第30部分(第3/7 頁)

entire　conversation。　Nate　just

nodded　mutely。　He　never　said　much　in　Eleanor？s　presence：　she　was　far　too　overwhelming。

？We？d　be　happy　to　do　it；？　Serena　answered　for　the　both　of　them。　？And　we　promise　to　keep　it　a

secret　from　Blair。？　Yeah。　They？re　good　at　that。

a　very　short　engagement

？I　am　just　too　pooped　to　pop！？　Dan？s　mom　stretched　her　arms　overhead　and　wiggled　her　butt

back　and　forth　on　the　lumpy　brown　leather　sofa　in　the　living　room；　her　mouth　open　in　a　yawn。　It

was　only　eight　o？clock；　and　Rufus　was　at　one　of　his　anarchist　poet　jamborees　in　the　West　Village。

She　looked　around；　blinking　like　a　sleepy　Siamese　cat。　Her　mousy　brown　hair　was　sticking　out　in

every　direction；　and　her　watery　blue　eyes　were　now　red　and　bloodshot。　？Jet　lag　really　gets　you　at

my　age。　And　cocktails　on　the　plane　are　only　a　temporary　fix！？

She　looked　at　Dan　and　then　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　kitchen　doorway；　where　Vanessa　was

standing；　obviously　expecting　them　to　say　something。　Dan　sat　stonily　in　the　tattered　armchair

across　from　his　mom；　still　not　sure　what　to　make　of　her。

？But　you　kids　really　shouldn？t　be　drinking！？　She　wagged　a　finger　back　and　forth；　apparently

unaware　that　she　was　chastising　them　for　somethingshe？d　done。　？Although　if　you　want　to　taste

some？just　a　taste？you　just　let　me　know；　okay？　Because　that　would　be　fine。　So；　where　am　I

sleeping？？　she　added　to　her　rambling。

Dan　attempted　to　exchange　a　what…the…hell？　glance　with　Vanessa；　but　she　just　stood　there；　lazily

licking　the　remains　of　the　penis　cream　puff　from　her　fingers。　The　contrast　of　her　snowy；　white　skin

against　her　close…cropped　dark　hair；　the　curve　of　her　red　lips；　her　slightly　mocking