爱情与金钱.docx

爱情与金钱.docx

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爱情与金钱

LoveorMoney?

1

Chapter

TheClarksonfamilylivedinthecountrynearCambridge,abouthalfamilefromthenearestvillageandaboutamilefromtheriver.Theyhadabig,oldhousewithabeautifulgarden,alotofflowersandmanyoldtrees.

OneThursdaymorninginJuly,Jackiecameinfromthegarden.Shewasatall,fatwoman,thirtyyearsold.Itwasthehottestdayoftheyear,butsheworeawarmbrownskirtandyellowshirt.Shewentintothekitchentogetadrinkofwater.Justthenthephonerang.

‘Cambridge1379,’Jackiesaid.

‘Hello.ThisisDiane.IwanttotalktoMother’

‘Motherisn’there,’Jackiesaid.‘She’satthedoctor’s.’

‘Why?

What’swrong?

’

‘Nothing’swrong,’Jackiesaid.‘Whyareyoutelephoning?

Youaregoingtocomethisweekend?

Motherwantseveryonetobehere.’

‘Yes,Iwanttocome,’Dianesaid.‘I’mphoningbecauseIhavenomoneyforthetrainticket.’

‘Nomoney!

Motherisalwaysgivingyoumoney!

’

‘Thisphonecallisveryexpensive,’Dianesaidcoldly.‘TellMotherplease.Ineedthemoney.’

Jackieputthephonedown.Shetookacigarettefromherbagandbegantosmoke.Shefeltangrybecausehersisteralwaysaskedformoney.Dianewastwentyyearsold,theyoungestinthefamily.ShelivedinLondon,inoneroomofabighouse.Shewantedtobeasinger.Shesangverywellbutshecouldnevergetwork.

Jackiewentbackintothekitchenandbegantomakesomesandwiches.Justthenthebackdooropened,andhermothercamein.

‘It’sveryhot!

’Mollysaid.Shetookoffherhatandputitdownonthetable.Shewasatall,darkwomanwithbeautifuleyes.

Twobig,blackdogscameintothekitchenafterherandranacrosstoher.Shesatdownandputherhandsontheirheads.

Jackieputthesandwichesonthetable.‘Mother,’shesaid.‘Dianephoned.Shewantsmoneyforhertrainticket.’

Mollyclosedhereyesforaminute.Thenshestoodup.‘ThisafternoonIwantyoutogetthehousereadyfortheweekend,’shesaid,‘Oh,andpleasegotothevillagelaterandgetmytablets.’

‘Yes,Mother,’Jackiesaid.

Mollywenttothedoor.

‘Mother,pleasewaitaminute,’Jackiesaid.‘PeterHobbscameherethismorning.He’sveryangrywithyouaboutthatletter.Helosthisjob,youknow.Whydidyouwritetohisoffice?

Hewantstotalktoyouaboutit.’

‘Well,Idon’twanttotalktohim,’Mollysaid.Sheopenedthedoor.

‘ButMother,youdon’tunderstand.He’sseventeen,anditwashisfirstjob.He’svery,veryangry.Hesays…hesayshe’sgoingtokillyou!

’

Mollydidnotanswer.Shewentoutoftheroomandclosedthedoor.

2

Chapter

Itwasseveno’clockonSaturdayevening.Jackiestoodatthewindow.Acardroveslowlyuptothefrontdoorandstopped.Atallmanwithwhitehairgotout.ItwasAlbert,thehusbandofMolly’ssister.

‘Here’sUncleAlbert,’Jackiesaid.‘Alwayslate.’

Shewentoutoftheroomandopenedthefrontdoor.AlbertcameinandwentatoncetoMolly.

‘Oh,dear.I’mverylate.Iamsorry,’Albertsaid.‘Fiftyyearsoldtoday!

Whatawonderfuldress!

’

Mollydidnotsmile.‘Thankyou,Albert.We’reallgettingolder.’Tonightsheworealongblackdress,andthetwoblackdogssatatherfeet.‘Everyoneisherenow.Let’sgointodinner,’shesaid.

Everyonestoodupandwenttothetable.

‘Thetablelooksnice,Jackie.Whatwonderfulflowers!

