jg.thefirm-第20部分

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　the　president　of　a　small　county　bank　that　had　been　on　the　verge　of　collapse　for　ten　years。　She　was　too　good　to　work　and　had　spent　all　of　her　adult　life　seeking　social　advancement　in　a　town　where　there　was　none　to　be　had。　She　had　traced　her　ancestry　to　royalty　in　one　of　the　old　countries；　and　this　had　always　impressed　the　coal　miners　in　Danesboro；　Kentucky。　With　so　much　blue　blood　in　her　veins；　it　had　fallen　her　duty　to　do　nothing　but　drink　hot　tea；　play　bridge；　talk　of　her　husband's　money；　condemn　the　less　fortunate　and　work　tirelessly　in　the　Garden　Club。　He　was　a　stuffed　shirt　who　jumped　when　she　barked　and　lived　in　eternal　fear　of　making　her　mad。　As　a　team　they　had　relentlessly　pushed　their　daughter　from　birth　to　be　the　best；　achieve　the　best；　but　most　importantly；　marry　the　best。　Their　daughter　had　rebelled　and　married　a　poor　kid　with　no　family　except　a　crazy　mother　and　a　criminal　brother。
　　〃Nice　place　you've　got　here；　Mitch；〃　Mr。　Sutherland　said　in　an　effort　to　break　the　ice。　They　sat　for　lunch　and　began　passing　dishes。
　　〃Thanks。〃　Nothing　else；　just　thanks。　He　concentrated　on　the　food。　There　would　be　no　smiles　from　him　at　lunch。　The　less　he　said；　the　more　unfortable　they　would　be。　He　wanted　them　to　feel　awkward；　guilty；　wrong。　He　wanted　them　to　sweat；　to　bleed。　It　had　been　their　decision　to　boycott　the　wedding。　It　had　been　their　stones　cast；　not　his。
　　〃Everything　is　so　lovely；〃　her　mother　gushed　in　his　direction。
　　〃Thanks。〃
　　〃We're　so　proud　of　it；　Mother；〃　Abby　said。
　　The　conversation　immediately　went　to　the　remodeling。　The　men　ate　in　silence　as　the　women　chattered　on　and　on　about　what　the　decorator　did　to　this　room　and　that　one。　At　times；　Abby　was　almost　desperate　to　fill　in　the　gaps　with　words　about　whatever　came　to　mind。　Mitch　almost　felt　sorry　for　her；　but　he　kept　his　eyes　on　the　table。　The　butter　knife　could　have　cut　the　tension。
　　〃So　you've　found　a　job？〃　Mrs。　Sutherland　asked。
　　〃Yes。　I　start　a　week　from　Monday。　I'll　be　teaching　third…graders　at　St。　Andrew's　Episcopal　School。〃
　　〃Teaching　doesn't　pay　much；〃　her　father　blurted。
　　He's　relentless；　thought　Mitch。
　　〃I'm　not　concerned　with　money；　Dad。　I'm　a　teacher。　To　me；　it's　the　most　important　profession　in　the　world。　If　I　wanted　money；　I　would've　gone　to　medical　school。〃
　　〃Third…graders；〃　her　mother　said。　〃That's　such　a　cute　age。　You'll　be　wanting　children　before　long。〃
　　Mitch　had　already　decided　that　if　anything　would　attract　these　people　to　Memphis　on　a　regular　basis；　it　was　grandchildren。　And　he　had　decided　he　could　wait　a　long　time。　He　had　never　been　around　children。　There　were　no　nieces　or　nephews；　except　for　maybe　a　few　unknown　ones　Ray　had　scattered　around　the　country。　And　he　had　developed　no　affinity　for　children。
　　〃Maybe　in　a　few　years；　Mother。〃
　　Maybe　after　they're　both　dead；　thought　Mitch。
　　〃You　want　children；　don't　you；　Mitch？〃　asked　the　mother…in…law。
　　〃Maybe　in　a　few　years。〃
