Поющие в терновнике

           Foryearsshehadlongedforthechance,hadoncetimidlyventuredtoaskherfathermightshe,buthehadforgottenthenextmomentandsheneveraskedagain,thinkingthatwasDaddy’swayofsayingno.TolearnundertheaegisofFatherRalphcastherintoajoywhichshedidn’tshow,forbythistimeheradorationofFatherRalphhadturnedintoanardent,verygirlishcrush.Knowingitwasquiteimpossible,shepermittedherselftheluxuryofdreamingabouthim,ofwonderingwhatitwouldbeliketobeheldinhisarms,receivehiskiss.Furtherthanthatherdreamscouldn’tgo,asshehadnoideawhatcamenext,oreventhatanythingcamenext.Andifsheknewitwaswrongtodreamsoofapriest,theredidn’tseemtobeanywayshecoulddisciplineherselfintonotdoingit.Thebestshecouldmanagewastomakeabsolutelysurehehadnoideaoftheunrulyturnherthoughtshadtaken.

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           AsMaryCarsonwatchedthroughthedrawingroomwindow,FatherRalphandMeggiewalkeddownfromthestables,whichwereonthefarsideofthebighousefromtheheadstockman’sresidence.Thestationmenroderawbonedstockhorseswhichhadneverseentheinsideofastableinalltheirlives,justshuffledaroundtheyardswhenpennedforduty,orfriskedthroughthegrassoftheHomePaddockwhenbeingspelled.ButtherewerestablesonDrogheda,thoughonlyFatherRalphusedthemnow.MaryCarsonkepttwothoroughbredhacksthereforFatherRalph’sexclusiveuse;norawbonedstockhorsesforhim.