Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

They did come, and none of them stayed long.Not at this time—not at the first visit.They come to see me, and I find it hard to get to know them, because of course, they're all Yankees.The kind that I don't know very well, some of them are quite pleasant, for example, Uncle Furnanck, I agree with Galina about him, don't believe him at all.In England I met a man of this size, a very large, pot-bellied man, with large blisters under his eyes, which, I think, gave him a carefree look not far from the real thing.It is conceivable that he is looking for women with one eye, and coveting with the other eye, wanting to make a lot of money.He borrowed me money once or twice, for a rather small amount, to get him through a day or two.I think it is not so much that he needs the money as that he wants to test me and see if I feel comfortable borrowing money.This code is quite annoying, because I can't guarantee which way is the best.How about just ignoring him bluntly and telling him I'm a cheapskate?Or is it better to act as if nothing had happened on the surface?The latter is not my wish.I couldn't help thinking: Damn Bernanke.

I was interested in Allie's stepmother, Keri, who was in her prime, richly dressed, with red hair and a pompous manner.It's so sweet to Ellie. "Ellie, you must not take to heart the letters I wrote you," she said; "you must admit, it was a terrible shock, and your marriage was so secret like that. Right. But of course I know Galina is telling you to use it that way, huh." "You mustn't blame Galina," Allie said. "I didn't mean to make you all uncomfortable. I just wanted to... well, less fuss..." "Well, of course, dear Ellie, you're a marvel, and all the people in charge are black-faced--Laustein, Leander, I think they're going to be blamed by everybody for not looking after you. Well, of course they don't know what Mike looks like. They don't know that he is so cute at all, and I don't even know." She smiled at me, a sweet smile, but it was also what I said. The most fake smile I've ever seen!I figured if ever a woman hated a man, it was Cory who hated me.It is enough to understand her intimacy with Ellie.Li Ande has returned to the United States, no doubt, said some cautious words to her.Allie is selling some of her American possessions, for she has made up her mind to live in England, but with a large allowance for Cory to live where she chooses.No one will say much about Ke Rui's husband. I guess he has gone to other parts of the world, and he has gone there alone, nine times out of ten.And I guess, another divorce is going on, and this time there won't be a lot of alimony.The last time she got married, the man was much younger than her, and the attraction was physical rather than financial.

Cory wanted the stipend, she was a woman of luxury.There is no doubt that Lao Li clearly pointed out that if Ai Li chooses, the money will be discounted at any time, if Ke Rui forgets her identity and criticizes Ai Li's new husband-in-law too harshly. Cousin Reuben, or Uncle Reuben, who didn't make the trip, wrote Ellie a cheerful, free letter, wishing her very well, but not believing she would like living in England. "Ellie, if you don't like it, come back to America at once, and don't think you won't be welcome, because you will be welcomed, at least Cousin Lupen will welcome you."

"He's kind of nice to say," I said to Ellie. "Yes," said Ally thoughtfully, not looking quite sure of herself. "Ellie, do you like any of them?" I asked, "Or maybe I shouldn't have asked you that." "Of course, you can ask anything." But she didn't answer for a while, and then she spoke, with some finality and finality: "No, I don't think I like it, it looks weird, but I decided it was because they didn't really belong to me, but simply because of circumstances, because of kinship. None of them were blood relatives. I loved my father and remember him, I think he was in poor health and Grandpa was disappointed in him because he Not much of a business mind, didn't want to be in business at all, he liked going to Florida, fishing, stuff like that. Married Kerry, and I didn't like Kerry at all--or, Cory doesn't like me because of that. Of course, my own mother, I can't remember, I like Uncle Henry and Uncle Zoey. They're funny--more funny than Father in some ways. Father, I think, at some On the one hand, a silent and rather melancholy guy, and the two uncles, who can have their own fun. Uncle Zoe, I think, is a bit wild, and that kind of wildness comes from having a lot of money, anyway, crashed while driving a car It was him, and another uncle was killed in battle. Since then, grandpa has been a sick man, and all three sons have died, which is a terrible blow to him. He doesn't like Ke Rui, and he doesn't pay much attention to Yuanfang's What relatives, for example, Cousin Reuben. He said that no one knew what Reuben was up to. That's why he arranged to give his own money to the trust board, and a large sum was donated to the Museums and hospitals, leaving enough money for Kerui to live on, and a share for his son-in-law—that is Uncle Bosch.”

