Поющие в терновнике

           I’mgoingtostudyactingwithAlbertJonesattheCullodenTheater,andI’vewrittentotheRoyalAcademyofDramaticArtinLondon,askingthatIbeputontheirwaitinglist."

           "Areyouquitesure,Jussy?"

           "Quitesure.I’veknownforalongtime."Thelastpieceofbloodybeefwastuckeddownunderthesurfaceofthecorningsolution;Justineputthelidonthebarrelwithathump."There!IhopeIneverseeanotherbitofcornedbeefaslongasIlive."

           Meggiehandedheracompletedtrayofcookies."Puttheseintheoven,wouldyou?Fourhundreddegrees.Imustsaythiscomesassomethingofasurprise.Ithoughtlittlegirlswhowantedtobeactressesrole-playedconstantly,buttheonlypersonI’veeverseenyouplayhasbeenyourself."

           "Oh,Mum!Thereyougoagain,confusingfilmstarswithactresses.Honestly,you’rehopeless."

           "Well,aren’tfilmstarsactresses?"

           "Ofaveryinferiorsort.Unlessthey’vebeenonthestagefirst,thatis.Imean,evenLaurenceOlivierdoesanoccasionalfilm."

           TherewasanautographedpictureofLaurenceOlivieronJustine’sdressingtable;Meggiehadsimplydeemeditjuvenilecrushstuff,thoughatthetimesherememberedthinkingatleastJustinehadtaste.ThefriendsshesometimesbroughthomewithhertostayafewdaysusuallytreasuredpicturesofTabHunterandRoryCalhoun.

           "Istilldon’tunderstand,"saidMeggie,shakingherhead."Anactress!"

           Justineshrugged.