Поющие в терновнике

           "Agnes!Whereonearthdidshegetanamelikethat?"

           "ShemusthaveheardmetalkingaboutAgnesFortescue-Smythe,Isuppose."

           "WhenIgaveherthedollbackshelookedintoitsheadandnearlydiedoffright.Somethingscaredheraboutitseyes;Idon’tknowwhat."

           "Meggie’salwaysseeingthingsthataren’tthere."

           "It’sapitythereisn’tenoughmoneytokeepthelittlechildrenatschool.They’resoclever."

           "Oh,Frank!Ifwisheswerehorsesbeggarsmightride,"hismothersaidwearily.Shepassedherhandacrosshereyes,tremblingalittle,andstuckherdarningneedledeepintoaballofgreywool."Ican’tdoanymore.I’mtootriedtoseestraight."

           "Gotobed,Mum.I’llblowoutthelamps."

           "AssoonasI’vestokedthefire."

           "I’lldothat."Hegotupfromthetableandputthedaintychinadollcarefullydownbehindacaketinonthedresser,whereitwouldbeoutofharm’sway.Hewasnotworriedthattheboysmightattemptfurtherrapine;theyweremorefrightenedofhisvengeancethanoftheirfather’s,forFrankhadaviciousstreak.Whenhewaswithhismotherorhissisteritneverappeared,buttheboyshadallsufferedfromit.

           Feewatchedhim,herheartaching;therewassomethingwildanddesperateaboutFrank,anauraoftrouble.IfonlyheandPaddygotonbettertogether!Buttheycouldneverseeeyetoeye,andarguedconstantly.Maybehewastooconcernedforher,maybehewasabitofamother’sboy.Herfault,ifitwastrue.Yetitspokeofhislovingheart,hisgoodness.