Поющие в терновнике

           Shedidn’tknowit,butjustsowouldhehaveofferedcomfortandhelptoanyofhisparishioners,ifwithalessintensepersonalinvolvement;soverykindly,butneveridentifyinghimselfwiththetrouble.And,perhapsnotsooddly,therebythecomfortandhelpheofferedwasallthegreater.Asifhehadgonebeyondsuchsmallthings,sotheywereboundtopass.Itwasnotaconsciousthinginhim,either;noonewhocametohimforsuccoreverfeltthathelookeddownonthem,orblamedthemfortheirweaknesses.Manypriestslefttheirpeoplefeelingguilty,worthlessorbestial,butheneverdid.Forhemadethemthinkthathe,too,hadhissorrowsandhisstruggles;aliensorrowsandincomprehensiblestruggles,perhaps,yetnolessreal.Heneitherknewnorcouldhavebeenbroughttounderstandthatthelargerpartofhisappealandattractionlaynotinhisperson,butinthisaloof,almostgodlike,veryhumansomethingfromhissoul.

           AsfarasMeggiewasconcerned,hetalkedtoherthewayFrankhadtalkedtoher:asifshewerehisequal.Buthewasolder,wiserandfarbettereducatedthanFrank,amoresatisfactoryconfidant.Andhowbeautifulhisvoicewas,withitsfaintIrishnessandpear-shapedBritishness.Ittookallthefearandanguishaway.Yetshewasyoung,fullofcuriosity,eagernowtoknowalltherewastoknow,andnottroubledbytheperplexingphilosophiesofthosewhoconstantlyquestionnotthewhoofthemselvesbutthewhy.Hewasherfriend,thecherishedidolofherheart,thenewsuninherfirmament.