Поющие в терновнике

           Onmymouth,Ralph!Kissmymouthasifwewerelovers!"

           Bythebrilliantlightofthechandelier,litforthepartywithfourhundredwaxcandles,shesawthedisgustinhisface,theinstinctiverecoil;shewantedtodiethen,wantedtodiesobadlyshecouldnotwait.

           "Mary,I’mapriest!Ican’t!"

           Shelaughedshrilly,eerily."Oh,Ralph,whatashamyouare!Shamman,shampriest!Andtothinkonceyouactuallyhadthetemeritytooffertomakelovetome!WereyousopositiveI’drefuse?HowIwishIhadn’t!I’dgivemysoultoseeyouwriggleoutofitifwecouldhavethatnightbackagain!Sham,sham,sham!That’sallyouare,Ralph!Animpotent,uselesssham!Impotentmanandimpotentpriest!Idon’tthinkyoucouldgetitupandkeepitupfortheBlessedVirginherself!Haveyouevermanagedtogetitup,FatherdeBricassart?Sham!"

           ***

           Outsideitwasnotyetdawn,orthelighteningbeforeit.Darknesslaysoft,thickandveryhotoverDrogheda.Therevelswerebecomingextremelynoisy;ifthehomesteadhadpossessednext-doorneighborsthepolicewouldhavebeencalledlongsince.Someonewasvomitingcopiouslyandrevoltinglyontheveranda,andunderawispybottlebrushtwoindistinctformswerelockedtogether.FatherRalphavoidedthevomiterandthelovers,treadingsilentlyacrossthespringynew-mownlawnwithsuchtormentinhismindhedidnotknoworcarewherehewasgoing.Onlythathewantedtobeawayfromher,theawfuloldspiderwhowasconvincedshewasspinningherdeathcocoononthisexquisitenight.