Поющие в терновнике

           ButbeforeIdo,IhopeIgetthechancetotellGodwhatamean,spiteful,pitifulapologyofaGodHeis!"

           "Youwereawidowtoolong.Godgaveyoufreedomofchoice,Mary.Youcouldhaveremarried.Ifyouchosenottoremarryandinconsequenceyou’vebeenintolerablylonely,it’syourowndoing,notGod’s."

           Foramomentshesaidnothing,herhandsgrippingthechairarmshard;thenshebegantorelax,andopenedhereyes.Theyglitteredinthelamplightredly,butnotwithtears;withsomethingharder,morebrilliant.Hecaughthisbreath,feltfear.Shelookedlikeaspider.

           "Ralph,onmydeskisanenvelope.Wouldyoubringittome,please?"

           Achingandafraid,hegotupandwenttoherdesk,liftedtheletter,eyeditcuriously.Thefaceofitwasblank,butthebackhadbeenproperlysealedwithredwaxandherram’sheadsealwiththebigD.Hebroughtittoherandhelditout,butshewavedhimtohisseatwithouttakingit.

           "It’syours,"shesaid,andgiggled."Theinstrumentofyourfate,Ralph,that’swhatitis.Mylastandmosttellingthrustinourlongbattle.WhatapityIwon’tbeheretoseewhathappens.ButIknowwhatwillhappen,becauseIknowyou,IknowyoumuchbetterthanyouthinkIdo.Insufferableconceit!Insidethatenvelopeliesthefateofyourlifeandyoursoul.ImustloseyoutoMeggie,butI’vemadesureshedoesn’tgetyou,either."

           "WhydoyouhateMeggieso?"

           "Itoldyouoncebefore.Becauseyouloveher."

           "Notinthatway!She’sthechildIcanneverhave,theroseofmylife.