　　Mr。　Sutherland　pushed　his　plate　away　and　lit　a　cigarette。　The　issue　of　smoking　had　been　repeatedly　discussed　in　the　days　before　the　visit。　Mitch　wanted　it　banned　pletely　from　his　house；　especially　by　these　people。　They　had　argued　vehemently；　and　Abby　won。
　　〃How　was　the　bar　exam？〃　the　father…in…law　asked。
　　This　could　be　interesting；　Mitch　thought。　〃Grueling。〃　Abby　chewed　her　food　nervously。
　　〃Do　you　think　you　passed？〃
　　〃I　hope　so。〃
　　〃When　will　you　know？〃
　　〃Four　to　six　weeks。〃
　　〃How　long　did　it　last？〃
　　〃Four　days。〃
　　〃He's　done　nothing　but　study　and　work　since　we　moved　here。　I　haven't　seen　much　of　him　this　summer；〃　Abby　said。
　　Mitch　smiled　at　his　wife。　The　time　away　from　home　was　already　a　sore　subject；　and　it　was　amusing　to　hear　her　condone　it。
　　〃What　happens　if　you　don't　pass　it？〃　her　father　asked。
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　haven't　thought　about　it。〃
　　〃Do　they　give　you　a　raise　when　you　pass？〃
　　Mitch　decided　to　be　nice；　as　he　had　promised。　But　it　was　difficult。　〃Yes；　a　nice　raise　and　a　nice　bonus。〃
　　〃How　many　lawyers　are　in　？〃
　　〃Forty。〃
　　〃My　goodness；〃　said　Mrs。　Sutherland。　She　lit　up　one　of　hers。　〃There's　not　that　many　in　Dane　County。〃
　　〃Where's　your　office？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Downtown。〃
　　〃Can　we　see　it？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Maybe　some　other　time。　It's　closed　to　visitors　on　Saturdays。〃　Mitch　amused　himself　with　his　answer。　Closed　to　visitors；　as　if　it　was　a　museum。
　　Abby　sensed　disaster　and　began　talking　about　the　church　they　had　joined。　It　had　four　thousand　members；　a　gymnasium　and　bowling　alley。　She　sang　in　the　choir　and　taught　eight…year…olds　in　Sunday　school。　Mitch　went　when　he　was　not　working；　but　he'd　been　working　most　Sundays。
　　〃I'm　happy　to　see　you've　found　a　church　home；　Abby；〃　her　father　said　piously。　For　years　he　had　led　the　prayer　each　Sunday　at　the　First　Methodist　Church　in　Danesboro；　and　the　other　six　days　he　had　tirelessly　practiced　greed　and　manipulation。　He　had　also　steadily　but　discreetly　pursued　whiskey　and　women。
　　An　awkward　silence　followed　as　the　conversation　came　to　a　halt。　He　lit　another　one。　Keep　smoking；　old　boy；　Mitch　thought。　Keep　smoking。
　　〃Let's　have　dessert　on　the　patio；〃　Abby　said。　She　began　clearing　the　table。
　　They　bragged　about　his　gardening　skills；　and　he　accepted　the　credit。　The　same　kid　down　the　street　had　pruned　the　trees；　pulled　the　weeds；　trimmed　the　hedges　and　edged　the　patio。　Mitch　was　proficient　only　in　pulling　weeds　and　scooping　dog　crap。　He　could　also　operate　the　lawn　sprinkler；　but　usually　let　Mr。　Rice　do　it。
　　Abby　served　strawberry　shortcake　and　coffee。　She　looked　helplessly　at　her　husband；　but　he　was　nonmittal。
　　〃This　is　a　real　nice　place　you've　got　here；〃　her　father　said　for　the　third　time　as　he　surveyed　the　backyard。　Mitch　could　see　his　mind　working。　He　had　taken　the　measure　of　the　house　and　neighborhood；　and　the　curiosity　was　being　unbearable。　How　much　did　the　place　cost；　dammit？　That's　what　he　wanted　to　know。　How　much　down？　How　much　a　month？　Everything。　He　would　keep　pecking　away　until　he　could　work　in　the　questions　somewhere。
　　〃This　is　a　lovely　place；〃　her　mother　said　for　the　tenth　time。
