Поющие в терновнике

           Ithadbegunwithpitythatdayinthedustystationyardwhenhehadnoticedherlaggingbehind;setapartfromtherestofherfamilybyvirtueofhersex,hehadshrewdlyguessed.AstowhyFrankalsomovedonanouterperimeter,thisdidnotintriguehimatall,nordidhefeelmovedtopityFrank.TherewassomethinginFrankwhichkilledtenderemotions:adarkheart,aspiritlackinginnerlight.ButMeggie?Shehadmovedhimunbearably,andhedidn’treallyknowwhy.Therewasthecolorofherhair,whichpleasedhim;thecolorandformofhereyes,likehermother’sandthereforebeautiful,butsomuchsweeter,moreexpressive;andhercharacter,whichhesawastheperfectfemalecharacter,passiveyetenormouslystrong.Norebel,Meggie;onthecontrary.Allherlifeshewouldobey,movewithintheboundariesofherfemalefate.

           Yetnoneofitaddeduptothefulltotal.Perhaps,hadhelookedmoredeeplyintohimself,hemighthaveseenthatwhathefeltforherwasthecuriousresultoftime,andplace,andperson.Noonethoughtofherasimportant,whichmeanttherewasaspaceinherlifeintowhichhecouldfithimselfandbesureofherlove;shewasachild,andthereforenodangertohiswayoflifeorhispriestlyreputation;shewasbeautiful,andheenjoyedbeauty;and,leastacknowledgedofall,shefilledanemptyspaceinhislifewhichhisGodcouldnot,forshehadwarmthandahumansolidity.