Поющие в терновнике

           "Oh,God!"hesaid.

           Hereyeslosttheirpleasureinseeinghim,herfacefloodedwithscarletshame;shespreadherhandsoverherballooningapronasiftheycouldhidewhatherclothescouldnot.

           Frankwasshaking."Thedirtyoldgoat!"

           "Frank,Ican’tletyousaythingslikethat.You’reamannow,yououghttounderstand.Thisisnodifferentfromthewayyoucameintotheworldyourself,anditdeservesthesamerespect.Itisn’tdirty.WhenyouinsultDaddy,youinsultme."

           "Hehadnoright!Heshouldhaveleftyoualone!"Frankhissed,wipingafleckoffoamfromthecornerofhistremblingmouth.

           "Itisn’tdirty,"sherepeatedwearily,andlookedathimfromhercleartiredeyesasifshehadsuddenlydecidedtoputshamebehindherforever."It’snotdirty,Frank,andnoristheactwhichcreatedit."

           Thistimehisfacereddened.Hecouldnotcontinuetomeethergaze,soheturnedandwentthroughintotheroomheshardwithBob,JackandHughie.Itsbarewallsandlittlesinglebedsmockedhim,mockedhim,thesterileandfeaturelesslooktoit,thelackofapresencetowarmit,apurposetohallowit.Andherface,herbeautifultiredfacewithitsprimhaloofgoldenhair,allalightbecauseofwhatsheandthathairyoldgoathaddoneintheterribleheatofsummer.

           Hecouldnotgetawayfromit,hecouldnotgetawayfromher,fromthethoughsatthebackofhismind,fromthehungersnaturaltohisageandmanhood.