Поющие в терновнике

           Theyhadcomeinfromthefrontofthehomestead,sothestableswerecloserthanthestockyards;withoutaword,Meggieturnedthechestnutmaretowardthestables,andleftherfathertocontinuealone.Forawhilehekeptturningaroundtolookafterher,butwhenshehaddisappearedinsidethefencearoundthestableshedughisroanintheribsandfinishedhisrideatacanter,hatinghimselfandthenecessityofsayingwhathehad.Damntheman-womanthing!Itseemedtohaveasetofrulesatvariancewithallothers.

           ***

           FatherRalphdeBricassart’svoicewasverycold,yetitwaswarmerthanhiseyes,whichneverveeredfromtheyoungpriest’spallidfaceashespokehisstiff,measuredwords.

           "YouhavenotconductedyourselfasOurLordJesusChristdemandsHispriestsconductthemselves.Ithinkyouknowitbetterthanwewhocensureyoucouldeverknowit,butImuststillcensureyouonbehalfofyourArchbishop,whostandstoyounotonlyasafellowpriestbutasyoursuperior.Youowehimperfectobedience,anditisnotyourplacetoarguewithhissentimentsorhisdecisions.

           "Doyoureallyunderstandthedisgraceyou’vebroughtonyourself,onyourparish,andespeciallyontheChurchyoupurporttolovemorethananyhumanbeing?Yourvowofchastitywasassolemnandbindingasyourothervows,andtobreakitistosingrievously.Youwillneverseethewomanagain,ofcourse,butitbehoovesustoassistyouinyourstrugglestoovercometemptation.