Поющие в терновнике

           Soheansweredpatiently,"Itdoesn’tcomeoutofyourbottom,Meggie.Thereisahiddenpassagewayinfrontofyourbottom,whichhastodowithchildren."

           "Oh!Wheretheygetout,youmean,"shesaid."Ialwayswonderedhowtheygotout."

           Hegrinned,andliftedherdownfromherpedestal."Nowyouknow.Doyouknowwhatmakesbabies,Meggie?"

           "Oh,yes,"shesaidimportantly,gladsheknewatleastsomething."Yougrowthem,Father."

           "Whatcausesthemtostartgrowing?"

           "Youwishthem."

           "Whotoldyouthat?"

           "Noone.Iworkeditoutformyself,"shesaid.

           FatherRalphclosedhiseyesandtoldhimselfthathecouldn’tpossiblybecalledacowardforleavingmatterswheretheystood.Hecouldpityher,buthecouldn’thelpheranyfurther.Enoughwasenough.