Поющие в терновнике

           Igetthemostawfulpainsinmytummy,butnotlikeabiliousattack,and—oh,Father!—alotofbloodrunsoutofmybottom!"

           Hisheadrearedback,somethingwhichhadneverhappenedinsidetheconfessional;hestareddownathershamedbentheadwithsomanyemotionsassaultinghimthathecouldnotmarshalhiswits.Anabsurd,deliciousrelief;anangeratFeesogreathewantedtokillher;awedadmirationforsuchalittlethingasher,tobearsomuchsowell;andaghastly,all-pervasiveembarrassment.

           Hewasasmuchaprisonerofthetimesasshewas.ThecheapgirlsineverytownhehadknownfromDublintoGillanbonewoulddeliberatelycomeintotheconfessionaltowhispertheirfantasiestohimasactualhappenings,concernedwiththeonlyfacetofhimwhichinterestedthem,hismanhood,andnotwillingtoadmititlaybeyondtheirpowertoarouseit.Theymutteredofmenviolatingeveryorifice,ofillicitgameswithothergirls,oflustandadultery,oneortwoofsuperiorimaginationevengoingsofarastodetailsexualrelationswithapriest.Andhewouldlistentotallyunmovedsaveforasickcontempt,forhehadbeenthroughtherigorsoftheseminaryandthatparticularlessonwasaneasyoneforamanofhistype.Butthegirls,never,nevermentionedthatsecretactivitywhichsetthemapart,demeanedthem.

           Tryashewould,hecouldnotpreventthescorchingtidefromdiffusingupunderhisskin;FatherRalphdeBricassartsatwithhisfaceturnedawaybehindhishandandwrithedthroughthehumiliationofhisfirstblush.