Read Online The Moon by Night by Madeleine L'Engle - Free Book Online Page B

want. Don’t let anybody kid you that money isn’t everything. I’ve seen plenty and I’ve learned that if you have enough money you can buy all the things that money isn’t.”
    â€œWhat about staying at Hotchkiss?” I asked. I knew it wasn’t tactful, but I really wanted to know what he’d answer.
    It didn’t seem to bother him. “That was just a fluke. If I knew more about law I’d probably still be there. And money’ll get me into another school next autumn I’d never make otherwise.” He looked at his watch. “Your old man said you had to be right back. I suppose I’d better return you if I want to see you again. Where are you heading?”
    â€œOut west.”
    â€œCalifornia?”
    â€œYes. We’re going to stay with our uncle and aunt in Laguna Beach.”
    He raised his eyebrows, but all he said was, “Same trail. I’ll be seeing you then. Where’re you going to stop on the way?”
    â€œI don’t know. That’s the fun of this trip. We just go.”
    â€œHaven’t you any idea?”

    â€œWell, Daddy said something about going to Mesa Verde and seeing the Pueblo remains.”
    â€œCulture vulture, eh? Maybe I’ll see you there. I don’t object to anthropology.” He stood up. “Come on, Vicky-O. You’re very refreshing for a change.”
    I didn’t really think refreshing was what I wanted to be, but I didn’t say anything. I thought of a very plain black sheath Mother sometimes wears with a string of pearls, and wondered how I’d look in it. I’m almost as tall as she is. For once I was glad I wasn’t a golden girl like Suzy.
    â€œYou’ve got an interesting face, Vicky,” Zachary said as we walked back towards our tent. “Not pretty-pretty, but there’s something more. And a darned good figure. I’d say something other than darned only I might shock little unhatched you.”
    â€œI’m not so unhatched as all that.”
    â€œNo?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI’ll bet you that nothing’s happened to you all your life long. Your meals have always been put in front of you and if you skin your little knee you can run crying to Mommie and Poppie and they’ll kiss it and make everything all right.”
    Well, maybe I didn’t have very much experience so far. But I was on my way to getting it. “Has so much happened to you?” I asked.
    â€œI am as old as Methuselah, Victorinia. I am old beyond my time. Someday I shall tell you all. Don’t want to shock you on first acquaintance.”
    We got back to the campsite and Mother and Daddy and John were sitting around the table drinking coffee. Zachary
handed me over to them with a bow, making me feel about two years old. “Good as my word, sir,” he said to Daddy. “Here’s your daughter, safe, sound, and unsullied. See you tomorrow, Vicky-O. Good night, all.” He waved, and bounded across the path and into their elegant tent.
    â€œWhat’d you want to take a walk with that creep for?” John asked.
    â€œI like him,” I said, sitting down.
    Mother looked at me. “I made some cocoa for you, Vicky.” She poured me a cup, but didn’t say anything else.
    John went on. “For heaven’s sake don’t go getting interested in the jerk. It was from hunger as far as he was concerned. Nobody else here.”
    Mother said, “I hardly think you need worry about Vicky’s getting interested in him, since she’ll probably never see him again. And as to its being from hunger, John, Vicky’s not Zachary’s sister, and he sees her with perhaps fresher eyes.”
    John heaved a persecuted sigh. “I didn’t mean that.”
    â€œI know perfectly well what you think of my looks, John,” I said stiffly, “but in case you haven’t bothered to notice, I’ve changed a lot in the past