Поющие в терновнике

           Perhapsrememberingherowngirlhood,andangeredthatalltheotheryoungladiesinvitedhadorderedtheirgownsfromSydney,theGillydressmakerhadputherheartintoMeggie’sdress.Itwassleevelessandhadalow,drapedneckline;Feehadbeendubious,butMeggiehadimploredandthedressmakerassuredherallthegirlswouldbewearingthesamesortofthing—didshewantherdaughterlaughedatforbeingcountrifiedanddowdy?SoFeehadgiveningracefully.Ofcrepegeorgette,aheavychiffon,thedresswasonlyslightlyfittedatthewaist,butsashedaroundthehipswiththesamematerial.Itwasadusky,palepinkishgrey,thecolorthatinthosedayswascalledashesofroses;betweenthemthedressmakerandMeggiehadembroideredtheentiregownintinypinkrosebuds.AndMeggiehadcutherhairintheclosestwayshecouldtotheshinglecreepingeventhroughtheranksofGillygirls.Itcurledfartoomuchforfashion,ofcourse,butitsuitedherbettershortthanlong.

           PaddyopenedhismouthtoroarbecauseshewasnothislittlegirlMeggie,butshutitagainwiththewordsunuttered;hehadlearnedfromthatsceneinthepresbyterywithFranklongago.No,hecouldn’tkeepheralittlegirlforever;shewasayoungwomanandshyoftheamazingtransformationhermirrorhadshownher.Whymakeitharderforthepoorlittlebeggar?

           Heextendedhishandtoher,smilingtenderly."Oh,Meggie,you’resolovely!Comeon,I’mgoingtoescortyoumyself,andBobandJackshalltakeyourmother."