Поющие в терновнике

           Heneverrememberedseeingthemwithoutatleastonechildsomewherearound,andthoughtitmustbehardontheparentsoflargefamilies,neverabletosnatchmomentsalonesaveinthebedroom,wheretheymightexcusablyhaveotherthingsthanconversationontheirminds.Paddywasalwayscheerfulandjolly,butFeetonightalmostliterallyshone,andwhenPaddywenttobegadutydanceofsomesquatter’swife,shedidn’tlackeagerpartners;thereweremanymuchyoungerwomenwiltingonchairsaroundtheroomwhowerenotsosoughtafter.

           However,FatherRalph’smomentstoobservetheClearyparentswerelimited.FeelingtenyearsyoungeroncehesawMeggieleavetheroom,hebecameagreatdealmoreanimatedandflabbergastedtheMissesHopeton,Mackail,GordonandO’Marabydancing—andextremelywell—theBlackBottomwithMissCarmichael.Butafterthathegaveeveryunattachedgirlintheroomherturn,evenpoorhomelyMissPugh,andsincebythistimeeveryonewasthoroughlyrelaxedandoozinggoodwill,noonecondemnedthepriestonebit.Infact,hiszealandkindnessweremuchadmiredandcommentedupon.NoonecouldsaytheirdaughterhadnothadanopportunitytodancewithFatherdeBricassart.Ofcourse,haditnotbeenaprivatepartyhecouldnothavemadeamovetowardthedancefloor,butitwassonicetoseesuchafinemanreallyenjoyhimselfforonce.

           Atthreeo’clockMaryCarsonrosetoherfeetandyawned."No,don’tstopthefestivities!IfI’mtired—whichIam—Icangotobed,whichiswhatI’mgoingtodo.