Поющие в терновнике

           Thelasthilllaytwohundredmilestotheeast;thiswasthelandoftheblacksoilplains,heexplained.Justsweeping,lightlytimberedgrasslandsasflatasaboard.Thedaywasashotasthepreviousone,buttheDaimlerwasagreatdealmorecomfortabletotravelinthanthetrainhadbeen.Andtheyhadstartedoutearly,fasting,FatherRalph’svestmentsandtheBlessedSacramentpackedcarefullyinablackcase.

           "Thesheeparedirty!"saidMeggiedolefully,gazingatthemanyhundredsofrusty-redbundleswiththeirquestingnosesdownintothegrass.

           "Ah,IcanseeIoughttohavechosenNewZealand,"thepriestsaid."ItmustbelikeIreland,then,andhavenicecreamsheep."

           "Yes,itislikeIrelandinmanyways;ithasthesamebeautifulgreengrass.Butit’swilder,alotlesstamed,"Paddyanswered.HelikedFatherRalphverymuch.

           Justthenagroupofemuslurchedtotheirfeetandcommencedtorun,fleetasthewind,theirungainlylegsablur,theirlongnecksstretchedout.Thechildrengaspedandburstoutlaughing,enchantedatseeinggiantbirdswhichraninsteadofflying.

           "Whatapleasureitisnottohavetogetoutandopenthesewretchedgates,"FatherRalphsaidasthelastonewasshutbehindthemandBob,whohaddonegatedutyforhim,scrambledbackintothecar.

           AftertheshocksAustraliahadadministeredtotheminbewilderingrapidity,Droghedahomesteadseemedlikeatouchofhome,withitsgraciousGeorgianfaçadeanditsbuddingwistariavines,itsthousandsofrose-bushes