Поющие в терновнике

           Allheracquaintancesweresimultaneouslysympatheticandenvious,butthatdidn’tgettheworkdone.Hersewingbaskethadamountainofsocksinitstillundarned,herknittingneedlesheldyetanothersock,andtherewasHughiegrowingoutofhissweatersandJacknotreadytohandhisdown.

           ***

           PadraicClearywastohometheweekofMeggie’sbirthday,purelybychance.Itwastooearlyfortheshearingseason,andhehadworklocally,plowingandplanting.Byprofessionhewasashearerofsheep,aseasonaloccupationwhichlastedfromthemiddleofsummertotheendofwinter,afterwhichcamelambing.Usuallyhemanagedtofindplentyofworktotidehimoverspringandthefirstmonthofsummer;helpingwithlambing,plowing,orspellingalocaldairyfarmerfromhisendlesstwice-a-daymilking.Wheretherewasworkhewent,leavinghisfamilyinthebigoldhousetofendforthemselves;notasharshanactionasitseemed.Unlessonewasluckyenoughtoownland,thatwaswhatonehadtodo.

           Whenhecameinalittleaftersunsetthelampswerelit,andshadowsplayedflickeringgamesaroundthehighceiling.Theboyswereclusteredonthebackverandaplayingwithafrog,exceptforFrank;Padraicknewwherehewas,becausehecouldhearthesteadyclockingofanaxefromthedirectionofthewoodheap.HepausedontheverandaonlylongenoughtoplantakickonJack’sbacksideandclipBob’sear.

           "GoandhelpFrankwiththewood,youlazylittlescamps.AndithadbetterbedonebeforeMumhasteaonthetable,orthere’llbeskinandhairflying."