hr.thecarpetbaggers-第59部分
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Margaret laughed happily。 〃That's just the way I want it to be for you；〃 she said。 She looked at Rina as if the idea had just e to her。 〃What do you say we celebrate tonight？ While you're changing； I'll order a bottle of champagne。 We'll have a little party all by ourselves。〃
〃That would be fun。〃 Rina smiled。 〃I always wanted to drink champagne but Father would never let me。〃
〃Well； this will be a secret between us。〃 Margaret laughed； reaching for the telephone。 〃I promise I won't tell him。〃
Rina put down her glass and began to giggle。
Margaret leaned back in her chair； still holding hers by its fragile stem。 〃What's funny？〃
〃My nightgown crinkles and gives off tiny sparks when I move。〃
〃That's static electricity；〃 Margaret said。 〃Silk is a very good conductor。〃
〃I know；〃 Rina answered quickly。 〃I remember that from your class。〃 She ran her hand down along the gown。 〃It gives off tiny blue sparks。 Can you see them？〃
〃No。〃
Rina leaped to her feet。 〃I'll turn off the lights；〃 she said。 〃You'll be able to see them then。〃
She turned off the lights and stood in front of Margaret。 〃Watch；〃 she said。 She ran her hands down the sides of her gown。 There was a faint crackling and tiny sparks appeared at her fingertips。 Rina picked up her glass and emptied it。 She held the glass toward Margaret。 〃May I have some more； Peggy？〃
〃Of course；〃 Margaret answered； refilling her glass。
Rina held it to her lips and sipped。 〃Champagne is nothing but pop made from wine；〃 she said seriously。 〃But it tastes better。 It's not as sweet。〃
〃It's getting warmer in here； don't you think？〃
〃It is getting warmer；〃 Rina answered。 〃Do you want me to turn on the fan？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 Margaret said quickly。 〃We'd only catch cold in the draft。 I'll just slip off my jacket。〃
She felt Rina's eyes on her small bosom and she picked up her glass quickly。 〃Do you mind？〃
Rina shook her head。 She lifted her glass and took another sip。 〃Do you hear music？〃
Margaret nodded。 〃It's the orchestra from the ballroom。 They're playing a waltz。〃
Rina got to her feet。 She swayed in time to the music。 〃I love to dance；〃 she said。 She glided lightly around the room； the white gown flaring out as she turned； showing her long； tanned legs。
Margaret felt a weakness in the pit of her stomach as she got to her feet。 〃I love to dance； too；〃 she said； making a mock bow。 〃May I have this dance； Miss Marlowe？〃
Rina looked at her； smiling。 〃Just this one。 All the others are taken； Miss Bradley。〃
Margaret shook a reproachful finger at Rina。 〃Mr。 Bradley； if you please。〃
Rina laughed。 〃Of course。 Just this one； Mr。 Bradley。〃
Margaret put her arm around Rina's waist。 They both laughed as the tiny blue sparks crackled from Rina's gown。 Margaret felt her legs tremble as the warmth from Rina's breasts came through the gown。 Holding the young girl firmly； she led her into the dance。 They spun furiously in a circle as the music reached a crescendo； then abruptly halted。
Rina looked up into her face。 Margaret smiled at her。 〃We'd better have some more champagne。〃 She poured Rina a glass and picked up her own。 〃You're a very good dancer； Rina。〃
〃Thank you。 You lead better than any of the boys that ever came to the school dances。 You do everything so well。〃 Rina swayed slightly。 〃The dancing made me dizzy。〃
〃Perhaps you'd better lie down on your bed for a moment。〃
Rina shook her head。 〃And break up our party？〃
〃Lie down for a minute。 You won't break up the party。 I'll e and sit on the bed。〃
〃O。K。；〃 Rina said。 She walked over to the bed and put her glass on the night table； then stretched out on the white sheet。
Margaret sat down beside her。 〃Feel better？〃
〃The room is still spinning；〃 Rina said。
Margaret bent over her and stroked her forehead lightly。 〃Close your eyes for a moment。〃
Obediently Rina closed her eyes。 They were silent for a moment while Margaret continued to stroke her forehead。 〃That's better；〃 Rina said softly。 〃The spinning has gone。〃
