Поющие в терновнике

           "Don’tworryaboutMeggie,I’lltakecareofher.Idon’tthinksheunderstoodmoreofwhatwentonthanthatyouandFrankquarreled.I’llmakeherseethatwithFrankgone,totellhermotherofthequarrelwouldonlybeanadditionalgrief.Besides,IhaveafeelingMeggiedoesn’ttellhermothermuchtobeginwith."Hegotup."Gotobed,Paddy.You’vegottoseemnormalanddanceattendanceonMarytomorrow,remember?"

           Meggiewasnotasleep;shewaslyingwitheyeswideinthedimlightofthelittlelampbesideherbed.Thepriestsatdownbesideherandnoticedherhairstillinitsbraids.Carefullyheuntiedthenavyribbonsandpulledgentlyuntilthehairlayinarippling,moltensheetacrossthepillow.

           "Frankhasgoneaway,Meggie,"hesaid.

           "Iknow,Father."

           "Doyouknowwhy,darling?"

           "HehadafightwithDaddy."

           "Whatareyougoingtodo?"

           "I’mgoingtogowithFrank.Heneedsme."

           "Youcan’t,myMeggie."

           "Yes,Ican.Iwasgoingtofindhimtonight,butmylegswouldn’tholdmeup,andIdon’tlikethedark.ButinthemorningI’lllookforhim."

           "No,Meggie,youmustn’t.Yousee,Frank’sgothisownlifetolead,andit’stimehewentaway.Iknowyoudon’twanthimtogoaway,buthe’sbeenwantingtogoforalongtime.Youmustn’tbeselfish;you’vegottolethimlivehisownlife."Themonotonyofrepetition,hethought,keepondrummingitin."Whenwegrowupit’snaturalandrightforustowantalifeawayfromthehomewegrewupin,andFrankisagrownman.