’Dianesaid.Shewasabeautifulgirl,withlongblackhairanddarkblueeyes.Sheworealongreddress.

AlbertsatdownnexttoRoger.RogerwasMolly’sson,hersecondchild.HelivedinCambridge,inanexpensivehouse.

‘SomeonecalledPeterstoppedmedowntheroad,’Albertsaid.‘Whoishe?

He’sveryangrywithyou,Molly.’

‘That’sPeterHobbs,fromthehouseacrosstheroad,’Jackiesaidquickly.ShelookedacrossthetableatMolly.‘Helosthisjoblastweekandhe’sangrywitheveryone.’

‘It’sMollyhedoesn’tlike,’Albertsaid.

Mollysaidnothing.Everyonebegantoeat.

‘HowisAuntAnnie?

’Jackieasked.

‘She’smuchworsenow,’Albertsaid.‘Shestaysinbedallthetime.Sheneedsanursetwenty-fourhoursaday.’

‘Iamsorry,’Mollysaid.

AlbertstoppedeatingandlookedatMolly.‘It’sverydifficultandveryexpensive,youknow.Anniefeelsveryunhappybecauseyoudon’tvisither,Molly.Shelovesyouverymuch.Youareherlittlesister,youknow.’

Mollyclosedhereyesforaminute.‘Iknowthat,Albert.Iamfiftyyearsold,butIamalwaysher"little"sister.Well,wecantalkaboutitlater.’

Albertlaughed.‘Ohyes,wecantalklater.It’salwayslaterwithyou,Molly.Alwaystomorrow.Nevertoday.’

Jackiewatchedhermother.HermotherwasangrywithAlbert.MollyneverlikedtalkingabouthersisterAnnieandshedidnotlikevisitingherbecauseshewasveryill.

‘That’sabeautifuldress,Diane.Isitnew?

’Jackieasked.

‘Thankyou,Jackie.Yes,it’snew,andveryexpensive.IgotitonWednesday,’Dianesaid.ShesmiledatJackie.

‘Allyourthingsareexpensive,’Jackiesaid.SherememberedthephonecallonThursdayaboutthetrainticket.

‘Idon’tlikecheapthings,’Dianesaid.‘AndI’mgoingtoneedmoremoneysoon.IwanttogotoAmerica.Canyouhelpme,Roger?

’

‘Ohno,’Rogersaid.‘Nobodywantstohelpyou,Diane.Youdon’tlikeworking,weallknowthat,butweallwantyoutogetajob.’

Dianelaughed.‘Itdoesn’tmatter,Roger.Idon’tneedyourhelp.Motheralwayshelpsme.Motherlovesmebest.’Shesuddenlysmiled,aquick,beautifulsmile.Buthereyeswerecold.

Jackielookedathermother.Molly’sfacewaswhite.Jackiedidnotunderstand.WashermotherafraidofDiane?

Jackiewantedhermothertobehappytoday.

‘Wouldyoulikesomemoremeat,UncleAlbert?

’Jackieasked.‘Roger,canyougiveeveryonesomemoretodrink?

’

Rogergotupandbegantogivemorewinetoeveryone.‘Thisisgodwine,’hesaid.

Mollysmiledforthefirsttime.‘Yes,yourfatherlovedthiswine.Heoftendrankit.’

‘Yes,’Albertsaid,andlookedatMolly.‘Expensive,too.’

‘WouldyouliketomeetMrBriggsthisweekend,Roger?

’Jackieaskedquickly.‘He’sthenewmanatthefarm.Hewantstomeetyou.’

‘Briggs?

Briggs?

’Mollysaid,suddenlyangry.‘Don’ttalktomeaboutthatman.Idon’tlikehim.Hewantshalfmygardenforhisfarm.Heneedsmoreland,hesays.Idon’twanthiminmyhouse.He’salwaysdirtyandhehasbadteeth.’

Jackiestoodupandgotherbag.‘Excuseme,Iwantacigarette.’

‘Cigarettes!

Alwaysacigaretteinyourmouth,’Mollysaid.‘Idon’tlikeit.Cigarettesaren’tgoodforyou.’

