Поющие в терновнике

           Oncerelievedoftheirburdens,thehorseshadnotrouble,butFrankfounditimpossibletokeephisbalance.Itwasworsethanaskatingrink.Onhandsandkneestheycrawledtothetopofthecreekbank,andsliddownitlikeprojectiles.Thestoneroadway,whichwasnormallycoveredbyafootoflazywater,wasunderfourfeetofracingfoam;Frankheardthepriestlaugh.Urgedonbyshoutsandslapsfromsoddenhats,thehorsesmanagedtoscrambleupthefarbankwithoutmishap,butFrankandFatherRalphcouldnot.Everytimetheytried,theyslidbackagain.ThepriesthadjustsuggestedtheyclimbawillowwhenPaddy,alertedbytheappearanceofriderlesshorses,camewitharopeandhauledthemout.

           Smilingandshakinghishead,FatherRalphrefusedPaddy’sofferofhospitality.

           "I’mexpectedatthebighouse,"hesaid.

           MaryCarsonheardhimcallingbeforeanyofherstaffdid,forhehadchosentowalkaroundtothefrontofthehouse,thinkingitwouldbeeasiertoreachhisroom.

           "You’renotcominginsidelikethat,"shesaid,standingontheveranda.

           "Thenbeadear,getmeseveraltowelsandmycase."

           Unembarrassed,shewatchedhimpeeloffhisshirt,bootsandbreeches,leaningagainstthehalf-openwindowintoherdrawingroomashetoweledtheworstofthemudoff.

           "You’rethemostbeautifulmanI’veeverseen,RalphdeBricassart,"shesaid."Whyisitsomanypriestsarebeautiful?TheIrishness?They’reratherahandsomepeople,theIrish.