第3部分(第1/7 頁)

？Don？t　get　off　at　125th　Street；？　Rufus　advised；　even　though　the　stop　was　closest　to　their

apartment。　He　handed　Jenny　three　twenty…dollar　bills。　？Go　all　the　way　to　Grand　Central　and　then

get　a　cab。　And　call　me　when　you？re　leaving　so　I　can　tell　your　brother　when　to　expect　you。？

Like　Dan　really　cared　if　sheever　came　home。　Lately　Dan　had　been　so　preoccupied；　he　barely

seemed　to　remember　that　they　used　to　kind　of　be　friends。

Jenny　kissed　her　father　on　the　cheek。　It　was　cute　how　he　babied　her；　but　she　was　almost

fifteen？she　could　take　care　of　herself。　？Have　a　nice　night；　Daddy；？　she　told　him　sweetly。　She

waved　good…bye　as　the　battered　navy　blue　Volvo　station　wagon　disappeared　down　the　road。　Then

she　unbuttoned　her　blouse　another　notch　and　stepped　inside　a　cute　red　clapboard　house　with　a　gold

plaque　on　its　hunter…green…painted　door　that　read　ADMISSIONS；　eager　to　meet　her　Croton　tour

guide。

？You！？　a　male　voice　crowed　enthusiastically　as　soon　as　she　opened　the　door。　？It？s　you！？

Jenny？s　pretty　red　mouth　dropped　open　in　shock。　Leering　at　her　from　across　the　quaintly

decorated　admissions　office　reception　area　was　a　more　masculine；　less　flamboyantly　dressed　clone

of　Chuck　Bass。　Same　European…aftershave…mercial…handsome　face；　same　slicked…back　dark

hair；　same　cocky　smile；　same　perverted　twinkle　in　the　eye。　He　walked　over　and　held　out　his　hand；

a　gold　monogrammed　pinky　ring　flashing　on　his　right　hand。　？I？m　your　tour　guide。　Name？s　Harold

Bass。　Call　me　Harry。　You　may　know　my　cousin　Charles　Bass？goes　by　Chuck。　He　told　me　all　about

you。　And　of　course　I？ve　seen　your　pictures　on　the　？Net。？

Oh；　God。

Jenny　mustered　a　smile。　Chuck　Bass　had　nearly　deflo