Ход королевы
Chapter 5
Wheatleysaid.“ShallIreadon?”
“Ittalksabouttheorphanage.”Bethhadboughtherowncopy.“Anditgivesoneofmygames.Butit’smostlyaboutmybeingagirl.”
“Well,youareone.”
“Itshouldn’tbethatimportant,”Bethsaid.“Theydidn’tprinthalfthethingsItoldthem.Theydidn’ttellaboutMr.Shaibel.Theydidn’tsayanythingabouthowIplaytheSicilian.”
“But,Beth,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid,“itmakesyouacelebrity!”
Bethlookedatherthoughtfully,“Forbeingagirl,mostly,”shesaid.
***
ThenextdayMargaretstoppedherinthehall.Margaretwaswearingacamel’s-haircoatandherblondhairfelljusttohershoulders;shewasevenmorebeautifulthanshehadbeenayearbefore,whenBethhadtakenthetendollarsfromherpurse.“TheotherApplePi’saskedmetoinviteyou,”Margaretsaidrespectfully.“We’rehavingapledgepartyFridaynightatmyhouse.”
TheApplePi’s.Itwasverystrange.WhenBethacceptedandaskedfortheaddresssherealizeditwasthefirsttimeshehadeveractuallyspokentoMargaret.
ShespentoveranhourthatafternoontryingondressesatPurcell’sbeforepickinganavy-bluewithasimplewhitecollarfromthestore’smostexpensiveline.WhensheshowedittoMrs.WheatleythateveningandtoldhershewasgoingtotheApplePiClub,Mrs.Wheatleywasclearlypleased.“Youlookjustlikeadebutante!”shesaidwhenBethtriedonthedressforher.
***
ThewhitewoodworkofMargaret’slivingroomglistenedbeautifullyandthepicturesonthewallswereoilpaintings—mostlyofhorses.
