Поющие в терновнике

           "Butevenpriestshaveholidays,don’tthey?HeusedtoloveDroghedaso,I’msurehe’dwanttospendhisholidayshere."

           "Inonewaypriestshaveholidays,Meggie,butinanotherwaythey’reneveroffduty.Forinstance,everydayoftheirlivestheyhavetosayMass,evenifquitealone.IthinkFatherdeBricassartisaverywiseman,andknowsthatit’sneverpossibletogobacktoawayoflifethat’sgone.Forhim,weeMeggie,Drogheda’sabitofthepast.Ifhecameback,itwouldn’tgivehimthesamesortofpleasureitusedto."

           "Youmeanhe’sforgottenus,"shesaiddully.

           "No,notreally.Ifhehad,hewouldn’twritesooften,ordemandnewsabouteachofus."Heturnedinhissaddle,hisblueeyespitying."Ithinkit’sbestthathedoesn’tevercomeback,soIdon’tencouragehimtothinkofitbyinvitinghim."

           "Daddy!"

           Paddyplungedintomuddywatersdoggedly."Look,Meggie,it’swrongforyoutodreamaboutapriest,andit’stimeyouunderstoodthat.You’vekeptyoursecretprettywell,Idon’tthinkanyoneelseknowshowyoufeelabouthim,butit’stomeyourquestionscome,isn’tit?Notmany,butenough.Nowtakeitfromme,you’vegottostop,hearit?FatherdeBricassarttookholyvowsIknowhehasabsolutelynointentionofbreaking,andyou’vemistakenhisfondnessforyou.Hewasagrownmanwhenhemetyou,andyouwerealittlegirl.Well,that’showhethinksofyou,Meggie,tothisveryday."

           Shedidn’tanswer,nordidherfacechange.