Поющие в терновнике

           Faith’sborninamanorawoman,Ithink.Formeit’saconstantstruggle,Iadmitthat,butI’llnevergiveup."

           "Iwouldliketodestroyyou."

           Hisblueeyeslaughed,greyedinthelight."Oh,mydearMary!Iknowthat."

           "Butdoyouknowwhy?"

           Aterrifyingtendernesscreptagainsthim,almostinsidehim,exceptthathefoughtitfiercely."Iknowwhy,Mary,andbelieveme,I’msorry."

           "Besidesyourmother,howmanywomenhavelovedyou?"

           "Didmymotherloveme,Iwonder?Sheendedinhatingme,anyway.Mostwomendo.MynameoughttohavebeenHippolytos."

           "Oh!Thattellsmealot!"

           "Astootherwomen,IthinkonlyMeggie…Butshe’salittlegirl.It’sprobablynotanexaggerationtosayhundredsofwomenhavewantedme,butlovedme?Idoubtitverymuch."

           "Ihavelovedyou,"shesaidpathetically.

           "No,youhaven’t.I’mthegoadofyouroldage,that’sall.WhenyoulookatmeIremindyouofwhatyoucannotdo,becauseofage."

           "You’rewrong.Ihavelovedyou.God,howmuch!Doyouthinkmyyearsautomaticallyprecludeit?Well,FatherdeBricassart,letmetellyousomething.InsidethisstupidbodyI’mstillyoung—Istillfeel,Istillwant,Istilldream,Istillkickupmyheelsandchafeatrestrictionslikemybody.OldageisthebitterestvengeanceourvengefulGodinflictsuponus.Whydoesn’tHeageourmindsaswell?"Sheleanedbackinherchairandclosedhereyes,herteethshowingsourly."IshallgotoHell,ofcourse.