Jackiebegantosmoke.Shefeltangrybutshesaidnothing.Shewantedhermothertobehappythisevening,butitwasverydifficult.

Rogerdranksomemorewine.‘Well,Mother,perhapsMrBriggsisright.Thegardenisverybig,youknow,’hesaid.‘It’salotofworkforyou.Thehouseisbig,too.You’refiftynow.Youneedtobemorecareful.’

‘Roger!

Idon’tneedanurse,youknow!

Iworkinthegardeneveryday；Ifeelhappythere.’Mollystoodup.‘Iknowyouallwantmymoney.Youcomehereforafreedinner,youdon’twanttoseeme.Youdon’tloveme.Youwantmyhouse,andmymoney.Well,youcanallwait.Nobodyisgettingmoremoneyfromme,notbeforeIdie!

’

‘Don’tsaythat,Mother!

’Jackiecried.

Mollywalkedacrosstheroomtothedoor.‘Ifeelillnow.I’mgoingupstairstobed.’

Mollylefttheroom.Nobodymoved.

‘OnedayI’mgoingtokillthatwoman,’Dianesaidquietly.

RogerlookedatDianebutsaidnothing.Albertmovedhisheadslowlyupanddown.‘Ill!

She’sangry,that’sall,’hesaid.‘Mollyalwaysgetsangryaboutmoney.Whycan’tshebegoodtohersister?

Annie’sgoingtodiesoon.Mollyknowsthat.’

Jackiefinishedhercigaretteandstoodup.‘Wouldeveryonelikesomecoffee?

Comeintothekitchenandlet’sdrinkitthere.’

3

Chapter

Earlynextmorningthehousewasquiet.SuddenlytherewasacryfromtheroomnexttoRoger’s,hismother’sroom.Rogeropenedhiseyesandlookedattheclock.Itwasnearlyseveno’clock.Hegotoutofbedandopenedthedoorquietly.Atthesametimethedoorofhismother’sroomopenedandDianecameout.Herfacewasverywhite.

‘Roger!

It’sMother!

IbroughtacupofcoffeeforherandIfoundherdead.She’sdead...deadinherbed,’shecried.

Rogerwentquicklytothedoorofhismother’sroomandlookedin.Thewindowwasopenbuttheroomwaswarm.Mollywasonthebed,onehandunderherhead.Rogerwentacrosstothebedandputhishandonherarm.Itwascold.Onthelittletablenexttothebedwasahotcupofcoffeeandanemptycup.

‘I’mgoingtocallthedoctor,’Dianesaid.

‘She’sdead,’Rogersaidslowly.Hisface,too,waswhite.‘Motherisdead!

’

Dianewalkedacrosstheroomtothedoor.‘I’mgoingtophonethedoctor,’shesaidagain.

‘Waitaminute!

’Rogercalled.‘Let’stellthefamilyfirst.’

‘Family!

NobodylovedMother!

’Dianewentoutandrandownstairs.

Rogerslowlywentdownstairsafterherandstoodbythetelephone.

‘DrPratt,thisisDianeClarkson.It’smymother—she’sdead.Canyoucomequickly?

’

Dianeputthephonedown.‘Itisn’ttrue,Roger!

Mother’sdead!

Daddydiedlastwinter,andnowMother.’Dianebegantocry.

‘Don’tcry,Diane,’Rogersaid.‘Let’sgoupstairsandtellUncleAlbertandJackie.’

‘No!

Youtellthem!

NobodylovedMother.Youaren’tsorry.Lookatyou!

Youwanthermoney.That’sall.’

RogersuddenlywantedtohitDiane.‘Bequiet!

’hesaid.‘Whataboutyou?

Youdidn’tloveMother.Youwantedhermoney,too.Don’tforgetthat!

’

‘It’strue,’Dianesaid.‘Oh,Ican’tstayinthishouse.I’mgoingout.I’mgoingtotheriverwiththedogs.’

‘No,’Rogersaid.‘Thedoctor’scomingandIwantyouhere.’

Dianesaidnothing.Shewentintothekitchenandatoncethedogsgotupandcametoher.‘Beautifuldogs!

DaddylovedyouandMotherlovedyou.NowI’mgoingtoloveyou.’Sheopen