Поющие в терновнике

           ToMinervaO’BrienandCatherineDonnelly,thattheyremainatfairsalariessolongastheydesire,andinadditionthattheybepaidthesumofonethousandpoundseachforthwith,andthatupontheirretirementstheybeawardedequitablepensions.

           ToFatherRalphdeBricassartthesumoftenthousandpoundstobepaidannuallysolongasheshalllive,forhisownprivateandunquestioneduse.

           Itwasdulysigned,datedandwitnessed.

           Hisroomlookedwest.Thesunwassetting.Thepallofdustwhichcamewitheverysummerfilledthesilentair,andthesunthrustitsfingersthroughthefine-strungparticlessothatitseemedthewholeworldhadturnedtogoldandpurple.Streakycloudsrimmedinbrilliantfirepokedsilverstreamersacrossthegreatbloodyballwhichhungjustabovethetreesofthefarpaddocks.

           "Bravo!"hesaid."Iadmit,Mary,you’vebeatenme.Amasterstroke.Iwasthefool,notyou."

           Hecouldnotseethepagesinhishandthroughthetears,andmovedthembeforetheycouldbeblotched.Thirteenmillionpounds.Thirteenmillionpounds!ItwasindeedwhathehadbeenanglingforinthedaysbeforeMeggie.Andwithhercominghehadabandonedit,becausehecouldn’tcarryonsuchacampaignincoldbloodtocheatherofherinheritance.Butwhatifhehadknownhowmuchtheoldspiderwasworth?Whatthen?Hehadnoideaitwasatenthsomuch.Thirteenmillionpounds!

           ForsevenyearsPaddyandhisfamilyhadlivedintheheadstockman’shouseandworkedthemselvesraggedforMaryCarson.