hr.thecarpetbaggers-第122部分

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　My　father　towered　over　him　in　rage。　〃And　who　would　absorb　the　loss　of　my　reputation？〃　he　shouted。　〃It's　my　name　that's　on　every　can　of　that　powder。　Burn　it！〃
　〃All　right；　Roger；〃　I　said　slowly。　〃You　get　Winthrop。〃
　He　looked　into　my　eyes　for　a　moment。　When　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　quieter。　〃You'll　have　to　find　him　for　us。　I'm　sending　Morrissey　up　to　Canada　to　get　the　new　plant　started。　I'll　go　out　to　the　Coast　and　start　production。〃
　〃Where　is　he？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　answered。　〃Last　I　heard；　he　was　in　New　York；　but　when　I　checked　around　this　morning；　nobody　seemed　to　know　where　he　is。　He　seems　to　have　dropped　out　of　sight。〃
　
　4
　
　I　SLUMPED　BACK　INTO　A　CORNER　OF　THE　BIG　LIMOUSINE　AS　WE　CAME　OFF　THE　QUEENSBORO　BRIDGE。　Already；　I　regretted　my　decision　to　e　out　here。　There　was　something　about　Queens　that　depressed　me。　I　looked　out　the　window　while　Robair　expertly　threaded　the　big　car　through　the　traffic。　Suddenly；　I　was　annoyed　with　Monica　for　living　out　here。
　I　recognized　the　group　of　houses　as　the　car　rolled　to　a　stop。　They　hadn't　changed；　except　that　the　lawn　was　dull　and　brown　with　winter　now；　where　it　had　been　bright　summer…green　the　last　time。
　〃Wait　here；〃　I　said　to　Robair。　I　went　up　the　three　steps　and　pressed　the　doorbell。　A　chill　wind　whistled　between　the　buildings　and　I　pulled　my　light　topcoat　around　me。　I　shifted　the　package　unfortably　under　my　arm。
　The　door　opened　and　a　small　girl　stood　there；　looking　up　at　me。　Her　eyes　were　dark　violet　and　serious。　〃Jo…Ann？〃　I　asked　tentatively。
　She　nodded　silently。
　I　stared　at　her　for　a　moment。　Leave　it　to　children　to　remind　you　of　the　passing　of　time。　They　have　a　way　of　growing　that　ticks　off　your　years　more　accurately　than　a　clock。　The　last　time　I　had　seen　her；　she　was　little　more　than　a　baby。　〃I'm　Jonas　Cord；〃　I　said。　〃Is　your　mother　home？〃
　〃e　in；〃　she　said　in　a　small；　clear　voice。　I　followed　her　into　the　living　room。　She　turned　to　face　me。　〃Sit　down。　Mummy's　dressing。　She　said　she　wouldn't　be　long。〃
　I　sat　down　and　she　sat　in　a　chair　opposite　me。　She　stared　at　me　with　wide；　serious　eyes　but　didn't　speak。　I　began　to　feel　unfortable　under　her　candid　scrutiny　and　lit　a　cigarette。　Her　eyes　followed　my　hand　as　I　searched　for　an　ash　tray　for　my　match。　〃It's　over　there；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　a　table　on　my　right。
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃You're　wele；〃　she　said　politely。　Then　she　was　silent　again；　her　eyes　watching　my　face。　I　dragged　on　the　cigarette　and　after　a　moment's　silence；　spoke　to　her。　〃Do　you　remember　me；　Jo…Ann？〃
　Her　eyes　dropped　and　she　was　suddenly　shy；　her　hands　smoothing　the　hem　of　her　dress　across　her　knees　in　a　typically　feminine　gesture。　〃Yes。〃
　I　smiled。　〃The　last　time　I　saw　you；　you　were　just　so　big；〃　I　said；　holding　my　hand　out　just　about　level　with　my　knee。
　〃I　know；〃　she　whispered；　not　looking　at　me。　〃You　were　standing　on　the　steps　waiting　for　us　to　e　home。〃
　I　took　the　package　out　from　under　my　arm。　〃I　brought　you　a　present；〃　I　said。　〃A　doll。〃
　She　took　the　package　from　me　and　sat　down　on　the　floor　to　open　it。　Her　eyes　were　smiling　now。　She　lifted　out　the　doll　and　looked　at　me。　〃It's　very　pretty。〃
　〃I　hoped　you'd　like　it；〃　I　said。
　〃I　do。　Very　much。〃　Her　eyes　grew　solemn　again。　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。
　A　moment　later；　Monica　came　into　the　room。　Jo…Ann　leaped　to　her　feet　and　ran　to　her。　〃Mummy！　Look　what　Mr。　Cord　brought　me！〃
　〃It　was　very　thoughtful　of　you；　Jonas；〃　Monica　said。
　I　struggled　to　my　feet。　We　stood　looking　at　each　other。　There　was　an　almost　regal　quality　of　self…possession　about　her。　Her　dark　hair　fell　almost　to　her　bare　shoulders　over　a　black　cocktail　dress。
　Then　the　doorbell　rang。　It　was　the　baby　sitter　and　Jo…Ann　was　so　busy　showing　her　the　new　doll；　she　didn't　even　have　time　to　say　good…by　when　we　left。
　Robair　was　standing　at　the　car　door　when　we　came　out。　〃Robair！〃　Monica　put　out　her　hand。　〃It's　nice　to　see　you　again。〃
　〃It's　nice　to　see　you　again；　Miss　Monica；〃　he　said　as　he　bowed　over　her　hand。
　I　looked　out　at　the　cruddy　Queens　scenery　as　the　car　rolled　back　to　Manhattan。　〃What　do　you　want　to　live　out　here　for？〃　I　asked。
