gossip girl 7 英文-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


skirts　and　buttoned…up　blouse　lurked　by　their　parents　sides；　smiling　awkwardly　and　guzzling　


champagne。　The　whole　scene　made　Serena　feel　like　she　was　at　her　first　day　of　ballroom　dancing　
back　in　the　fifth　grade。　

Someone　tapped　Serena　on　the　shoulder　and　she　turned　around。　It　was　Mrs。　Archibald；　Nate's　
dramatic；　French；　slightly　crazy　mother。　Her　dyed　amber　hair　had　been　blown　out　into　mass　of　
cascading　curls；　and　her　thin　lips　were　painted　a　fierce　fire…engine　red。　Around　her　neck　were　six　
strands　of　rose…colored　pearls；　and　matching　rose…colored　pearls　punctuated　each　ear。　Despite　her　
three…inch　Christian　Louboutin　heels；　she　was　surprisingly　tiny；　dressed　in　a　sleek；　pewter…colored　
strapless　Oscar　de　la　Renta　silk　evening　gown　and　carrying　a　little　gold　satchel　and　gold　opera　
glasses…　Obviously　just　stopping　by　at　the　party　on　her　way　to　the　theater。　She　kissed　Serena　
quickly　on　both　cheeks。　〃Have　you　seen　my　son？〃　she　whispered　in　Serena's　ear；　her　green　eyes　
flashing。　

Serena　shook　her　head。　〃No。　But　Blair's……〃　she　stopped　short；　wondering　if　Mrs。　Archibald　really　
wanted　to　know　that　Blair　and　Nate　were　holed　up　in　a　Plaza　Hotel　suite；　having　lots　of　sex。　〃Have　
you　tried　his　cell？〃　she　asked　instead。　

Mrs。　Archibald　batted　her　eyelashes　and　waved　her　opera　glasses　in　the　air。　〃Never　mind；　darling；〃　
she　sighed；　before　rustling　off　to　find　her　husband；　the　admiral。　

Stan　5　was　still　standing　by　as　if　it　were　only　right　that　the　handsomest　blond　guy　and　the　most　
beautiful　blond　girl　in　the　room　should　be　talking　to　each　other。　A　woman　in　a　black　caterer's　
uniform　handed　Serena　a　flute　of　champagne。　〃Where's　your　nametag？〃　Serena　asked　Stan　5；　
scanning　his　black　oxford…cloth　shirt　that　had　been　unbuttoned　and　tieless。　

What　a　rebel。　

He　grinned　and　cleared　his　throat。　〃I　didn't　think　I　needed　one。〃　

Oh；　so　like　everyone　is　just　supposed　to　know　who　you　are？　

Serena　was　ready　to　ditch　the　party　already…　she'd　shown　up　and　stayed　ten　minutes；　what　more　
did　her　parents　want？　But　then　old　Mr。　Parris　shuffled　over　to　talk　to　her　again；　and　she　didn't　want　
to　be　rude。　

〃Your　mother　was　just　telling　me　what　a　wonderful　actress　you　are；〃　he　boomed　in　his　New　
England　accent。　He　adjusted　his　burgundy…and…navy…blue…striped　bow　tie。　〃You　know；　I　played　the　
lead　in　nineteen　productions　back　when　I　was　a　Yalie。　The　school　was　men　only　in　those　days。　I've　
got　some　old　pictures　if　you　would　like　to　take　a　look。〃　

〃Honestly；　Granddad；〃　Stan　5　huffed　in　an　effort　to　shut　his　grandfather　up。　

〃Actually；　I'd　love　to；〃　Serena　replied　with　genuine　interest。　There　was　nothing　she　liked　better　
than　to　look　at　old　pictures。　She　loved　the　elaborate　clothes；　the　dramatic　bouffant　hairstyles；　and　


the　way　everyone　wore　hats　and　gloves　and　handbags　that　matched　their　shoe。　

Stan　5　frowned　in　confusion；　as　if　he　couldn't　believe　Serena　was　about　to　ditch　him　for　his　
wrinkly　old　grandfather。　She　flashed　him　a　gracious　smile　her　mom　had　flashed　his　grandfather；　
and　then　followed　the　elder　Mr。　Parris　through　the　apartment　and　down　a　narrow　corridor　to　his　
library。　His　right　leg　seemed　to　be　giving　him　trouble；　causing　him　to　list　to　the　left；　and　she　
gripped　the　elbow　of　his　dapper　gray　pinstriped　blazer　for　fear　he　would　fall。　

