Поющие в терновнике

           "I’mgoingtostartwiththisroom,andwhenit’sfinishedI’llmoveupfromthecreek,notbefore.Thenatleastwe’llhaveoneplacewherewecancongregatewithoutbeingdepressed."Shesatdownandpluckedthereceiveroffitshook.

           Whileherdaughterandherservantsstoodinasmallbewilderedhuddle,sheproceededtosetHarryGoughinmotion.MarkFoyswouldsendfabricsamplesonthenightmail;Nock&Kirbyswouldsendpaintsamples;GraceBrotherswouldsendwallpapersamples;theseandotherSydneystoreswouldsendcataloguesspeciallycompiledforher,describingtheirlinesoffurnishings.Laughterinhisvoice,HarryguaranteedtoproduceacompetentupholstererandateamofpainterscapableofdoingthemeticulousworkFeedemanded.GoodforMrs.Cleary!ShewasgoingtosweepMaryCarsonrightoutofthehouse.

           Thephoningfinished,everyonewasdirectedtoripdownthebrownvelvetcurtainsatonce.OuttheywentontotherubbishheapinanorgyofwastefulnessFeesupervisedpersonally,evenputtingthetorchtothemherself.

           "Wedon’tneedthem,"shesaid,"andI’mnotgoingtoinflictthemontheGillanbonepoor."

           "Yes,Mum,"saidMeggie,paralyzed.

           "We’renotgoingtohaveanycurtains,"saidFee,notatalldisturbedoveraflagrantbreachofthedecoratingcustomsofthetime."Theveranda’sfartoodeeptoletthesuncomeindirectly,sowhydoweneedcurtains?Iwantthisroomtobeseen."