Поющие в терновнике

           HehadmissedFee’sgenteelsupportunbearablyandhestilldislikedhissisterasmuchashehadbackinhisearlychildhoodinIreland.ThenhenoticedthestickingplasteroverFrank’seye,theswollenface;itwasaheaven-sentexcuse.

           "Andhowdoyouthinkyou’regoingtofaceyourmotherlookinglikethat?"heyelled."Notadayoutofmysightandyou’rebackatitagain,pickingfightswithanyonewholooksatyousideways!"Startled,FatherRalphjumpedtohisfeetwithasoothingnoisehalf-uttered;butFrankwasquicker.

           "Iearnedmyselfmoneywiththis!"hesaidverysoftly,pointingtotheplaster."Twentypoundsforafewminutes’work,betterwagesthanAuntieMarypaysyouandmecombinedinamonth!IknockedoutthreegoodboxersandlastedthedistancewithalightweightchampioninJimmySharman’stentthisafternoon.AndIearnedmyselftwentypounds.ItmaynotfitinwithyourideasofwhatIoughttodo,butthisafternoonIearnedtherespectofeverymanpresent!"

           "Afewtired,punch-drunkoldhas-beensatacountryshow,andyou’refullofit?Growup,Frank!Iknowyoucan’tgrowanymoreinbody,butyoumightmakeaneffortforyourmother’ssaketogrowinmind!"

           ThewhitenessofFrank’sface!Likebleachedbones.Itwasthemostterribleinsultamancouldofferhim,andthiswashisfather;hecouldn’tstrikeback.Hisbreathingstartedcomingfromthebottomofhischestwiththeeffortofkeepinghishandsbyhissides."Nohas-beens,Daddy.YouknowwhoJimmySharmanisaswellasIdo.