"But most of it belongs to you?" "Yes, I think it worried Grandpa a little bit. He did his best for me, and he wanted the money to be supervised." "Uncle Ender and Laustein? One a lawyer and one a banker?" "Yeah, I think Grandpa didn't think I could take care of myself very well. Curious thing, he made me till I was twenty-one--not twenty-five, as a lot of people do. —the money is not in the trustee's custody. I suppose it's because I'm a girl." "That's really odd," I said. "It seems to me like it should be the other way around, right?"

Ellie shook her head, "No," she said, "I think Grandpa thinks young men are always wild and fun-seeking, and there's one of those wicked women who'll do everything to keep them hooked, and if they're given time to roam— —Is this what you British people say? ——It’s a good thing to have enough fun. But once he said to me: “If a girl wants to be sensible, she basically needs to be twenty-one years old. Let her wait a little longer.” Four years won't make a difference. Unless you're stupid, twenty-five is just as stupid.'" Ally looked at me and smiled slightly, "And he didn't think I was stupid. Maybe not much, Ellie, but you're very reasonable. Especially with people, and I think you always will be.'"

"I don't think he likes me," I said thoughtfully. Ellie is quite a down-to-earth person, and she didn't say anything to reassure me. There is no doubt that this is the truth. "No!" she said, "I think he was frightened to death at first, but he'll get used to it." "Poor Ellie," I said suddenly. "Why do you say that?" "I told you once before, remember?" "Yes, you were quite right about the poor little rich girl." "It doesn't mean the same thing this time." I said, "I'm not saying you're poor because you're rich, I mean..." I hesitated: "You have too many people...to plot against you , there are so many people around you who want to ask you for something, but don't really care about you. This is a business, isn't it?"

"I think Uncle Ender really cares about me," said Ellie, a little suspiciously. "He's always been nice and sympathetic to me. Others—no, you're right, they just want things. of." "They're blackmailing you, aren't they? Asking you for a favor, asking you to save them from trouble, stuff like that. They've got you, they've got you, they've got you!" "I think it's quite natural," Ellie said quietly, "but now that I've settled with them, I won't see them very often after I've settled down in England."

Of course, she was wrong on this point and failed to grasp the facts.Later, Laustein came by himself, bringing a lot of documents, papers and other things, and asked Allie to sign and agree to invest.He talked to her about investments, the shares and properties she owned, and what to do with trust funds.All of this sounded inscrutable to me, and I couldn't help her, offer advice, or stop Laustein from cheating on her.I just hope he won't, but how can a layman like me guarantee it? The thing about Laustein is almost too good to be true.He was a banker, looked like a banker, and was rather handsome, though not young anymore.He was very polite to me. Although he looked down on me, he pretended to be indifferent.

"Well," I said, when he was gone at last, "he's the last of the lot." "You don't value any of them, do you?" "I think your stepmother, Keri, is the most duplicitous slut I've ever seen. Sorry, Ellie, maybe I shouldn't have said that." "If you think so, why don't you say it? I don't think what you say is too far off the mark." "Ellie, you must have been lonely before," I said. "Yes, I used to be lonely, and all I knew were girls my own age, and I went to a good school, but I was never really free. If I made friends with people, they always tried to make me I parted and pushed the other girl for me. You know what? Everything is governed by the social register, and if I liked anyone deeply, there would be a fuss--but never deeply, I've never been really liked by anyone. It wasn't until Galina came along that it all changed. Because for the first time someone really liked me, and that was nice." Her face softened.

"I will," I said, and walked away to the window. "What do you want?" "Er, I don't know... I would like maybe you're not... not totally dependent on Galina. It's a bad thing to be dependent on anyone." "Mike, don't you like her?" Allie said. "I like her," I quickly protested: "I do like her. But you must realize this, she is—well, to me, she is a complete stranger, I thought—we have to face That—I'm a little bit jealous of her. Jealousy because she and you—well, I didn't know that before—are so connected." "Don't be jealous, be nice to me, she's the only one, she cares about me—until I met you." "But you have met me," I said, "you are married to me," and I said it again, as I have said before: "We shall live happily ever after. "