Поющие в терновнике
Chapter 7
Andhewantedtogetupthatverymomenttoburnbothdocuments,neverreadwhatthesecondonecontained.Butshehadgaugedherquarrywell,thegrossoldspider.Ofcoursehewouldreadon;hewastoocurioustoresist.God!Whathadheeverdone,tomakeherwanttodothistohim?Whydidwomenmakehimsufferso?Whycouldn’thehavebeenbornsmall,twisted,ugly?Ifhewereso,hemighthavebeenhappy.
Thelasttwosheetswerecoveredbythesameprecise,almostminutewriting.Asmeanandgrudgingashersoul.
I,MaryElizabethCarson,beingofsoundmindandsoundbody,doherebydeclarethatthisismylastwillandtestament,therebyrenderingnullandvoidanysuchtestamentspreviouslymadebyme.
Saveonlyforthespecialbequestsmadebelow,allmyworldlygoodsandmoneysandpropertiesIbequeathtotheHolyCatholicChurchofRome,undertheherebystatedconditionsofbequest:
First,thatthesaidHolyCatholicChurchofRome,tobecalledtheChurchhereafter,knowsinwhatesteemandwithwhataffectionIholdherpriest,FatherRalphdeBricassart.Itissolelybecauseofhiskindness,spiritualguidanceandunfailingsupportthatIsodisposeofmyassets.
Secondly,thatthebequestshallcontinueinthefavoroftheChurchonlysolongassheappreciatestheworthandabilityofthesaidFatherRalphdeBricassart.
Thirdly,thatthesaidFatherRalphdeBricassartberesponsiblefortheadministrationandchannelingofthesemyworldlygoods,moneysandproperties,asthechiefauthorityinchargeofmyestate.
