Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第229/327页)

tema.ActuallyhewasYonda’sfatherandhadwatovelgrowupandshealwaystreatedhimasafaithfundtrustedfamilyservant.Nowthathewasoldandhadretired,himstayonatthesmallcottageattheedgeofthegardenwherehecouldliveouttheremainderofhislifeinpeadfortandpassthetimewamoreesandflowersatwill.Dornawavedathimandtheoldmanbowedhisbentbodypolitelyinsalute.Dornaincreasedthespeedofherbicydsoonpassedthefountainwithitsmulti-swishing,crisscrossisofwater.Shestoppedatthefrontdoor,jumpingoffherbicyagradagilemovement.

    Dilelyandgracefullygotoffherbike,parkeditandtooklittleMaureenoutofthebasket.Shesetitonthegroundsothatitovearoundfreely.Maureenwasverycuriousaboutthenewenvirofounditselfin,soitranhappilyaroundsniffinginquisitivelyatpcesthatarouseditsi.Justthenatall,slimfiguresteppedoutthedoor.DornaytoseethatitwasthefamousballerinaNatalie,whosteppedintothesunshineandwavedatDornasaying,

    “Hi,Dorna!Howareyou?Haven’tseenyoufortwodays.How’veyoubeendoing?”

    “Hi,Natalie”saidDorna,wipingperspirationfromherforehead.“Howareyou?Whyhaven’tIseenanyoftheothersaround?Wherehavetheygoo?”NataliewalkedovertoDorna,weariardsheusuallyputherdangpractidpinwhitetennisshoesonherfeetinsteadofherballetshoes.Whenshesawacute,pudgycockspahacoatofshiny,longbckfurandtwolongearsrunningoutfrombehierfountaioopeddoenedherarmsasiftoembraceit,g,

    “YoumustbethatcleverlittledogMaureen…”Maureenambledoverbarking,asiftosay,“Yht.That’sme…HowdidyouknowmyhenitjumpedintoNatalie’sarms.CarryingMaureeninherarms,Nataliestoodupandputherfioherlips,saying,“Sh-sh-sh.Don’tbark.Youwillwaketheothers…”

    “HowdidyouknowitsnameisMaureen?”askedDreatlysurprised.

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    “InotonlyknowitsnameisMaureen,IevenknowitsmistressiscalledCharina,awell-knownwriter”repliedNataliesmilingmysteriously.“IevenknowthatCharinaisthememberdom,the25thbeauty.AmIright?”

    “What?”criedDorna,hereyesopenedwideinamazement.“Howeyouknoweverything?Doyouhaveacrystalballlikethegypsiesandtellthepastaure?”NataliegigglediDorna’sdumbfoundedlook.

    “Ofcoursenot”shesaid,andowardstheparkinglot.DornalookedoverandsawthatamongthefewcarsthatwereparkedtherewasonewhichbelooAngelica.“Angelicacameoverearlyinthem”tialie“andtolduseverythingthathappeAisha’shouse.HowelsecouldIhaveknown?AlsoSamanthajustcalledandsaidthatshewouldbeieronandbringthefamouswriterCharinawithhertointroduceustothememberdomahbeauty.”

    “Sothat’spened!”excimedDorna.“Singelicaishere,whereisshe?Alsowherearetheotherbeauties?Whyaren’tanyofthemabout?”

    “LotustookAngelicatothebacktolookattheflowersandtalkaboutfloraldecorationsfortheweddingba.”Dornahehoughtofsomethingandasked,

    “JustnowyoutoldMaureennottobarkorelseshewouldwaketheothers.What’sthatalbout?It’salmostnoonnow.Arethebeautiesstillsleeping?”

    “That’salongstory”sighedNatalie.“Itjusthappenedearlythism,soofcourseyoucouldn’thaveknown…Whydon’tyouandIwalkovertotheflardens?Lotus,AngelidIwillupdateyouorethappenings.”

    Atfouro’clothem,theskieswerestilldark.Darknessspreadouttinuously,ctheskiesintodeepsomberhuesofdarkblue,oredonlybya