第6部分(第4/7 頁)

m　from

St。　Louis…from　their　respective　subdivisions　of　the　Macdaniel　domain。

They　had　spent　a　typically　revel…filled　Thanksgiving　Day；　plete　with

gargantuan　offerings　of　turkey；　stuffing；　salads　and　vegetables　and

fruit　molds；　pies　and　cakes　and　other　goodies；　not　to　mention　the

pany　of　aunts　and　uncles　and　cousins　galore。　Later　that　night；　she

and　Crystal　had　dropped　in　at　Sandra's　house；　where　a　party　had　been　in

progress。

Sandra　had　been　their　best　friend　through　carefree　high　school　years。

They　hadn't　seen　her　since　September　when　she　had　left　to　go　to　college

in　New　York；　where　her　older　brother　lived。

Ross　was　that　brother's　friend。　From　the　moment　Chloe　set　foot　into　the

Brownings'　living　room　her　eye　was　drawn　to　him。　He　had　seemed　to

represent　all　the　things　she　had　never　knowrmonconformity；　independence；

singularity。　Even　in　a　crowd；　he　stood　out。　Sandra　had　said　he　was　in

the　Peace　Corps；　stationed　in　Africa。　He　was　tall　and　breathtakingly

attractive　in　a　wholly　new　and　exciting　way　for　Chloe。　〃Gorgeous；　isn't

he？〃　Crystal　had　whispered　in　the　ear　of　her　twin。

〃I'll　say。　What　do　you　think　he's　doing　here？〃

〃That's　a　dumb　question。　He's　visiting　the　Brownings　like　we　are。〃

They　stood　with　their　heads　together；　both　pairs　of　eyes　glued　to　Ross。

Chloe　asked；　〃Do　you　think　he　has　a　girl？〃

〃A　guy　like　that？　Girls；　plural。　He's　oozing　virility…or　hadn't　you

noticed？〃

〃I　noticed；〃　Chloe　drawled。　〃Think　he'll　notice　us？〃

〃Why　not？　We're　rich　and　beautiful　and　sexy…〃

〃　…and　young。〃

Crystal　bristled。　〃What's　that　got　to　do　with　anything？〃

〃If　he's　Sammy's　friend；　Crystal；　he's