Поющие в терновнике
Chapter 6
Butthiswasn’thelpinghisMeggie.Whenhewassurethecolorhadsubsidedhegottohisfeet,pickedherupandsatheronaflat-toppedmarblepedestal,whereherfaceandhiswerelevel.
"Meggie,lookatme.No,lookatme!"
Sheraisedhuntedeyesandsawthathewassmiling;animmeasurablecontentmentfilledhersoulatonce.Hewouldnotsmilesoifsheweredying;sheknewverywellhowmuchshemeanttohim,forhehadneverconcealedit.
"Meggie,you’renotdyingandyouhaven’tgotcancer.Itisn’tmyplacetotellyouwhat’sthematter,butIthinkIhadbetter.Yourmothershouldhavetoldyouyearsago,preparedyou,andwhyshedidn’tisbeyondme."
Helookedupattheinscrutablemarbleangelabovehimandgaveapeculiar,half-strangledlaugh."DearJesus!ThethingsThougivestmetodo!"Then,tothewaitingMeggie:"Inyearstocome,asyougrowolderandlearnmoreaboutthewaysoftheworld,youmightbetemptedtoremembertodaywithembarrassment,evenshame.Butdon’tremembertodaylikethat,Meggie.There’sabsolutelynothingshamefulorembarrassingaboutit.Inthis,asineverythingIdo,IamsimplytheinstrumentofOurLord.Itismyonlyfunctiononthisearth;Imustadmitnoother.Youwereveryfrightened,youneededhelp,andOurLordhassentyouthathelpinmyperson.Rememberthatalone,Meggie.IamOurLord’spriest,andIspeakinHisName.
"You’reonlydoingwhatallwomendo,Meggie.Onceamonthforseveraldaysyou’llpassblood.
