Поющие в терновнике

           Hewassuchadearlittlefellow,thechiefdelightofherlife,anditwasnicetohaveMumtreatherasanothergrown-uplady.WhatcausedMumtogrowbabiesshehadnoidea,buttheresultwaslovely.ShegaveHaltoFee;thetrainstoppednotlongafter,creakingandsquealing,andseemedtostandhourspantingforbreath.Shewasdyingtoopenthewindowandlookout,butthecompartmentwasgrowingverycoldinspiteofthehotashesonthefloor.

           PaddycameinfromthecorridorwithasteamingcupofteaforFee,whoputHalbackontheseat,gluttedandsleepy.

           "Whatisit?"sheasked.

           "AplacecalledValleyHeights.WetakeonanotherengineherefortheclimbtoLithgow,thegirlintherefreshmentroomsaid."

           "HowlonghaveIgottodrinkthis?"

           "Fifteenminutes.Frank’sgettingyousomesandwichesandI’llseetheboysarefed.OurnextrefreshmentstopisaplacedcalledBlayney,muchlaterinthenight."

           Meggiesharedhermother’scupofhot,sugarytea,suddenlyunbearablyexcited,andgobbledhersandwichwhenFrankbroughtit.HesettledheronthelongseatbelowbabyHal,tuckedarugfirmlyaroundher,andthendidthesameforFee,stretchedoutfulllengthontheseatopposite.StuartandHughiewerebeddeddownonthefloorbetweentheseats,butPaddytoldFeethathewastakingBob,FrankandJackseveralcompartmentsdowntotalktosomeshearers,andwouldspendthenightthere.