Поющие в терновнике

           "Itistoomuch,"shesaidatlast,andlookedupatBobwiththerainrunningdownherfaceandherhairinstragglingwispsaroundhernecklikegoldenrunnels."Letmegotothem,Bob.Iamthewifeofoneandthemotherofone.Youcan’tkeepmeaway—youhavenorighttokeepmeaway.Letmegotothem."

           Meggiehadquietened,andstoodwithinJack’sarmswithherheadonhisshoulder.AsFeebegantowalkacrosstheruinswithBob’sarmaroundherwaist,Meggielookedafterthem,butshemadenomovetofollow.Hughieappearedoutofthedimmingrain;JacknoddedtowardhismotherandBob.

           "Goafterthem,Hughie,staywiththem.MeggieandIaregoingbacktoDrogheda,tobringthedray."HeletMeggiego,andhelpedherontothechestnutmare."Comeon,Meggie;it’snearlydark.Wecan’tleavethemoutallnightinthis,andtheywon’tgountilwegetback."

           ***

           Itwasimpossibletoputthedrayoranythingelsewheeleduponthemud;intheendJackandoldTomchainedasheetofcorrugatedironbehindtwodrafthorses,TomleadingtheteamonastockhorsewhileJackrodeaheadwiththebiggestlampDroghedapossessed.

           MeggiestayedatthehomesteadandsatinfrontofthedrawingroomfirewhileMrs.Smithtriedtopersuadehertoeat,tearsrunningdownherfacetoseethegirl’sstill,silentshock,thewayshedidnotweep.