Поющие в терновнике

           Atnighttheyinhabitedatumble-downshed,itsrigorouslysweptfloorlinedaroundtheedgeswithstraw-filledorangecratesforlaying,anditsrearcrossedbyperchesofvariousheights.Butduringthedaythechooksstruttedcluckingaroundalarge,wire-nettedrun.WhenMeggieopenedtherungateandsqueezedinside,thebirdsclusteredabouthergreedily,thinkingtheywouldbefed,butsinceMeggiefedthemintheeveningsshelaughedattheirsillyanticsandsteppedthroughthemintotheshed.

           "Honestly,whatahopelesslotofchookiesyouare!"shelecturedthemseverelyasshepokedinthenests."Fortyofyou,andonlyfifteeneggs!Notenoughforbreakfast,letaloneacake.Well,I’mwarningyouhereandnow—ifyoudon’tdosomethingaboutitsoon,thechoppingblockforthelotofyou,andthatappliestothelordsofthecoopaswellaswives,sodon’tspreadyourtailsandruffleupyournecksasifI’mnotincludingyou,gentlemen!"

           Withtheeggsheldcarefullyinherapron,Meggieranbacktothekitchen,singing.

           FeewassittinginPaddy’schairstaringatasheetofSmith’sWeekly,herfacewhite,herlipsmoving.InsideMeggiecouldhearthemenmovingabout,andthesoundsofsix-year-oldJimsandPatsylaughingintheircot;theywereneverallowedupuntilafterthemenhadgone.

           "What’sthematter,Mum?"Meggieasked.