hr.thecarpetbaggers-第41部分

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early　state　they　were　Protestant。〃
　Dandy　Jim　took　the　papers　from　him　and　studied　them。　〃If　you　had　these；　why　didn't　you　stop　them？〃
　〃How　could　I？〃　Marlowe　asked。　〃I　didn't　receive　them　until　today。　The　servants　and　Father　Nolan　made　all　the　arrangements　last　night。　Besides；　what　difference　does　it　make　to　the　poor　woman？　She's　getting　a　Christian　burial。〃
　Dandy　Jim　nodded　and　gave　the　papers　back。　〃This　will　be　very　embarrassing　to　Father　Nolan；〃　he　said。　〃A　young　priest　with　his　first　church　making　a　mistake　like　that。　The　Bishop　won't　like　it　at　all。〃
　〃The　Bishop　need　never　know；〃　Marlowe　said。　
　Dandy　Jim　stared　at　him　thoughtfully　but　didn't　speak。　
　Marlowe　pressed。　〃There's　an　election　ing　up　next　year。〃
　Dandy　Jim　nodded；　〃There's　always　an　election。〃　
　〃That's　true；〃　Marlowe　said。　〃There　will　be　other　elections　and　campaigns。　A　candidate　needs　contributions　almost　as　much　as　he　needs　votes。〃
　Dandy　Jim　smiled。　〃Did　I　ever　tell　you　I　met　your　father？〃　
　Marlowe　smiled　back。　〃No；　you　didn't。　But　my　father　often　mentioned　it。　He　told　me　many　times　how　he　threw　you　out　of　his　office。〃
　Dandy　Jim　nodded。　〃That's　true。　Your　father　has　a　wild　temper。　One　would　almost　take　him　for　an　Irishman。　And　all　I　did　was　ask　him　for　a　small　campaign　contribution。　That　was　about　twenty　years　ago。　I　was　running　for　City　Council　then。　Do　you　know　what　he　said　to　me　then？〃　
　Marlowe　shook　his　head。
　〃He　swore　that　if　ever　I　was　so　much　as　elected　to　the　post　of　dog…catcher；　he'd　take　his　family　and　move　out。〃　Dandy　Jim　was　smiling。　〃He　won't　like　it　when　he　hears　you've　contributed　to　my　campaign　fund。〃
　Marlowe　stood　his　ground。　〃My　father　is　my　father　and　I　respect　him　very　much；〃　he　said；　〃but　what　I　do　with　my　money　and　my　politics　is　my　concern；　not　his。〃　
　〃You　have　other　children？〃　Dandy　Jim　asked。　
　〃A　boy；〃　Geraldine　answered　quickly。　〃Laddie　is　eight。〃　
　Dandy　Jim　smiled。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃Someday　women　will　have　the　vote　and　if　that　little　girl　is　brought　up　on　the　hill；　that's　one　vote　I　may　never　get。〃
　〃I　promise　you　this；　Mr。　Mayor；〃　Geraldine　said　quickly。　〃If　that　day　ever　es；　the　women　of　my　household　will　always　vote　for　you！〃
　Dandy　Jim's　smile　grew　broader。　He　made　a　courtly　bow。　〃It　is　a　weakness　of　politicians　to　always　be　making　deals。〃
　The　next　day；　Timothy　Kelly；　the　mayor's　secretary；　appeared　at　Marlowe's　office　in　the　bank　and　picked　up　a　check　for　five　hundred　dollars。　He　suggested　that　Marlowe　talk　to　a　certain　judge　in　the　municipal　court。
　It　was　there　the　adoption　was　made。　Quickly；　quietly　and　legally。　When　Marlowe　departed　the　judge's　chambers；　he　left　with　the　judge　a　birth　certificate　for　one　white　female　child　named　Katrina　Osterlaag。
　In　his　pocket　was　a　birth　certificate　in　the　name　of　his　daughter；　Rina　Marlowe。
　
　4
　
　UNDERNEATH　THE　OVERSIZED　UMBRELLA　PLANTED　in　the　sand；　Geraldine　Marlowe　sat　in　a　canvas　chair；　her　parasol　at　her　side。　Slowly　she　moved　her　fan　back　and　forth。
　〃I　can't　remember　a　summer　as　hot　as　this；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃It　must　be　over　ninety　here　in　the　shade。〃
　Her　husband　grunted　from　the　chair　next　to　hers；　his　head　still　immersed　in　the　Boston　newspaper；　which　arrived　on　the　Cape　one　day　late。
　〃What　did　you　say。　Harry？〃
　He　folded　his　paper　and　looked　at　his　wife。　〃That　Wilson's　a　damn　fool！〃
