Поющие в терновнике

           "Justaswellthesillyblokeneversawashearerripupasheep’sbellyandsewitwithabalingneedle,"hecomfortedtheembarrassedMrs.O’Rourke."It’snotworthgettingupsetabout,Mrs.Dominic.Downinthecitytheydon’tknowhowtheotherhalflives,andtheycanaffordtheluxuryofdotingontheiranimalsasiftheywerechildren.Outhereit’sdifferent.You’llneverseeman,womanorchildinneedofhelpgoignoredouthere,yetinthecitythosesamepeoplewhodoteontheirpetswillcompletelyignoreacryofhelpfromahumanbeing."

           Feelookedup."He’sright,Mrs.Dominic,"shesaid."Weallhavecontemptforwhateverthere’stoomanyof.Outhereit’ssheep,butinthecityit’speople."

           ***

           OnlyPaddywasfarafieldthatdayinAugustwhenthebigstormbroke.Hegotdownfromhishorse,tiedtheanimalsecurelytoatreeandsatbeneathawilgatowaititout.Shiveringinfear,hisfivedogshuddledtogethernearhim,whilethesheephehadbeenintendingtotransfertoanotherpaddockscatteredintojumpylittlegroupstrottingaimlesslyinalldirections.Anditwasaterriblestorm,reservingtheworstofitsfuryuntilthecenterofthemaelstromwasdirectlyoverhead.Paddystuffedhisfingersinhisears,shuthiseyesandprayed.

           Notfarfromwherehesatwiththedown-droppingwilgaleavesclashingrestlesslyintherisingwindwasasmallcollectionofdeadstumpsandlogssurroundedbytallgrass.