The　Parris　library　was　decorated　in　chocolate　brown　with　hints　of　navy　blue　and　gold　fleur…de…lys。　
Three　crystal　chandeliers　hung　from　the　ceiling；　and　four　chocolate　brown　leather　club　chairs　
stood　around　an　ornately　painted　antique　card　table。　

〃There　I　am　in　Hamlet。〃　Mr。　Parris　pointed　to　a　large　black…and…white　photograph　hanging　over　
the　mantel。　Serena　expected　to　see　a　young　Mr。　Parris　in　a　full　suit　of　armor；　looking　fierce　and　
haughty。　Instead　a　beautiful　young　girl　with　a　long　thin　face　and　a　distinctive　clef　in　her　chin　lay　
with　her　long…lashed　eyes　closed　and　her　hands　folded　across　her　chest；　a　chain　of　daisies　
entwined　in　her　loose　hair。　

〃That's　you？〃　Serena　asked　in　amazement。　

The　old　man　chuckled。　〃I　was　a　pretty　boy　back　then。　They　made　me　play　Ophelia。〃　

Serena　starred　at　the　photograph。　〃You　were　kind　of　hot。〃　

Mr。　Parris　patted　her　hand。　〃I　like　to　think　so。　And　I　was　so　much　better　at　dying　than　the　other　
fellows。〃　He　went　over　to　the　wet　bar　in　the　corner；　filled　two　crystal　tumblers　full　of　scotch；　and　
set　them　on　the　card　table。　Then　he　pulled　a　worn　green　leather…bound　album　off　the　bookshelf。　He　
flipped　through　the　pages　of　the　album　and　pointed　to　one　of　the　leather　club　chairs。　〃I've　got　
hundreds　of　photographs；〃　he　warned　Serena。　

Serena　sat　down　and　took　a　sip　of　scotch。　Then　she　scooted　back　in　her　chair；　tucked　her　feet　up　
underneath　her；　and　reached　for　the　album。　She　felt　cozy　and　fortable　and　genuinely　interested　
in　looking　at　Stanford　Parris　III's　old　Yale　pictures。　And　as　she　slowly　turned　the　pages；　examining　
the　wonderful　black…and…white　images　of　young　Mr。　Parris　and　his　handsome　Yale　acting　buddies　
rehearsing　onstage；　she　realized　she　hadn't　thought　about　acting　at　college。　She　could　even　
imagine　playing　Ophelia　just　like　Mr。　Parris　had；　fluttering　her　eyes　and　folding　up　like　a　flower　
when　it　was　time　to　die。　

〃Here　I　am　in　'Kiss　Me　Kate'。〃　Mr。　Parris　pointed　to　a　photograph　of　the　same　long…faced　beauty　
glaring　at　the　camera；　her　dark　eyes　flashing；　her　cleft　chin　raised　disdainfully。　

〃What　a　witch；　that　Kate。〃　

Serena　studied　the　photograph。　Mr。　Parris　as　Kate　reminded　her　of　someone　she　knew；　but　just　


couldn't　place　her。　

Let's　give　her　a　hint。　Her　first　name　starts　with　B。　

She　continued　to　flip　through　the　photographs；　her　mind　racing。　Yale　was　the　only　school　that　
hadn't　stalked　her　with　perky　e…mails　and　overzealous　fan　mail。　Even　the　Whiffenpoofs　…　Yale's　
all…male　capella　singing　troupe；　whom　she'd　met　last　mouth；　had　the　decency　not　to　e…mail　her　
everyday　asking　her　when　she　was　planning　to　arrive　on　campus　so　they　could　help　her　with　her　
bags　or　take　her　out　for　coffee　or　whatever。　And　the　y　certainly　hadn't　asked　about　Damian　from　
the　Raves；　whom　she'd　never　even　met。　

