Поющие в терновнике

           Behindthem,allbyherself,Meggiestoodgapingupathimwithhermouthopen,asifshewerelookingatGod.Withoutseemingtonoticehowhisfinesergerobewallowedinthedust,hesteppedpasttheboysandsquatteddowntoholdMeggiebetweenhishands,andtheywerefirm,gentle,kind."Well!Andwhoareyou?"heaskedher,smiling.

           "Meggie,"shesaid.

           "Hername’sMeghann."Frankscowled,hatingthisbeautifulman,hisstunningheight.

           "Myfavoritename,Meghann."Hestraightened,butheldMeggie’shandinhis."Itwillbebetterforyoutostayatthepresbyterytonight,"hesaid,leadingMeggietowardthecar."I’lldriveyououttoDroghedainthemorning;it’stoofarafterthetrainridefromSydney."

           AsidefromtheHotelImperial,theCatholicchurch,school,conventandpresbyteryweretheonlybrickedificesinGillanbone,eventhebigpublicschoolhavingtocontentitselfwithtimberframe.Nowthatdarknesshadfallen,theairhadgrownincrediblychill;butinthepresbyteryloungeahugelogfirewasblazing,andthesmelloffoodcametantalizinglyfromsomewherebeyond.Thehousekeeper,awizenedoldScotswomanwithamazingenergy,bustledaboutshowingthemtheirrooms,chatteringallthewhileinabroadwesternHighlandsaccent.

           Usedtothetouch-me-notreserveoftheWahinepriests,theClearysfoundithardtocopewithFatherRalph’seasy,cheerfulbonhomie.OnlyPaddythawed,forhecouldrememberthefriendlinessofthepriestsinhisnativeGalway,theirclosenesstolesserbeings.