　　〃When　was　it　built？〃　her　father　asked。
　　Mitch　laid　his　plate　on　the　table　and　cleared　his　throat。　He　could　sense　it　ing。　〃It's　about　fifteen　years　old；〃　he　answered。
　　〃How　many　square　feet？〃
　　〃About　three　thousand；〃　Abby　answered　nervously。　Mitch　glared　at　her。　His　posure　was　vanishing。
　　〃It's　a　lovely　neighborhood；〃　her　mother　added　helpfully。
　　〃New　loan；　or　did　you　assume　one？〃　her　father　asked；　as　if　he　were　interviewing　a　loan　applicant　with　weak　collateral。
　　〃It's　a　new　loan；〃　Mitch　said；　then　waited。　Abby　waited　and　prayed。
　　He　didn't　wait；　couldn't　wait。　〃What'd　you　pay　for　it？〃
　　Mitch　breathed　deeply　and　was　about　to　say；　〃Too　much。〃　Abby　was　quicker。　〃We　didn't　pay　too　much；　Daddy；〃　she　said　firmly　with　a　frown。　〃We're　quite　capable　of　handling　our　money。〃
　　Mitch　managed　a　smile　while　biting　his　tongue。
　　Mrs。　Sutherland　was　on　her　feet。　〃Let's　go　for　a　drive；　shall　we？　I　Want　to　see　the　river　and　that　new　pyramid　they've　built　beside　it。　Shall　we？　e　on；　Harold。〃
　　Harold　wanted　more　information　about　the　house；　but　his　wife　was　now　tugging　on　his　arm。
　　〃Great　idea；〃　Abby　said。
　　They　loaded　into　the　shiny　new　BMW　and　went　to　see　the　river。　Abby　asked　them　not　to　smoke　in　the　new　car。　Mitch　drove　in　silence　and　tried　to　be　nice。
　　
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　　NINA　entered　the　office　in　a　rush　with　a　stack　of　paper　work　and　laid　it　before　her　boss。　〃I　need　signatures；〃　she　demanded；　and　handed　him　his　pen。
　　〃What　is　all　this？〃　Mitch　asked　as　he　dutifully　scribbled　his　name。
　　〃Don't　ask。　Just　trust　me。〃
　　〃I　found　a　misspelled　word　in　the　Landmark　Partners　agreement。〃
　　〃It's　the　puter。〃
　　〃Okay。　Get　the　puter　fixed。〃
　　〃How　late　are　you　working　tonight？〃
　　Mitch　scanned　the　documents　and　signed　off　on　each。　〃I　don't　know。　Why？〃
　　〃You　look　tired。　Why　don't　you　go　home　early；　say　around　ten　or　ten…thirty；　and　get　some　rest。　Your　eyes　are　beginning　to　look　like　Nathan　Locke's。〃
　　〃Very　funny。〃
　　〃Your　wife　called。〃
　　〃I'll　call　her　in　a　minute。〃
　　When　he　finished　she　restacked　the　letters　and　documents。　〃It's　five　o'clock。　I'm　leaving。　Oliver　Lambert　is　waiting　on　you　in　the　first…floor　library。〃
　　〃Oliver　Lambert！　Waiting　on　me？〃
　　〃That's　what　I　said。　He　called　not　more　than　five　minutes　ago。　Said　it　was　very　important。〃
　　Mitch　straightened　his　tie　and　ran　down　the　hall；　down　the　stairs；　and　walked　casually　into　the　library。　Lambert；　Avery　and　what　appeared　to　be　most　of　the　partners　sat　around　the　conference　table。　All　of　the　associates　were　present；　standing　behind　the　partners。　The　seat　at　the　head　of　the　table　was　empty；　and　waiting。　The　room　was　quiet；　almost　solemn。　There　were　no　smiles。　Lamar　was　close　by　and　refused　to　look　at　him。　Avery　was　sheepish；　sort　of　embarrassed。　Wally　Hudson　twirled　the　end　of　his　bow　tie　and　slowly　shook　his　head。
　　〃Sit　down；　Mitch；〃　Mr。　Lambert　said　gravely。　〃We　have　something　to　discuss　with　you。〃　Doug　Turney　closed　the　door。
　　He　sat　and　searched　for　any　small　sign　of　reassurance。　None。　The　partners　rolled　their　chairs　in　his　direction；　squeezing　together