。　〃Yeah。　Sure。〃　He　held　the　bag　toward　her。
　She　turned　as　she　helped　herself　from　the　bag　and　he　felt　the　soft　press　of　her　breasts。　But　it　served　only　to　remind　him　of　Rina。　He　sank　back　into　his　seat　unhappily。
　They　stopped　in　front　of　Tommy's　cottage　on　the　way　home。　〃How　about　some　pop？〃　Joan　asked。　〃We've　got　a　big　bottle　in　the　icebox。〃
　Laddie　shook　his　head。　〃No；　thanks；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃It's　almost　eight　o'clock　and　I　promised　Mother　we'd　be　home　before　dark。〃　
　Rina　didn't　say　anything。
　〃Maybe　you　could　e　over　later？〃　Joan　asked。　〃After　you've　taken　Rina　home？〃
　Rina　looked　at　him。　He　flushed。　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　he　answered。　〃I'm　pretty　tired。　I　wanted　to　get　to　bed　early。〃
　Joan　shot　a　curious　look　at　him；　then　silently　turned　and　walked　into　the　cottage。　There　was　an　awkward　moment　until　Tommy　spoke。　〃Well；　good　night；　then；〃　he　said。　〃See　yuh　on　the　beach　tomorrow。〃
　They　walked　the　rest　of　the　way　home　in　silence。　It　was　already　dark　when　they　climbed　up　the　steps　to　the　porch。　He　opened　the　screen　door　and　held　it　for　her。
　She　started　to　enter　the　house；　then　stopped　when　she　saw　he　made　no　move　to　follow　her。　〃Aren't　you　ing　in？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Not　right　now。　I　think　I'll　stay　out　for　a　little　while。〃
　〃I　think　I　will；　too；〃　she　said　quickly；　stepping　back　onto　the　porch。
　He　let　the　screen　door　swing　shut。　Its　clatter　echoed　through　the　house。　〃Is　that　you；　children？〃　Geraldine　Marlowe　called。
　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　Rina　answered。　She　glanced　quickly　at　Laddie。　〃Can　we　stay　outside　for　a　little　while；　Mother？　It's　so　hot　tonight。〃
　〃All　right。　But　only　for　half　an　hour；　Rina。　I　want　you　in　bed　by　eight　thirty。〃　
　〃O。K。；　Mother。〃
　Laddie　crossed　the　porch　and　sat　down　on　the　large　wicker　chaise。　Rina　followed　and　sat　down　beside　him。　〃Why　did　Joan　want　you　to　e　back？〃　she　asked　suddenly。　
　He　didn't　look　at　her。　〃I　dunno。〃　
　〃Did　she　want　you　to　do　it　for　her？〃　
　〃Of　course　not！〃　he　said　indignantly。
　〃I　don't　like　Joan；〃　she　said　suddenly。　〃She's　a…　she's　a　hyp…　a　hypo…　〃
　〃A　hypocrite。〃　He　supplied　the　word　for　her；　surprised　by　the　unexpected　depth　of　her　perception。　〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃
　〃Tommy　wanted　me　to　touch　him　in　the　movies；　but　when　I　wouldn't；　he　took　Joan's　hand　and　she　did。〃
　〃No！〃　The　word　escaped　him　involuntarily。　Rina　was　right。　The　little　bitch　was　a　hypocrite。
　〃And　she　never　even　looked　at　him　once；〃　Rina　continued。　〃She　was　always　looking　at　the　screen　and　once　she　even　asked　you　for　some　candy。〃
　He　stared　at　her　wonderingly。
　〃I　wonder　if　they're　doing　it　now；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。
　A　picture　of　Joan　and　Tommy　flashed　through　his　mind。　He　began　to　get　excited。
　〃I'm　not　a　hypocrite；　am　I？〃　she　asked。　A　slow　smile　came　to　her　lips。　She　moved　and　he　felt　her　fingers　brush　across　his　thigh。　She　looked　into　his　face。　〃Would　you　like　to　do　it　now？〃　she　whispered。
　〃Now？〃　he　said　in　a　stunned　voice。　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder　back　to　the　house。
　〃They　won't　e　out；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Father　is　reading　his　newspaper　and　Mother　is　knitting。　I　saw　them　through　the　doorway。〃
　〃But…　〃　he　stammered。　〃But…　how？〃
　She　smiled　again；　her　fingers　taking　the　handkerchief　from　his　breast　pocket。
　
　Geraldine　looked　up　at　the　mantel　clock。　It　was　just　eight　thirty。　She　heard　the　screen　door　slam　and　Rina　came　into　the　room。　Her　daughter's　eyes　were　bright　and　shining　and　her　face　wore　a　happy　smile。　The　smile　was　infectious　and　Geraldine　smiled　back　at　her。　
　〃Did　you　have　a　good　time　at　the　movies；　dear？〃　
　Rina　nodded。　〃A　wonderful　time；　Mother；〃　she　said　excitedly。　〃It　was　such　fun。　You　don't　know　how　great　it　is　to　be　able　to　see　a　picture　without　all　those　brats　squalling　and　running　up　and　down　the　aisles　like　they　do　in　the　afternoons。〃
　Geraldine　laughed。　〃It　was　only　yesterday　that　you　were　one　of　those　brats。〃
