hr.thecarpetbaggers-第51节

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　Rina　shook　her　head。
　〃How　old　are　you？〃
　〃Sixteen；〃　Rina　answered。
　〃I　guess　by　now　you　know　that　boys　are　always　like　that。〃
　Rina　nodded。
　〃I　felt　the　same　way　when　I　was　your　age。〃
　〃You　did？〃　Rina　asked。　A　note　of　relief　came　into　her　voice。　〃I　thought　I　was　the　only　one。　None　of　the　other　girls　feel　the　way　I　do。〃
　'They're　fools！〃　The　teacher's　voice　was　full　of　a　harsh　anger；　but　she　checked　herself　sharply。　There　was　no　sense　in　allowing　her　bitterness　to　expose　her。　〃I　was　just　going　to　make　myself　a　cup　of　tea；〃　she　said。　〃Would　you　care　to　join　me？〃
　Rina　hesitated。　〃If　it　wouldn't　be　too　much　trouble。〃
　〃It　won't　be　any　trouble　at　all；〃　Margaret　Bradley　said。　〃Now；　you　just　sit　down　and　make　yourself　fortable。　I'll　have　the　tea　ready　in　a　minute。〃
　She　went　into　the　small　kitchenette。　To　her　surprise；　she　found　herself　humming　as　she　turned　on　the　burner　beneath　the　teakettle。
　
　〃I　think　a　summer　in　Europe　between　now　and　the　time　she　goes　to　Smith　in　the　fall　would　be　of　great　benefit　to　her；〃　Margaret　Bradley　said。
　Harrison　Marlowe　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　looked　at　the　teacher　across　the　white　expanse　of　the　dinner　table；　then　at　Rina；　seated　opposite　her。　What　he　saw　inspired　a　kind　of　confidence　in　him。　A　plain；　not　unattractive　young　woman　in　her　late　twenties；　he　imagined。　She　wore　simple；　tailored　clothes；　almost　mannish　in　their　effect；　that　seemed　to　proclaim　her　profession。　She　had　none　of　the　foolish　mannerisms　that　so　many　of　the　young　women　had　today。　There　was　nothing　of　the　flapper　about　her。　She　was　very　serious　and　businesslike。
　〃Her　mother　and　I　often　spoke　about　Rina　going　to　Europe；〃　he　began　tentatively。
　〃No　girl　is　considered　quite　finished　if　she　hasn't　spent　some　time　there；〃　the　teacher　said　assuredly。
　Marlowe　nodded　slowly。　It　was　a　great　responsibility　bringing　up　a　daughter。　Somehow　he　had　never　realized　it　until　several　months　ago；　when　he　had　e　into　the　parlor　and　found　Rina　there。
　She　was　wearing　a　dark…blue　dress　that　somehow　made　her　seem　older　than　her　years。　Her　white…blond　hair　shone　in　the　semidimness。
　〃Hello；　Father。〃
　〃Rina！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃What　are　you　doing　home？〃
　〃I　got　to　thinking　how　awful　it　must　be　for　you　to　e　into　this　great　big　empty　house　and　find　yourself　all　alone；〃　she　said；　〃so　I　thought　I'd　take　a　few　days　off　from　school。〃
　〃But…　but　what　about　your　studies？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　can　make　them　up　easily　enough。〃
　〃But…　〃
　〃Aren't　you　glad　to　see　me；　Father？〃　she　asked；　interrupting。
　〃Of　course　I　am；〃　he　said　quickly。
　〃Then　why　don't　you　kiss　me？〃　She　turned　her　cheek　toward　him。　He　kissed　her　cheek。　As　he　straightened　up；　she　held　him　with　her　arm。　〃Now　I'll　kiss　you。〃
　She　kissed　him　on　the　mouth　and　her　lips　were　warm。　Then　she　laughed　suddenly。　〃Your　mustache　tickles！〃
　He　smiled　down　at　her。　〃You　always　said　that；〃　he　said　fondly。　〃Ever　since　you　were　a　little　girl。〃
　〃But　I'm　not　a　little　girl　any　longer；　am　I；　Father？〃
　He　looked　at　her；　beautiful；　almost　a　woman　in　her　dark…blue　dress。　〃I　guess　not；〃　he　said。
