第10部分(第7/7 頁)

；　Jenny。　You　remind　me

more　and　more　of　your　mother　every　day。”

Dan　suddenly　felt　bad。

Their　mother　had　run　off　to　Prague　with　some　count　or　prince　or

something；　and　she　was　basically　a　kept　woman；　letting　the　count

or　prince　or　whatever　he　was　dress　her　and　put　her　up　in　hotels　all

over　Europe。　All　she　did　all　day　was　shop；　eat；　drink；　and　paint

pictures　of　flowers。　She　wrote　them　letters　a　few　times　a　year；　and

sent　them　the　odd　present。　Last　Christmas　she’d　sent　Jenny　a

peasant　dress　from　Germany。　It　was　about　ten　sizes　too　small。

It　wasn’t　a　nice　thing　for　their　father　to　say　that　Jenny　reminded　him

of　their　mother。　It　wasn’t　nice　at　all。

Jenny　looked　like　she　was　about　to　cry。

“Lay　off；　Dad；”　Dan　said。　“We　weren’t　invited　to　the　party　anyway。

So　neither　of　us　could　go　even　if　we　wanted　to。”

“See　what　I　mean！”　Mr。　Humphrey　said　triumphantly。　“Why　would

you　want　to　hang　out　with　those　snobs　anyway？”

Jenny　stared　glassy…eyed　at　the　dirty　kitchen　floor。

Dan　stood　up。　“Hurry　up　and　get　dressed；　Jen；”　he　said　gently。　“I’ll

walk　you　to　your　bus　stop。”

In　the　six…minute　interval　between　the　bell　signaling　the　end　of　Latin