Поющие в терновнике

           Meggieisanidea,Mary,anidea!"

           Buttheoldwomansneered."Idon’twanttotalkaboutyourpreciousMeggie!Ishallneverseeyouagain,soIdon’twanttowastemytimewithyoutalkingabouther.Theletter.Iwantyoutoswearonyourvowsasapriestthatyoudon’topenituntilyou’veseenmydeadbodyforyourself,butthenthatyouopenitimmediately,beforeyouburyme.Swear!"

           "There’snoneedtoswear,Mary.I’lldoasyouask."

           "SweartomeorI’lltakeitback!"

           Heshrugged."Allright,then.OnmyvowsasapriestIswearit.NottoopentheletteruntilI’veseenyoudead,andthentoopenitbeforeyou’reburied."

           "Good,good!"

           "Mary,pleasedon’tworry.Thisisafancyofyours,nomore.Inthemorningyou’lllaughatit."

           "Iwon’tseethemorning.I’mgoingtodietonight;I’mnotweakenoughtowaitonthepleasureofseeingyouagain.Whatananticlimax!I’mgoingtobednow.Willyoutakemetothetopofthestairs?"

           Hedidn’tbelieveher,buthecouldseeitservednopurposetoargue,andshewasnotinthemoodtobejolliedoutofit.OnlyGoddecidedwhenonewoulddie,unless,ofthefreewillHehadgiven,onetookone’sownlife.Andshehadsaidshewouldn’tdothat.Sohehelpedherpantupthestairsandatthetoptookherhandsinhis,benttokissthem.

           Shepulledthemaway."No,nottonight.