　Rina's　face　suddenly　turned　serious。　〃But　I'm　not　any　more；　am　I；　Mother？〃
　Geraldine　nodded　her　head　gently。　〃No；　darling。　You're　quite　grown　up　now。〃
　Rina　spun　around　happily。　〃That's　right；　Mother；〃　she　said　gaily。　〃I'm　quite　grown　up　now。〃
　Geraldine　laughed。　〃Now　up　to　bed　with　you；　young　lady。　You　still　need　your　rest。〃
　〃O。K。；　Mother。〃　Rina　bent　over　her　and　quickly　kissed　her　cheek。　〃Good　night。〃
　She　crossed　the　room　and　kissed　her　father's　cheek。　〃Good　night；　Father。〃
　She　ran　out　of　the　room　and　they　could　hear　her　feet　running　up　the　stairs。　Harrison　Marlowe　lowered　his　paper。　〃She　seems　quite　happy。〃
　〃Why　shouldn't　she　be？〃　Geraldine　said。　〃Her　first　date。　Every　girl　is　excited　after　her　first　date。〃
　He　put　down　the　paper。　〃What　do　you　say　we　go　out　on　the　porch　for　a　bit　of　air？〃　
　They　came　out　into　the　night。　〃Laddie？〃　she　called。　
　〃Over　here；　Mother。〃
　She　turned　and　saw　him　rising　from　the　chaise。　〃Did　you　have　a　good　time？〃
　〃All　right；〃　he　said　shortly。　
　〃Rina　wasn't　any　bother；　was　she？〃　
　〃No。〃
　〃You　don't　sound　happy　about　having　to　take　her　with　you。〃
　〃It　was　O。K。；　Mother；〃　he　said　tensely。　
　〃Sometimes；　son；〃　his　father　said；　〃we　have　to　do　things　even　if　we　don't　like　it。　One　of　them　is　looking　after　your　sister。　That's　a　brother's　job。〃
　〃I　said　it　was　all　right；　Father；〃　he　snapped。　
　〃Laddie！〃　his　mother　exclaimed　in　surprise。　
　Laddie　looked　down　at　the　floor。　〃I'm　sorry；　Father；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。
　She　moved　over　and　looked　into　his　face。　〃Are　you　feeling　all　right；　Laddie？〃　she　asked　with　concern。　〃You　look　flushed　and　warm　to　me　and　your　face　is　all　perspired。　Here；　let　me　wipe　it　for　you。〃　Her　hand　sought　his　breast…pocket　handkerchief。　〃Why；　Laddie；　what　happened　to　your　handkerchief？　I　saw　it　in　your　pocket　when　you　left。〃
　For　a　moment　there　was　something　in　his　eyes　that　reminded　her　of　a　stricken　animal；　then　it　was　gone。　〃I…　I　guess　I　lost　it；〃　he　stammered。
　She　touched　his　forehead。　〃Are　you　sure　you　haven't　a　fever？〃
　〃I　think　you'd　better　go　up　to　bed；　son；〃　his　father　said。
　〃Yes；　Father。〃　He　turned　to　his　mother　and　kissed　her。　〃Good　night；〃　he　said　and　went　quickly　into　the　house。
　〃I　wonder　what's　the　matter　with　him？〃
　Harrison　Marlowe　snorted。　〃I　know　what's　the　matter　with　him。〃
　〃You　do？〃
　He　nodded。　〃He's　spoiled；　that's　what。　He's　so　used　to　having　everything　the　way　he　wants　it；　he　sulks　when　he　has　to　do　a　little　thing　like　chaperon　his　sister。　He's　angry　because　he　couldn't　sit　over　in　the　Randall's　yard　and　spoon　with　Tommy's　cousin　Joan。〃
　〃Harry；　you're　being　horrid！〃
　〃No　I'm　not；〃　he　said。　〃Take　it　from　me。　I　know　boys。　What　he　needs　is　a　little　discipline。〃　He　began　to　pack　his　pipe。　〃And　you're　doing　the　same　with　Rina。　Giving　her　everything　she　wants。　She'll　be　spoiled　soon；　too。〃
　〃I　know　what's　bothering　you；〃　she　said。　〃You　just　don't　like　the　idea　of　them　growing　up。　You'd　like　to　keep　them　children　forever。〃
　〃No。　But　you　have　to　admit　they　are　spoiled。〃
　〃Maybe　they　are　a　little；〃　she　admitted。
　He　smiled。　〃Well；　anyway；　it's　a　good　thing　they'll　be　going　back　to　school　next　month。　Barrington's　good　for　Laddie。〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　agreed。　〃And　I'm　glad　Rina's　been　accepted　at　Jane　Vincent's　school。　They'll　make　a　little　lady　out　of　her。〃
　
　For　Laddie；　it　was　a　summer　of　pain　and　torture；　of　wild　physical　sensation　and　excruciating；　conscience…stricken　agonies。　He　couldn't　sleep；　he　couldn't　eat；　he　was　afraid　to　look　at　her　in　the　mornings　and　then；　when　he　saw　her；　he　couldn't　bear　to　let　her　out　of　his　sight。　Jealous　tortures　flamed　inside　him　when　he　saw　her　smiling　or　talking　to　other　boys。　Visions　born　of　his　knowledge　of　her　would　fill　his　mind　and　he　could　see　them　with　her　the　way　he　had　been。　An　uneasy；　frightened　contentment　would　steal　through　him　when　they　were　together。
　And　lurking　all　the　while　in　the　deep　recesses　of　his　mind　was　the　fear　…　the　fear　of　discovery；　the　fear　of　seeing　the　hurt　and　shock　and　loathing　e　to　the　faces　o