　She　turned　to　the　sideboard。　〃I　thought　you　might　like　a　drink　before　dinner。〃
　The　bottles　of　liquor　were　all　ready　for　him。　He　walked　over　to　the　sideboard。　She　even　had　cracked　ice　in　the　bucket。　〃What's　for　dinner？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　had　Molly　make　your　favorite。　Roast　chicken；　rissolé　potatoes。〃
　〃Good；〃　he　said；　reaching　for　a　bottle　of　whisky。　Her　voice　stopped　his　hand。
　〃Wouldn't　you　like　a　Martini？　You　haven't　had　one　for　a　long　time。〃
　He　hesitated　a　moment；　then　reached　for　the　bottle　of　gin。　It　wasn't　until　he　turned　around　that　he　realized　there　were　two　cocktails　in　his　hand。　Habit　was　a　strange　mander。　He　turned　to　put　one　of　them　back　on　the　sideboard。
　〃May　I；　Father？　I'm　past　sixteen。　There　are　many　girls　at　school　whose　parents　allow　them　a　cocktail　at　dinner。〃
　He　stared　at　her；　then　poured　half　of　one　drink　back　into　the　shaker。　He　gave　her　the　half…filled　glass。　He　raised　his　glass　in　a　toast。
　She　smiled；　sipping　delicately　at　her　glass。　〃This　is　delicious；〃　she　said；　in　exactly　the　same　words　and　tone　of　voice　he　had　so　often　heard　his　wife　use。
　He　felt　the　hot；　uncontrollable　tears　leap　into　his　eyes　and　turned　away　swiftly　so　that　she　would　not　see。　Her　hand　caught　at　his　sleeve　and　he　turned　back　to　her。　Her　eyes　were　deep　with　sympathy。　He　let　her　draw　him　down　slowly　to　the　couch　beside　her。
　And　then；　for　a　moment；　he　wasn't　her　father。　He　was　just　a　lonely　man　weeping　against　the　breast　of　his　mother；　his　wife；　his　daughter。　He　felt　her　young；　strong　arms　around　his　shoulders；　her　fingers　lightly　brushing　his　hair。　He　heard　the　rumble　of　her　whispered　voice　within　her　chest。　〃Poor　Daddy；　poor　Daddy。〃
　As　suddenly　as　it　had　e；　the　moment　was　gone　and　he　was　aware　only　of　the　firm；　taut　breasts　against　his　cheek。　Self…consciously　he　raised　his　head。　〃I　guess　I　made　a　fool　of　myself；〃　he　said　awkwardly。
　〃No；　Father；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃For　the　first　time　in　my　life；　I　didn't　feel　like　a　child　any　more。　I　felt　grown　up　and　needed。〃
　He　forced　a　tired　smile　to　his　lips。　〃There's　time　enough　for　you　to　grow　up。〃
　Later　that　night；　after　dinner；　she　came　over　and　sat　on　the　arm　of　his　chair。　〃I'm　not　going　back　to　school　any　more；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　going　to　stay　home　and　keep　house　for　you。〃
　He　smiled。　〃You'd　get　bored　with　that　quickly　enough；〃　he　said。　〃You'd　miss　the　excitement　of　school；　of　boy　friends…　〃
　〃Boys！〃　she　said　scornfully。　〃I　can　do　without　them。　They're　a　bunch　of　grubby　little　animals　always　mooning　after　you。　I　can't　stand　them。〃
　〃You　can't；　eh？〃　he　said　quizzically。　〃Just　what　kind　of　man　would　please　your　majesty？〃
　She　looked　down　at　him　seriously。　〃I　think　an　older　man；〃　she　said。　〃Someone　like　you；　maybe。　Someone　who　makes　me　feel　safe　and　secure　and　needed。　Boys　are　always　trying　to　get　something　from　you；　show　that　they're　stronger；　more　important。〃
