Поющие в терновнике

           "SowhatI’veassignedtoyouisameredropintheCarsonbucket,anddoesn’tevenamounttoone-tenthofDroghedastationprofitsinayear.Don’tworryaboutbadyears,either.TheDroghedastationaccountissoheavilyintheblackIcanpayyououtofitsinterestforever,ifnecessary.Sowhatmoneycomestoyouisnomorethanyoudeserve,anddoesn’tdentMicharLimited.It’sstationmoneyyou’regetting,notcompanymoney.Irequirenomoreofyouthantokeepthestationbooksuptodateandhonestlyenteredfortheauditors."

           ItwasafterhehadthisparticularletterthatPaddyheldaconferenceinthebeautifuldrawingroomonanightwheneveryonewasathome.Hesatwithhissteel-rimmedreadinghalf-glassesperchedonhisRomannose,inabigcreamchair,hisfeetcomfortablydisposedonamatchingottoman,hispipeinaWaterfordashtray.

           "Hownicethisis."Hesmiled,lookingaroundwithpleasure."IthinkweoughttogiveMumavoteofthanksforit,don’tyou,boys?"

           Thereweremurmursofassentfromthe"boys";FeeinclinedherheadfromwhereshesatinwhathadbeenMaryCarson’swingchair,re-coverednowincreamwateredsilk.Meggiecurledherfeetaroundtheottomanshehadchoseninsteadofachair,andkepthereyesdoggedlyonthesockshewasmending.

           "Well,FatherdeBricassarthassortedeverythingoutandhasbeenverygenerous,"Paddycontinued."He’sputseventhousandpoundsinthebankinmyname,andopenedasavingsaccountforeveryonewithtwothousandpoundsineach.