Поющие в терновнике

           Yes,hethought,she’sFee’sdaughter,allright.

           Afterawhileshesaidtautly,"Buthecouldstopbeingapriest.It’sjustthatIhaven’thadachancetotalktohimaboutit."

           TheshockonPaddy’sfacewastoogenuinenottobelieveit,soMeggiefounditmoreconvincingthanhiswords,vehementthoughtheywere.

           "Meggie!Oh,goodGod,that’stheworstofthisbushexistence!Yououghttobeinschool,mygirl,andifAuntieMaryhaddiedsoonerIwouldhavepackedyouofftoSydneyintimetogetatleastacoupleofyearsunderyourbelt.Butyou’retooold,aren’tyou?Iwouldn’thavethemlaughatyouatyourage,poorweeMeggie."Hecontinuedmoregently,spacinghiswordstogivethemasharp,lucidcruelty,thoughitwasnothisintentiontobecruel,onlytodispelillusionsonceandforall."FatherdeBricassartisapriest,Meggie.Hecannever,neverstopbeingapriest,understandthat.Thevowshetookaresacred,toosolemntobreak.Onceamanisapriesttherecanbenoturningaway,andhissupervisorsintheseminarymakeabsolutelysurethatheknowswhathe’sswearingbeforehedoes.Amanwhotakesthosevowsknowsbeyondanydoubtthatoncetakentheycan’tbebroken,ever.FatherdeBricassarttookthem,andhe’llneverbreakthem."Hesighed."Nowyouknow,Meggie,don’tyou?FromthismomentyouhavenoexcusetodaydreamaboutFatherdeBricassart."