第14部分(第2/7 頁)

　sturdy　white　columns　and　creeping；　well…tended　green　ivy　looked　like

something　out　of　a　picture　book。　In　fact；　today　the　entire　Upper　East　Side　seemed　picturesque　and

soaked　in　sun　and　apple　blossom　perfume；　for　today　was　graduation　day。

Hooray！

Isabel？s　mom；　Titi　Coates；　craned　her　surgically　enhanced　neck　to　survey　the　well…dressed

audience；　nearly　popping　the　buttons　on　her　hot…pink…and…gold　Versace　cap…sleeved　coat…dress。　？I

heard　Harold　Waldorf　flew　in　from　Paris　with　his　flaming　French　boyfriend　to　see　Blair　graduate

today；？　she　whispered　to　Lillian　van　der　Woodsen；　who　was　seated　in　the　dark　mahogany　pew　next

to　her。　？He　even　had　a　red　convertible　Peugeot　sent　over　in　parts；　with　a　special　French　mechanic

to　assemble　it　for　her。？

Mrs。　van　der　Woodsen　shook　her　head。　She　liked　gossip；　but　only　the　harmless　kind？about

people？s　dogs　or　their　golf　game。

Harmlessgossip？　What　would　be　the　point？

？Harold　Waldorf　is　in　Bordeaux；　at　a　wine　auction；？　she　corrected　her　tackily　dressed　neighbor　in

a　polite　whisper　as　she　smoothed　out　the　lilac…colored　silk　calf…length　skirt　of　her

simple…but…gorgeous　Yves　Saint　Laurent　suit。　？I　know　for　a　fact　because　a　dear　friend　of　mine　is

bidding　on　a　few　bottles　of　Burgundy　for　us　there。　However；　I　know　nothing　about　the　car。？

Around　the　corner；　in　one　of　the　church？s　outer　chambers；　the　seniors　lined　up　in　size　order；

giddily　awaiting　the　first　few　chords　of　？Pomp　and　Circumstance。？　Kati　Farkas　and　Isabel　Coates

were　the　shortest　ones；　in　matching　white　Ferragamo　flats　and　matching　Carolina　Herrera　Mexican

bridesmaid？style　dresses　with　lace　bows　in　the　back　and　little　white　pom…poms　hanging　from　t