Margaret didn't answer； but kept stroking her head lightly。 Rina opened her eyes and looked at her。 Margaret reached for her glass。 〃A little more champagne？〃
Rina nodded。 She sipped and handed it back to Margaret； who smiled at her； then put the glass down。
〃I'm glad we're going to Europe together；〃 Rina said suddenly。 〃I've never really had a close girl friend before。 The girls at school always seemed such ninnies to me。 Always talking about boys。〃
〃They're nothing but silly children； most of them；〃 Margaret said。 〃That's why I liked you the moment you came into my room that night。 I knew you were different； more mature。〃
〃Ever since Laddie died； I couldn't stand boys；〃 Rina said。
〃Laddie？〃
〃My brother；〃 Rina explained。 〃He and my father are the only two men that I ever really liked。〃
〃He must have been very nice；〃 Margaret said。
〃He was。〃 Rina turned her head away。 〃I think I was in love with him。〃
〃That's nothing；〃 Margaret said quickly。 〃All girls love their brothers。〃
〃He really wasn't my brother； you know。 I was adopted。〃
〃How do you know you loved him？〃 Margaret asked； faint jealousy stirring within her。
〃I know；〃 Rina answered。 〃And I think he loved me； too。〃
〃You do？〃 Margaret asked； the jealousy stronger。 〃Did he… did you？〃
Rina looked away。 〃I never spoke to anyone about it before。〃
〃You can talk to me；〃 Margaret said。 〃I'm your friend。 We have no secrets between us。〃
〃You won't be angry with me？〃
〃I won't be angry with you；〃 Margaret said almost sharply。 〃Tell me！〃
Rina's voice was muffled by the pillow。 〃I wouldn't let him touch me because I was afraid of what would happen。 Then one day； he came into my room and tied my hands to the bed with his belt and he did it to me。 He hurt me so bad！〃
〃He couldn't have loved you so much if he hurt you。〃
〃But he did！〃 Rina said wildly。 〃Don't you see； Peggy？ I wanted him to。 All the time I kept daring him and when he did； I knew I loved him。 But he went out in the boat with Mother and they died。〃 She began to sob。 〃It was my fault because I wanted him to。 Can't you see that I was the one who was supposed to die； not Mother？ She took my place in the dream。 Now I don't even dream the dream any more。〃
〃You'll dream your dreams again；〃 Margaret said slowly； holding Rina's head against her bosom。
〃No； I won't！〃
〃Yes； you will；〃 Margaret said firmly。 〃Tell me about it and I'll help you。〃
Rina stopped sobbing。 〃Do you think you could？〃 she asked； her eyes searching Margaret's face。
〃Tell me and we'll see。〃
Rina took a deep breath。 〃I dreamed that I was dead and everybody was around my bed； crying。 I could feel how much they loved me and wanted me because they kept begging me not to die。 But I couldn't do anything about it。 I was dead。〃
Margaret felt a cold shiver of excitement tremble through her。 Slowly she got to her feet。 〃Close your eyes； Rina；〃 she said quietly； 〃and we'll act out your dream。 Whom do you want me to be？〃
Rina looked up at her shyly。 〃Will you be Laddie？〃
〃I'll be Laddie；〃 Margaret answered。 〃Now you close your eyes。〃
Margaret looked down at the girl。 Suddenly her eyes began to fill with tears。 A sudden fear began to tear through her。 Rina was dead。 Rina was really dead。 〃Rina！〃 she cried hoarsely。 〃Please don't die！ Please！〃
Rina did not move and Margaret fell to her knees beside the bed。 〃Please； Rina。 I can't live without you。〃 She leaned over the bed and covered Rina's face with kisses。
Rina opened her eyes suddenly； a small； proud smile on her face。 〃You're really crying；〃 she said； her fingers touching Margaret's cheek。 She closed her eyes again contentedly。
Slowly Margaret slipped the nightgown off。 〃You're beautiful；〃 she whispered。 〃You're the most beautiful woman in the world。 You're much too beautiful to die。〃
Rina looked up at her。 〃Do you really think I'm beautiful？〃
Margaret nodded。 She ripped off her pajama bottoms and let them fall to the floor。 〃All you have to do is look at me to see how beautiful you really are。〃 She caught Rina's hand and pressed it to her breasts； then down across her stomach to her thighs。 〃Feel how flat I am； just like a man？〃
Slowly she sank down onto
