Поющие в терновнике

           Onlythereceptionroomexceededitinsize,foritwasfortyfeetlongandthirtywide,andhadafifteen-footceiling.Itwasacuriousmixtureofthebestandtheworstinitsdecoration,paintedauniformcreamwhichhadyellowedanddidnothingtoemphasizethemagnificentmoldingsontheceilingorthecarvedpanelingonthewalls.Theenormousfloor-to-ceilingwindowsthatmarcheduninterruptedlyforfortyfeetalongtheverandasidewereheavilycurtainedinbrownvelvet,castingadeepgloomoverthedingybrownchairs,twostunningmalachitebenchesandtwoequallybeautifulbenchesinFlorentinemarble,andamassivefireplaceofcreammarbleveinedindeeppink.OnthepolishedteakfloorthreeAubussoncarpetshadbeensquaredwithgeometricalprecision,andaWaterfordchandeliersixfeetlongtouchedtheceiling,itschainbunchedroundit.

           "Youaretobecommended,Mrs.Smith,"Feepronounced."It’spositivelyawful,butspotlesslyclean.Ishallgiveyousomethingworthcaringfor.Thosepricelessbencheswithoutanythingtosetthemoff—it’sashame!SincethedayIsawthisroom,I’velongedtomakeitintosomethingeverypersonwhowalksintoitwilladmire,andyetcomfortableenoughtomakeeverypersonwhowalksintoitwanttoremain."

           MaryCarson’deskwasaVictorianhideousness;Feewalkedtoitandthephonewhichstooduponit,flickingitsgloomywoodcontemptuously."Myescritoirewilldobeautifullyhere,"shesaid.