Ход королевы
Chapter 3
Wheatleysaidfinally,“we’llgouptofour.”ShesmiledatBeth.“YoungLadies’Ready-to-Wear.”
BetweenthethirdandfourthfloorsBethlookedbackandsawasignonacounterthatsaidBOOKSANDGAMES,andrightnearthesign,onaglass-toppedcounter,werethreechesssets.“Chess!”shesaid,tuggingMrs.Wheatley’ssleeve.
“Whatisit?”Mrs.Wheatleysaid,clearlyannoyed.
“Theysellchesssets,”Bethsaid.“Canwegoback?”
“Notsoloud,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“We’llgobyonthewaybackdown.”
Buttheydidn’t.Mrs.WheatleyspenttherestofthemorninghavingBethtryoncoatsfrommarked-downracksandturnaroundtoshowherthehemlineandgoovernearthewindowsoshecouldseethefabricby“naturallight,”andfinallybuyingoneandinsistingtheygodownbyelevator.
“Aren’twegoingtolookatthechesssets?”Bethsaid,butMrs.Wheatleydidn’tanswer.Beth’sfeethurt,andshewasperspiring.Shedidnotlikethecoatshewascarryinginacardboardbox.Itwasthesamerobin’s-eggblueasMrs.Wheatley’somnipresentsweater,anditdidn’tfit.Bethdidnotknowmuchaboutclothes,butshecouldtellthatthisstoresoldcheapones.
Whentheelevatorstoppedatthethirdfloor,Bethstartedtoremindheraboutthechesssets,butthedoorclosedandtheywentdowntothemainfloor.Mrs.WheatleytookBeth’shandandledheracrossthestreettothebusstop,complainingaboutthedifficultyoffindinganythingthesedays.“Butafterall,”shesaidphilosophicallyasthebusdrewuptothecorner,“wegotwhatwecamefor.
