Поющие в терновнике

           Herbodyseemedtoloseallitsbones,becomefluid,awarmmeltingdarkness;oneofhisarmswasclampedroundherwaist,theotheracrossherbackwithitshandonherskull,inherhair,holdingherfaceuptohisasiffrightenedshewouldgofromhiminthatverymoment,beforehecouldgraspandcataloguethisunbelievablepresencewhowasMeggie.Meggie,andnotMeggie,tooalientobefamiliar,forhisMeggiewasn’tawoman,didn’tfeellikeawoman,couldneverbeawomantohim.Justashecouldn’tbeamantoher.

           Thethoughtovercamehisdrowningsenses;hewrenchedherarmsfromabouthisneck,thrustherawayandtriedtoseeherfaceinthedarkness.Butherheadwasdown,shewouldn’tlookathim.

           "It’stimeweweregoing,Meggie,"hesaid.

           Withoutawordsheturnedtoherhorse,mountedandwaitedforhim;usuallyitwashewhowaitedforher.

           ***

           FatherRalphhadbeenright.AtthistimeofyearDroghedawasawashwithroses,sothehousewassmotheredinthem.Byeightthatmorninghardlyonebloomwasleftinthegarden.Thefirstofthemournersbegantoarrivenotlongafterthefinalrosewasplunderedfromitsbush;alightbreakfastofcoffeeandfreshlybaked,butteredrollswaslaidoutinthesmalldiningroom.AfterMaryCarsonwasdepositedinthevaultamoresubstantialrepastwouldbeservedinthebigdiningroom,tofortifythedepartingmournersontheirlongwayshome.Thewordhadgotaround;noneedtodoubttheefficiencyoftheGillygrapevine,whichwasthepartyline.