Поющие в терновнике

           Allherattentionhadbeenfocusedonthepriest,abeingsexlessandemasculated.Evenifhewastall,darkandhandsome.

           "Don’tworry,she’llbebackformoreofthesame,"saidFatherRalphcynically."She’srich,sonextSundayshe’llveryostentatiouslyputaten-poundnoteintheplate."HelaughedatFrank’sexpression."I’mnotsomucholderthanyou,myson,butinspiteofmycallingI’maveryworldlyfellow.Don’tholditagainstme;justputitdowntoexperience."

           Theyhadlefttheridingringbehindandenteredtheamusementpartofthegrounds.ToMeggieandFrankalikeitwasenchantment.FatherRalphhadgivenMeggiefivewholeshillings,andFrankhadhisfivepounds;toownthepriceofadmissiontoallthoseenticingboothswaswonderful.Crowdsthrongedthearea,childrenrunningeverywhere,gazingwide-eyedattheluridlyandsomewhatinexpertlypaintedlegendsfrontingtatteredtents:TheFattestLadyintheWorld;PrincessHouritheSnakeDancer(SeeHerFantheFlamesofaCobra’sRage!);TheIndiaRubberMan;GoliaththeWorld’sStrongestMan;ThetistheMermaid.Ateachtheypaidtheirpenniesandwatchedraptly,notnoticingThetis’ssadlytarnishedscalesorthetoothlesssmileonthecobra.

           Atthefarend,sobigitrequiredawholesideforitself,wasagiantmarqueewithahighboardwalkalongitsfront,acurtainlikefriezeofpaintedfiguresstretchingbehindtheentirelengthoftheboardbridge,menacingthecrowd.Amanwithamegaphoneinhishandwasshoutingtothegatheringpeople.