　Geraldine　was　still　looking　at　the　ocean。　〃What　makes　you　say　that；　dear？〃
　He　tapped　the　paper　vigorously。　〃That　League　of　Nations　thing。　Now　he　says　he's　going　to　Europe　and　see　to　it　that　peace　is　insured。〃
　Geraldine　looked　at　him。　〃I　think　that's　a　wonderful　idea；〃　she　said　mildly。　〃After　all；　we　were　lucky　this　time。　Laddie　was　too　young　to　go。　The　next　time；　it　may　be　different。〃
　He　snorted　again。　〃There　won't　be　a　next　time。　Germany　is　through　forever。　Besides；　what　can　they　do　to　us？　They're　on　the　other　side　of　the　ocean。　We　can　just　sit　back　and　let　them　kill　each　other　off　if　they　want　to　start　another　war。〃
　Geraldine　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃You　better　move　in　closer　under　the　umbrella；　dear；〃　she　said。　〃You　know　how　red　you　get　in　the　sun。〃
　Harrison　Marlowe　got　up　and　moved　his　chair　farther　under　the　umbrella。　He　settled　back　in　the　chair　with　a　sigh　and　buried　himself　in　the　newspaper　once　more。
　Rina　appeared　suddenly　in　front　of　her　mother。　〃It's　been　an　hour　since　I　had　lunch；　Mother；〃　she　said。　〃Can　I　go　into　the　water　now？〃
　〃May　I；〃　Geraldine　corrected　automatically。　She　looked　at　Rina。　She　had　grown　up　this　summer。　It　was　hard　to　believe　she　was　only　thirteen。
　She　was　tall　for　her　age；　almost　five　three；　only　one　inch　shorter　than　Laddie；　who　was　three　years　older。　Her　hair　was　bleached　pletely　white　from　the　sun　and　her　skin　was　deeply　tanned；　so　dark　that　her　almond…shaped　eyes　seemed　light　by　parison。　Her　legs　were　long　and　graceful；　her　hips　just　beginning　to　round　a　little　and　her　breasts　came　full　and　round　against　her　little　girl's　bathing　suit；　more　like　a　sixteen…year…old's。　
　〃May　I；　Mother？〃　Rina　asked。
　〃You　may；〃　Geraldine　nodded。　〃But　be　careful；　dear；　don't　swim　too　far　out。　I　don't　want　you　to　tire　yourself。〃
　But　Rina　was　already　gone。　Geraldine　Marlowe　half　smiled　to　herself。　Rina　was　like　that；　she　was　like　none　of　the　other　girls　Geraldine　knew。　Rina　didn't　play　like　a　girl。　She　could　swim　and　outrun　any　of　the　boys　that　Laddie　played　with　and　they　knew　it。　She　didn't　pretend　to　be　afraid　of　the　water　or　hide　from　the　sun。　She　just　didn't　care　whether　her　skin　was　soft　and　white。
　Harrison　Marlowe　looked　up　from　his　paper。　〃I　have　to　go　up　to　the　city　tomorrow。　We're　closing　the　Standish　loan。〃
　〃Yes；　dear。〃　The　faint；　shrill　voices　of　the　children　floated　lazily　back　toward　them。　〃We'll　have　to　do　something　about　Rina；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。　
　〃Rina？〃　he　questioned。　〃What　about　Rina？〃　
　She　turned　to　him。　〃Haven't　you　noticed？　Our　little　girl's　growing　up。〃
　He　cleared　his　throat。　〃Umm　…　yes。　But　she's　still　a　baby。〃　
　Geraldine　Marlowe　smiled。　It　was　true　what　they　said　about　fathers。　They　spoke　more　about　their　sons　but　secretly　they　delighted　in　their　daughters。　〃She's　bee　a　woman　in　the　past　year；〃　she　said。
　His　face　flushed　and　he　looked　down　at　his　paper。　In　a　vague　way；　he　had　realized　it；　but　this　was　the　first　time　they　had　spoken　about　it　openly。　He　looked　toward　the　water；　trying　to　find　Rina　in　the　screaming；　splashing　crowd。　〃Don't　you　think　we　ought　to　call　her　back？　It's　dangerous　for　her　to　be　so　far　out　in　the　deep　water。〃
　Geraldine　smiled　at　him。　Poor　Harrison。　She　could　read　him　like　a　book。　It　wasn't　the　water　he　was　afraid　of；　it　was　the　boys。　She　shook　her　head。　〃No。　She's　perfectly　safe　out　there。　She　can　swim　like　a　fish。〃
