Поющие в терновнике

           "Minnie!Minnie!"shecalled.

           "Lordhelpus,it’sherself!"themaidsaidclearlyfromthereceptionroomopposite.Heragelessfreckledfacecameroundthedoor."AndwhatmightIbegettin’forye,Mrs.Carsondarlin’?"sheasked,wonderingwhytheoldwomanhadnotrungthebellforMrs.Smith,aswasherwont.

           "GoandfindthefencerandTom.Sendthemheretomeatonce."

           "OughtInotbereportin’toMrs.Smithfurrst?"

           "No!Justdoasyou’retold,girl!"

           Tom,thegardenrouseabout,wasanold,wizenedfellowwhohadbeenonthetrackwithhisblueyandhisbilly,andtakenworkforawhileseventeenyearsago;hehadfalleninlovewiththeDroghedagardensandcouldn’tbeartoleavethem.Thefencer,adrifterlikeallhisbreed,hadbeenpulledfromtheendlesstaskofstringingtautwirebetweenpostsinthepaddockstorepairthehomestead’swhitepicketsfortheparty.Awedatthesummons,theycamewithinafewminutesandstoodinworktrousers,bracesandflannelundershirts,hatsscrewednervouslyintheirhands.

           "Canbothofyouwrite?"askedMrs.Carson.

           Theynodded,swallowed.

           "Good.Iwantyoutowatchmesignthispieceofpaper,thenfixyourownnamesandaddressesjustbelowmysignature.Doyouunderstand?"

           Theynodded.

           "Makesureyousignthewayyoualwaysdo,andprintyourpermanentaddressesclearly.Idon’tcareifit’sapostofficegeneraldeliveryorwhat,solongasyoucanbereachedthroughit."