Mr。　Parris　tapped　Serena　on　the　knee。　〃You　have　the　face　of　a　leading　lady；〃　he　added。　〃Yale　
knows　what　they're　doing。〃　

〃You　think　so？〃　Serena　replied　enthusiastically。　Suddenly；　ditching　the　Yale　party　to　check　out　the　
Raves　concert　seemed　totally　unnecessary。　And　out　of　respect　for　old　Mr。　Parris；　she　almost　
wished　she'd　worn　the　entire　gray…and…blue　outfit　her　mom　had　laid　out　on　her　bed。　She　was　going　
to　be　Yale　University's　greatest　leading　lady　since　Stanford　Parris　III。　New　Haven　was　so　close　to　
New　York；　she　could　still　model；　and　with　a　bit　more　acting　experience　under　her　belt；　she　might　
even　get　a　film　deal！　Blair　would　be　totally　thrilled　if　they　went　to　school　together…　not　that　she　
was　going　to　say　anything　until　Blair　found　out　she　was　off　Yale's　wait　list。　Blair　could　be　kind　of　
unreasonable　when　Serena　had　something　she　wanted　for　herself。　

Kind　of？！　

PARTY　CRASHER　FINDS　KINDRED　SPIRIT　

〃Brave　soul。〃　A　tall　blond　boy　wearing　an　open…collared　black　oxford…cloth　shirt　greeted　Blair　as　
she　stepped　off　the　elevator　alone　and　into　Stanford　Parris　III's　country　club　of　an　apartment。　
〃Everyone　else　was　dragged　here　by　their　parents。　One　guy　even　bagged；　so　his　parents　had　to　
e　alone。〃　


Wonder　who　that　was？　

〃I'm　Stanford　Paris　the　Fifth；　by　the　way。〃　The　boy　extended　his　hands　and　flashed　her　a　proud　
smile　that　seemed　to　say；　〃As　if　you　didn't　know　that。〃　

Blair　grinned　back。　She　loved　boys　with　titles；　especially　tall　blond　ones　with　cute　dimples　in　their　
chins；　and　especially　ones　who　where　going　to　Yale　next　year。　〃Blair　Waldorf；〃　she　said　shaking　
his　hand。　She　fingered　the　custom…engraved　Cartier　pendant　at　her　throat…　the　very　same　one　she'd　
stolen　from　her　baby　sister。　It　was　a　simple　nameplate；　just　the　word　Yale　in　gold　cursive；　tied　with　
a　light　blue　satin　ribbon　around　her　neck。　〃So　where　are　your　parents？〃　she　demanded。　

〃In　Scotland。　We　have　a　castle　there；〃　Stan　5　boasted　casually。　

Blair　giggles。　〃So　do　we！　My　aunt　lives　there。〃　

Aw；　isn't　that　cute？　If　they　got　married　and　honeymooned　in　Scotland；　they　could　go　
castle…hoping！　

〃Anyway；　this　is　Granddad's　party。　I'm　just　here　to。。。〃　Stan　5　paused　and　cleared　his　throat；　as　if　
he'd　momentarily　forgotten　why　he　was　there。　Or　maybe　he'd　just　drunk　too　much　scotch。　〃To　get　
out　class　excited　for　next；〃　he　explained　finally。　

Blair　rubbed　her　well…glossed　lips　together。　Stanford　Parris's　grandson。　She'd　stumbled　upon　the　
youngest　member　of　one　of　Yale's　mosty　influential　alumnae　families　without　even　trying！　If　
anyone　could　get　her　off　the　wait　list　and　into　Yale；　he　could。　

Stan　5　pointed　to　the　Yale　pendant　at　her　throat。　〃That's　unusual；〃　he　observed。　〃Guess　you're　
really　excited　about　next　year；　huh？〃　

That's　one　way　of　putting　it。　

Blair　blushed　fiercely。　She　had　prepared　herself　for　this　sort　of　question。　〃My　parents　had　it　made　
for　me　when　I　found　out　I　was　in；〃　was　what　she'd　planned　on　saying。　But　she　opted　for　the　truth。　
She　stood　on　tiptoe　and　cupped　her　hand　around　St