第29部分 (第6/8页)

　back　and　crossed　her　arms。　“Well；”　she　said。　“Isn't　this　something。”

“What　do　you　mean？”

She　chewed　the　side　of　one　cheek；　then　moved　over　to　chew　the　other。　At　last　she　said；　“I

shouldn't　really　discuss　it。”

“Why　not？”

“Because　…I　just　shouldn't。　Besides；　I　can　tell　there　are　things　you　don't　feel　fortable

discussing　with　me…。”

We　stared　at　each　other　a　moment；　neither　of　us　saying　a　word。　Finally　I　looked　down　and

whispered；　“When　Chet　and　I　were　fixing　up　the　yard；　I

told　him　how　we　didn't　own　the　house　and　about　Uncle　David。　He　must　have　told　the　rest　of

the　family；　because　the　day　before　the　Loskis'　dinner

………　Page　90………

party　I　overheard　Bryce　and　his　friend　making　cracks　about　Uncle　David　at　school。　I　was

furious；　but　I　didn't　want　you　to　know　because　you'd　think

they　were　only　inviting　us　over　because　they　felt　sorry　for　us。”　I　looked　at　her　and　said；　“You

just　seemed　so　happy　about　being　invited　for　dinner。”

Then　I　realized　something。　“And　you　know；　you've　seemed　happier　ever　since。”

She　held　my　hand　and　smiled。　“I　have　a　lot　to　be　happy　about。”　Then　she　sighed　and　said；

“And　I　already　knew　they　knew　about　Uncle　David。　It

was　fine　that　you　talked　about　him。　He's　not　a　secret　or　anything。”

I　sat　up　a　little。　“Wait　…　how　did　you　know？”

“Patsy　told　me。”

I　blinked　at　her。　“She　did？　Before　the　dinner？”

“No；　no。　A