Поющие в терновнике

           "Frank,don’tgetgrandideas.Theyonlyleadtotrouble.We’reworking-classpeople,whichmeanswedon’tgetrichorhavemaids.Becontentwithwhatyouareandwhatyouhave.Whenyousaythingslikethisyou’reinsultingDaddy,andhedoesn’tdeserveit.Youknowthat.Hedoesn’tdrink,hedoesn’tgamble,andheworksawfullyhardforus.Notapennyheearnsgoesintohisownpocket.Itallcomestous."

           Themuscularshouldershunchedimpatiently,thedarkfacebecameharshandgrim."Butwhyshouldwantingmoreoutoflifethandrudgerybesobad?Idon’tseewhat’swrongwithwishingyouhadamaid."

           "It’swrongbecauseitcan’tbe!Youknowthere’snomoneytokeepyouatschool,andifyoucan’tstayatschoolhowareyouevergoingtobeanythingbetterthanamanualworker?Youraccent,yourclothesandyourhandsshowthatyoulaborforaliving.Butit’snodisgracetohavecallusesonyourhands.AsDaddysays,whenaman’shandsarecallusedyouknowhe’shonest."

           Frankshruggedandsaidnomore.Thedisheswereallputaway;FeegotouthersewingbasketandsatdowninPaddy’schairbythefire,whileFrankwentbacktothedoll.

           "PoorlittleMeggie!"hesaidsuddenly.

           "Why?"

           "Today,whenthosewretchedchapswerepullingherdollyabout,shejuststoodtherecryingasifherwholeworldhadfallentobits."Helookeddownatthedoll,whichwaswearingitshairagain.