　He　laughed。　〃That's　only　because　they're　young。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　answered；　still　serious。　〃That's　why　they　frighten　me。　They're　only　interested　in　what　they　want；　they　don't　care　about　me。〃　She　leaned　over　and　kissed　the　top　of　his　head。　〃Your　hair　is　so　nice　with　that　touch　of　gray　in　it。〃　A　note　of　regret　came　into　her　voice。　〃Too　bad　I　can't　marry　you。　I　love　you；　Father。〃
　〃No！〃　he　said　sharply；　so　sharply　that　he　surprised　even　himself　with　the　inexplicable　violence　of　his　reaction。
　〃No　what；　Father？〃　she　asked；　startled。
　He　got　to　his　feet　and　stared　down　at　her。　〃No；　you're　not　staying　home。　You're　going　back　to　school　tomorrow。　I'll　have　Peters　drive　you　up。〃
　She　stared　up　at　him　and　her　eyes　began　to　well　with　tears。　Suddenly；　she　was　a　little　girl　again。　〃Don't　you　love　me；　Father？〃　she　cried。　〃Don't　you　want　me　to　stay　with　you？〃
　He　stared　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　passion　filled　him。　〃Of　course　I　love　you；　darling；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃But　don't　you　see；　we　can't　put　ourselves　in　a　shell　to　protect　ourselves　from　the　world　around　us。〃
　〃But　all　I　want　is　to　be　with　you；　Daddy！〃
　〃No；　child；　no；〃　he　said　patiently。　〃I　know　that's　the　way　you　feel　now　but　someday；　when　you're　older；　and　maybe　married　with　children　of　your　own；　you'll　understand。〃
　She　tore　herself　from　his　arms　and　faced　him　angrily。　〃No！〃　she　stormed。　〃I'll　never　get　married！　I'll　never　have　children！　I'll　never　let　some　boy　get　his　dirty　hands　on　me！〃
　〃Rina！〃　he　exclaimed　in　a　shocked　voice。
　She　stared　at　him　dumbly；　then　her　face　dissolved　into　tears　again。　〃Oh；　Father！〃　she　cried　in　a　hurt；　broken　voice。　〃Can't　you　see？　It's　not　I；　it's　you　who　don't　understand！〃
　〃Rina；　darling；〃　he　said；　reaching　for　her。　But　she　had　already　fled　the　room。　He　heard　her　running　footsteps　on　the　staircase；　then　her　door　slammed。
　
　He　came　back　to　the　present　slowly；　looking　down　the　long　dining　table　at　the　teacher；　then　at　Rina。　Her　eyes　were　shining；　brightly　expectant。
　〃I　am　sure　that　if　Rina's　mother　were　alive；　Miss　Bradley；〃　Marlowe　said　in　his　oddly　formal　manner；　〃she　would　be　as　happy　as　I　am　to　entrust　our　daughter　to　your　very　capable　hands。〃
　Margaret　Bradley　looked　quickly　down　at　her　soup；　so　that　he　could　not　see　the　sudden　triumph　in　her　eyes。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Marlowe；〃　she　said　demurely。
　
　9
　THEY　STAYED　ON　DECK　UNTIL　THEY　HAD　PASSED　the　Statue　of　Liberty　and　Ellis　Island；　until　the　water　was　a　bottle　green　beneath　the　ship　and　they　could　no　longer　see　the　shore。
　〃Excited？〃　Margaret　Bradley　asked。
　Rina's　eyes　were　sparkling。　〃It's　like　a　dream。〃
　Margaret　smiled。　〃It　will　get　better　and　better。　Right　now　we'd　best　go　down　to　our　cabin　and　rest　up　a　bit　before　dinner。〃
　〃But　I'm　not　the　least　bit　tired；〃　Rina　protested。
　〃You　will　be；〃　Margaret　said　firmly　but　pleasantly。　〃We'll　be　aboard　the　Leviathan　for　six　days。　You'll　have　plenty　of　time　to　see　everything。〃
　She　nodded　in　silent　approval　as　they　entered　their　cabin。　Harrison　Marlowe　wasn't　cheap　when　he　did　something　for　his　daughter。　It　was　a　first…class　cabin；　with　twin　beds　and　private　bath。　He　hadn't　hesitated；　either；　when　she'd　suggested　that　Rina　would　need　a　new　wardrobe。　Instead；　he'd　simply　written　a　check　for　a　thousand　dollars　and　told　her　that　if　it　wa