Поющие в терновнике

           "Ihavenotimetobeanythingelse,"Feesaid,curtlyforherwhenactingashostess.

           "You’llhavemoretimenow,withthemenawaysomuchandfewermealstoget.Raiseyourhemsandstopwearingpetticoatsandstays,oryou’lldiewhensummercomes.Itcangetfifteentotwentydegreeshotterthanthis,youknow."HereyesdwelledontheportraitofthebeautifulblondwomaninherEmpressEugéniecrinoline."Who’sthat?"sheasked,pointing.

           "Mygrandmother."

           "Oh,really?Andthefurniture,thecarpets?"

           "Mine,frommygrandmother."

           "Oh,really?MydearFiona,you’vecomedownintheworld,haven’tyou?"

           Feeneverlosthertemper,soshedidn’tnow,butherthinlipsgotthinner."Idon’tthinkso,Mary.Ihaveagoodman;yououghttoknowthat."

           "Butpenniless.Whatwasyourmaidenname?"

           "Armstrong."

           "Oh,really?NottheRoderickArmstrongArmstrongs?"

           "He’smyoldestbrother.Hisnamesakewasmygreat-grandfather."

           MaryCarsonrose,flappingherpicturehatattheflies,whichwerenotrespectersofperson."Well,you’rebetterbornthantheClearysare,evenifIdosaysomyself.DidyoulovePaddyenoughtogiveallthatup?"

           "MyreasonsforwhatIdo,"saidFeelevelly,"aremybusiness,Mary,notyours.Idonotdiscussmyhusband,evenwithhissister."

           ThelinesoneithersideofMaryCarson’snosegotdeeper,hereyesbulgedslightly."Hoity-toity!"

           Shedidnotcomeagain,butMrs.Smith,herhousekeeper,cameoften,andrepeatedMaryCarson’sadviceabouttheirclothes.