　She　reached　for　a　cigarette　and　waited　while　I　held　the　match　for　her。　〃Jo…Ann　can　play　outside　when　the　weather　is　good　and　I　don't　have　to　worry　about　her　being　hurt　in　the　city　streets。　And　I　can　afford　it。　It's　much　more　reasonable　than　the　city。〃
　〃From　what　I　hear；　you're　doing　all　right。　If　you　want　to　live　in　the　suburbs；　why　don't　you　move　up　to　Westchester？　It's　nicer　up　there。〃
　〃It's　still　too　expensive；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　make　that　kind　of　money。　I'm　only　the　office　manager　at　the　magazine。　I'm　not　an　editor　yet。〃
　〃You　look　like　an　editor。〃
　She　smiled。　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　mean　that　as　a　pliment　or　not。　But　at　Style；　we　try　to　look　the　way　our　readers　think　we　should。〃
　I　stared　at　her　for　a　moment。　Style　was　one　of　the　most　successful　new　fashion　magazines　aimed　at　the　young　matron。　〃How　e　you're　not　an　editor　yet？〃
　She　laughed。　〃I'm　one　step　away。　Mr。　Hardin's　an　old…fashioned　businessman。　He　believes　that　every　editor　should　put　in　some　time　on　the　practical　side。　That　way；　they　learn　something　about　the　business　problems　involved　in　getting　out　a　magazine。　He's　already　hinted　that　the　next　editorial　opening　is　mine。〃
　I　knew　old　Hardin。　He　was　a　magazine　publisher　from　way　back。　He　paid　off　in　promises；　not　in　dollars。　〃How　long　has　he　been　promising？〃
　〃Three　years；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　think　it　will　happen　soon。　He's　planning　a　new　movie　magazine。　A　slick。　Something　on　the　order　of　the　old　Photoplay。　We'd　have　been　on　the　presses；　only　the　finances　are　holding　it　up。〃
　〃What　would　you　do　on　it？〃
　〃Feature　editor；〃　she　said。　〃You　know；　arrange　stories　about　the　stars；　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　I　glanced　at　her。　〃Wouldn't　you　have　to　be　out　in　Hollywood　for　that？〃
　She　nodded。　〃I　suppose　so。　But　Hardin　hasn't　got　the　money　yet　so　I'll　cross　that　bridge　when　I　e　to　it。〃
　
　Monica　put　her　coffee　cup　down　and　smiled　at　me。　〃It's　been　a　perfectly　lovely　dinner；　Jonas；　and　you've　been　a　charming　host。　Now　tell　me　why。〃
　〃Does　there　have　to　be　a　reason？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃There　doesn't　have　to　be；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　know　you。　When　you're　charming；　you　want　something。〃
　I　waited　until　the　waiter　finished　holding　a　match　for　her　cigarette。　〃I　just　got　back　from　England；〃　I　said　quietly。　〃I　ran　into　your　mother　over　there。〃
　A　kind　of　veil　dropped　over　her　eyes。　〃You　did？〃
　I　nodded。　〃She　seems　very　nice。〃
　〃I　imagine　she　would　be；　from　what　I　can　remember　of　her；〃　Monica　said；　a　slight　edge　of　bitterness　in　her　voice。
　〃You　must　have　a　very　good　memory。　Weren't　you　about　Jo…Ann's　age？〃
　The　violet　eyes　were　hard。　〃Some　things　you　don't　forget；〃　she　said。　〃Like　your　mother　telling　you　how　much　she　loves　you；　then　disappearing　one　day　and　never　ing　back。〃
　〃Maybe　she　couldn't　help　it。　Maybe　she　had　a　good　reason。〃
　〃What　reason？〃　she　asked　scornfully。　〃I　couldn't　leave　Jo…Ann　like　that。〃
　〃Perhaps　if　you　wrote　to　your　mother；　she　could　tell　you。〃
　〃What　could　she　tell　me？〃　she　said　coldly。　〃That　she　fell　in　love　with　another　man　and　ran　away　with　him？　I　can　understand　that。　What　I　can't　understand　is　why　she　didn't　take　me　with　her。　The　only　reason　I　can　see　is　that　I　didn't　matter。〃
　〃You　may　not　know　your　mother；　but　you　do　know　your　father。　You　know　how　he　can　hate　when　he　feels　someone　has　crossed　him。〃
　Her　eyes　looked　into　mine。　〃Someone　like　you？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Someone　like　me；〃　I　said。　〃That　night；　when　you　both　came　up　to　the　hotel　in　Los　Angeles　…　was　he　thinking　about　you　or　was　he　thinking　about　how　much　he　wanted　to　get　even　with　me？〃
　She　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then　her　eyes　softened。　〃Was　it　like　that　with　my　mother；　too？〃
　I　nodded　again。　〃Something　like　that；〃　I　said　quietly。
　She　looked　down　at　the　tablecloth　silently。　When　she　looked　up　at　me；　her　eyes　were　clear　once　more。　〃Thank　you　for　telling　me；　Jonas。　Somehow；　I　feel　better　now。〃
　〃Good。〃　The　waiter　came　by　and　refilled　our　coffee　cups。　〃By　the　way；〃　I　said；　〃seen　anything　of　your　father　lately？〃
　She　shook　her　head　with　a　wry　smile。　〃About　two　years　ago；　he　came　out　to　dinner　and　borrowed　a　thousand　dollars。　That's　th