Поющие в терновнике

           "Andwhynot?You’retheonlyrelativesofmyverygoodfriend,MaryCarson."

           Sheshrugged,unimpressed."I’mnotusedtobeingonfriendlytermswithapriest.InNewZealandtheykeptthemselvesverymuchtothemselves."

           "You’renotaCatholic,areyou?"

           "No,Paddy’stheCatholic.NaturallythechildrenhavebeenrearedasCatholics,everylastoneofthem,ifthat’swhat’sworryingyou."

           "Itneveroccurredtome.Doyouresentit?"

           "Ireallydon’tcareonewayortheother."

           "Youdidn’tconvert?"

           "I’mnotahypocrite,FatherdeBricassart.Ihadlostfaithinmyownchurch,andIhadnowishtoespouseadifferent,equallymeaninglesscreed."

           "Isee."HewatchedMeggieasshestoodonthefrontveranda,peeringupthetracktowardDroghedabighouse."She’ssopretty,yourdaughter.Ihaveafondnessfortitianhair,youknow.Herswouldhavesenttheartistrunningforhisbrushes.I’veneverseenexactlythatcolorbefore.Issheyouronlydaughter?"

           "Yes.BoysruninbothPaddy’sfamilyandmyown;girlsareunusual."

           "Poorlittlething,"hesaidobscurely.

           ***

           AfterthecratesarrivedfromSydneyandthehousetookonamorefamiliarlookwithitsbooks,china,ornamentsandtheparlorfilledwithFee’sfurniture,thingsbegantosettledown.PaddyandtheboysolderthanStuwereawaymostofthetimewiththetwostationhandsMaryCarsonhadretainedtoteachthemthemanydifferencesbetweensheepinnorthwestNewSouthWalesandsheepinNewZealand.