爱情与金钱之二LoveorMoney?Itwasseveno'clockonSaturdayevening.Jackiestoodatthewindow.Acardroveslowlyuptothefrontdoorandstopped.Atallmanwithwhitehairgotout.ItwasAlbert,thehusbandofMolly'ssister.‘Here'sUncleAlbert,’Jackiesaid.‘Alwayslate.’Shewentoutoftheroomandopenedthefrontdoor.AlbertcameinandwentatoncetoMolly.‘Oh,dear.I'mverylate.Iamsorry,’Albertsaid.‘Fiftyyearsoldtoday!Whatawonderfuldress!’Mollydidnotsmile.‘Thankyou,Albert.We'reallgettingolder.’Tonightsheworealongblackdress,andthetwoblackdogssatatherfeet.‘Everyoneisherenow.Let'sgointodinner,’shesaid.Everyonestoodupandwenttothetable.‘Thetablelooksnice,Jackie.Whatwonderfulflowers!’Dianesaid.Shewasabeautifulgirl,withlongblackhairanddarkblueeyes.Sheworealongreddress.AlbertsatdownnexttoRoger.RogerwasMolly'sson,hersecondchild.HelivedinCambridge,inanexpensivehouse.‘SomeonecalledPeterstoppedmedowntheroad,’Albertsaid.‘Whoishe?He'sveryangrywithyou,Molly.’‘That'sPeterHobbs,fromthehouseacrosstheroad,’Jackiesaidquickly.ShelookedacrossthetableatMolly.‘Helosthisjoblastweekandhe'sangywitheveryone.’‘It'sMollyhedoesn'tlike,’Albertsaid.Mollysaidnothing.Everyonebegantoeat.‘HowisAuntAnnie?’Jackieasked.‘She'smuchworsenow,’Albertsaid.‘Shestaysinbedallthetime.Sheneedsanursetwenty-fourhoursaday.’‘Iamsorry,’Mollysaid.AlbertstoppedeatingandlookedatMolly.‘It'sverydifficultandveryexpensive,youknow.Anniefeelsveryunhappybecauseyoudon'tvisither,Molly.Shelovesyouverymuch.Youareherlittlesister,youknow.’Mollyclosedhereyesforaminute.‘Iknowthat,Albert.Ianfiftyyearsold,butIamalwaysher"little"sister.Well,wecantalkaboutitlater.’Albertlaughed.‘Ohyes,wecantalklater.It'salwayslaterwithyou,Molly.Alwaystomorrow.Nevertoday.’Jackiewatchedhermother.HermotherwasangrywithAlbert.MollyneverlikedtalkingabouthersisterAnnieandshedidnotlikevisitingherbecauseshewasveryill.‘That'sabeautifuldress,Diane.Isitnew?’Jackieasked.‘Thankyou,Jackie.Yes,it'snew,andveryexpensive.IgotitonWednesday,’Dianesaid.ShesmiledatJackie.‘Allyourthingsareexpensive,’Jackiesaid.SherememberedthephonecallonThursdayaboutthetrainticker.‘Idon'tlikecheapthings,’Dianesaid.‘AndI'mgoingtoneedmoremoneysoon.IwanttogotoAmerica.Canyouhelpme,Roger?’‘Oh,no,’Rogersaid.‘Nobodywantstohelpyou,Diane.youdon'tlikeworking,weallknowthat,butweallwantyoutogetajob.’Dianelaughed.‘Itdoesn'tmatter,Roger.Idon'tneedyourhelp.Motheralwayshelpsme.Motherlovesmebest.’Shesuddenlysmiled,aquick,beautifulsmile.Buthereyeswerecold.Jackielookedathermother.Molly'sfacewaswhite.Jackiedidnotunderstand.WashermotherafraidofDiane?Jackiewantedhermothertobehappytoday.‘Wouldyoulikesomemoremeat,UncleAlbert?’Jackieasked.‘Roger,canyougiveeveryonesomemoretodrink?’Rogergotupandbegantogivemorewinetoeveryone.‘Thisisgoodwine,’hesaid.Mollysmiledforthefirsttime.‘Yes,yourfatherlovedthiswine.Heoftendrankit.’‘Yes,’Albertsaid,andlookedatMolly.‘Expensive,too.’‘WouldyouliketomeetMrBriggsthisweekend,Roger?’Jackieaskedquickly.‘He'sthenewmanatthefarm.Hewantstomeetyou.’‘Briggs?briggs?’Mollysaid,suddenlyangry.‘Don'ttalktomeaboutthatman.Idon'tlikehim.Hewantshalfmygardenforhisfarm.Heneedsmoreland,hesays.Idon'twanthiminmyhouse.He'salwaysdirtyandhehasbadteeth.’Jackiestoodupandgotherbag.‘Excuseme,Iwantacigarette.’‘Cigarettes!Alwaysacigaretteinyourmouth,’Mollysaid.‘Idon'tlikeit.Cigarettesaren'tgoodforyou.’Jackiebegantosmoke.Shefeltangrybutshesaidnothing.Shewantedhermothertobehappythisevening,butitwasverydifficult.Rogerdrandsomemorewine.‘Well,Mother,perhapsMrBriggsisright.Thegardenisverybig,youknow,’hesaid.‘It'salotofworkforyou.Thehouseisbig,too.You'refiftynow.Youneedtobemorecareful.’‘Roger!Idon'tneedanurse,youknow!Iworkinthegardeneveryday;Ifeelhappythere.’Mollystoodup.‘Iknowyouallwantmymoney.Youcomehereforafreedinner,youdon'twanttoseeme.Youdon'tloveme.Youwantmyhouse,andmymoney.Well,youcanallwait.Nobodyisgettingmoremoneyfromme,notbeforeIdie!’‘Don'tsaythat,Mother!’Jackiecried.Mollywalkedacrosstheroomtothedoor.‘Ifeelillnow.I'mgoingupstairstobed.’Mollylefttheroom.Nobodymoved.‘OnedayI'mgoingtokillthatwoman,’Dianesaidquietly.RogerlookedatDianebutsaidnothing.Albertmovedhisheadslowlyupanddown.‘Ill!She'sangry,that'sall,’hesaid.‘Mollyalwaysgetsangryaboutmoney.Whycan'tshebegoodtohersister?Annie'sgoingtodiesoon.Mollyknowsthat.’Jackiefinishedhercigaretteandstoodup.‘Wouldeveryonelikesomecoffee?Comeintothekitchenandlet'sdrinkitthere.’