Поющие в терновнике

           Smith,"saidMaryCarsoncurtly.

           "Whydon’tyoulikeher?"FatherRalphaskedashesankintothechairhehadcometothinkofashisown.

           "Becauseyoudo,"sheanswered.

           "Oh,comenow!"Foronceshemadehimfeelataloss."She’sjustawaif,Mary."

           "That’snotwhatyouseeinher,andyouknowit."

           Thefineblueeyesrestedonhersardonically;hewasmoreatease."DoyouthinkItamperwithchildren?Iam,afterall,apriest!"

           "You’reamanfirst,RalphdeBricassart!Beingapriestmakesyoufeelsafe,that’sall."

           Startled,helaughed.Somehowhecouldn’tfencewithhertoday;itwasasifshehadfoundthechinkinhisarmor,creptinsidewithherspider’spoison.Andhewaschanging,growingolderperhaps,becomingreconciledtoobscurityinGillanbone.Thefiresweredying;orwasitthatheburnednowforotherthings?

           "Iamnotaman,"hesaid."Iamapriest…It’stheheat,maybe,thedustandtheflies…ButIamnotaman,Mary.I’mapriest."

           "Oh,Ralph,howyou’vechanged!"shemocked."CanthisbeCardinaldeBricassartIhear?"

           "Itisn’tpossible,"hesaid,apassingunhappinessinhiseyes."Idon’tthinkIwantitanymore."

           Shebegantolaugh,rockingbackandforthinherchair,watchinghim."Don’tyou,Ralph?Don’tyou?Well,I’llletyoustewalittlewhilelonger,butyourdayofreckoningiscoming,neverdoubtit.Notyet,notfortwoorthreeyears,perhaps,butitwillcome.