Поющие в терновнике

           "You’renobetterthanaparrotwhenyouactthepriest,FatherdeBricassart!IsayGodhelpyou,becauseyou’retheonlyoneofusherewhohasnoideawhathereallyis!"

           Paddywassittinginachair,ashen,hisshockedeyesonMeggieasshehuddledonherkneesbythefire,weepingandrockingherselfbackandforth.Hegotuptogotoher,butFatherRalphpushedhimroughlyaway.

           "Leaveheralone.You’vedoneenough!There’swhiskeyinthesideboard;takesome.I’mgoingtoputthechildtobed,butI’llbebacktotalktoyou,sodon’tgo.Doyouhearme,man?"

           "I’llbehere,Father.Puthertobed."

           ***

           Upstairsinthecharmingapple-greenbedroomthepriestunbuttonedthelittlegirl’sdressandchemise,madehersitontheedgeofthebedsohecouldpulloffhershoesandstockings.HernightdresslayonthepillowwhereAnniehadleftit;hetuggeditoverherheadanddecentlydownbeforeheremovedherdrawers.Andallthewhilehetalkedtoheraboutnothing,sillystoriesofbuttonsrefusingtocomeundone,andshoesstubbornlystayingtied,andribbonsthatwouldnotcomeoff.Itwasimpossibletotellifsheheardhim;withtheirunspokentalesofinfanttragedies,oftroublesandpainsbeyondheryears,theeyesstareddrearilypasthisshoulder.

           "Nowliedown,mydarlinggirl,andtrytogotosleep.I’llbebackinalittlewhiletoseeyou,sodon’tworry,doyouhear?We’lltalkaboutitthen."

           "Issheallright?"askedPaddyashecamebackintothelounge.