　His　embarrassed　gaze　met　her　own。　〃Don't　you　think　you　ought　to　have　a　little　talk　with　her？　Maybe　explain　some　things　to　her。　You　know；　like　I　did　with　Laddie　two　years　ago？〃
　Geraldine's　smile　turned　mischievous。　She　loved　to　see　her　husband；　who　was　usually　so　sure　of　himself；　positive　about　his　tiniest　conviction；　flounder　around　like　this。　〃Don't　be　silly；　Harry。〃　She　laughed。　〃There's　nothing　I　have　to　explain　to　her　now。　When　a　thing　like　that　happens；　it's　just　natural　to　tell　her　everything　she　should　know。〃
　〃Oh；〃　he　said　in　a　relieved　voice。
　She　turned　thoughtful　again。　〃I　think　Rina's　going　to　be　one　of　those　lucky　children　who　make　the　transition　from　adolescence　without　any　of　the　embarrassing　stages；〃　she　said。　〃There's　not　the　slightest　trace　of　gawkiness　about　her　and　her　skin　is　as　clear　as　a　bell。　Not　a　sign　of　a　blemish　or　a　pimple。　Not　like　Laddie　at　all。〃
　She　turned　back　toward　the　ocean。　〃Just　the　same；　I　think　we'd　better　do　something　about　Rina。　I'd　better　get　her　some　brassières。〃
　Marlowe　didn't　speak。
　She　turned　to　him　again。　〃I　honestly　think　her　bust　is　as　large　as　mine　already；　I　do　hope　it　doesn't　get　too　big。　She's　going　to　be　a　very　beautiful　girl。〃
　He　smiled　slowly。　〃Why　shouldn't　she　be？〃
　She　reached　for　his　hand；　quietly　returning　his　smile。　They　both　knew　what　he　meant。　Neither　of　them　ever　thought　of　Rina　as　anything　but　their　own　natural　child。
　〃Would　you　mind　very　much　if　I　came　into　town　with　you　tonight？〃　she　asked　softly。　〃It　would　be　nice　to　stay　in　a　hotel　for　one　evening。〃
　He　pressed　her　hand。　〃I　think　it　would　be　very　nice。〃
　〃Molly　could　look　after　the　children；〃　she　said。　〃And　I'd　have　time　to　do　a　little　shopping　tomorrow　before　we　return。〃
　He　looked　at　her　and　grinned。　〃I　agree　with　you；〃　he　said　in　a　mock…solemn　voice。　〃The　cottage　down　here　is　a　little　crowded。　I'll　call　the　hotel　and　make　sure　they　have　a　shakerful　of　Martinis　waiting　for　us　the　moment　we　arrive。〃
　She　dropped　his　hand。　〃You　lecher！〃　she　exclaimed；　laughing。
　
　Rina　swam　with　easy；　purposeful　strokes；　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　diving　raft　out　past　the　rolling　surf。　Laddie　should　be　out　there　with　his　friend　Tommy　Randall。　She　came　up　out　of　the　water　almost　at　their　feet。　The　boys　were　stretched　out　on　their　backs；　faces　up　to　the　sun；　and　they　sat　up　as　Rina　began　to　climb　the　ladder。
　Laddie's　face　showed　his　annoyance　at　her　invasion　of　their　sanctum。　〃Why　don't　you　stay　back　there　with　the　girls？〃
　〃I've　got　as　much　right　out　here　as　you　have；〃　she　retorted；　after　catching　her　breath；　straightening　the　shoulder　straps　of　her　too…small　bathing　suit。
　〃Aw；　go　on；〃　Tommy　said；　looking　up。　〃Let　her　stay。〃　
　Rina　glanced　at　him　swiftly　from　the　corners　of　her　eyes　and　saw　his　gaze　fixed　on　her　partly　revealed　breasts。　It　was　at　that　exact　moment　that　she　began　to　turn　into　a　woman。
　Now　even　Laddie　was　staring　at　her　with　a　curious　look　she　had　never　before　noticed　in　his　eyes。　Instinctively　she　let　her　hands　fall　to　her　sides。　If　that　was　all　it　took　to　make　them　accept　her；　let　them　look。　She　sat　down　opposite　them；　still　feeling　their　gaze　on　her。
　A　dull　ache　began　to　throb　in　her　breasts　and　she　looked　down　at　herself。　Her　nipples　were　clearly　limned　against　the　black　jersey　of　her　bathing　suit。　She　looked　up　again　at　the　boys。　They　were　staring　at　her　quite　openly　now。　
　〃What　are　you　looking　at？〃
　The　two　boys　exchanged　quick；　embarrassed　glances　and　immediately　looked　away。　Tommy　fixed　his　eyes　out　over　the