Поющие в терновнике

           MeggieandStuartfounditastrange,peacefulexistenceatHolyCrossaftertheirlifeonDrogheda,butespeciallyaftertheSacredHeartinWahine.FatherRalphhadsubtlyindicatedtothenunsthatthispairofchildrenwerehisprotégés,theiraunttherichestwomaninNewSouthWales.SoMeggie’sshynesswastransformedfromaviceintoavirtue,andStuart’soddisolation,hishabitofstaringforhoursintoillimitabledistances,earnedhimtheepithet"saintly."

           Itwasverypeacefulindeed,fortherewereveryfewboarders;peopleofthedistrictwealthyenoughtosendtheiroffspringtoboardingschoolinvariablypreferredSydney.Theconventsmelledofpolishandflowers,itsdarkhighcorridorsawashwithquietnessandatangibleholiness.Voicesweremuted,lifewentonbehindablackthinveil.Noonecanedthem,nooneshoutedatthem,andtherewasalwaysFatherRalph.

           Hecametoseethemoften,andhadthemtostayatthepresbyterysoregularlyhedecidedtopaintthebedroomMeggieusedadelicateapplegreen,buynewcurtainsforthewindowsandanewquiltforthebed.Stuartcontinuedtosleepinaroomwhichhadbeencreamandbrownthroughtworedecorations;itsimplyneveroccurredtoFatherRalphtowonderifStuartwashappy.Hewastheafterthoughtwhotoavoidoffensemustalsobeinvited.

           JustwhyhewassofondofMeggieFatherRalphdidn’tknow,norforthatmatterdidhespendmuchtimewonderingaboutit.