Поющие в терновнике

           Fascinated,terrified,meaningtofreehimselfatanycost,hepulledherheadaway;butsomehowallhesucceededindoingwashavingherbackinhisarms,asnakecoiledtightlyabouthiswill,stranglingit.Painwasforgotten,Churchwasforgotten,Godwasforgotten.Hefoundhermouth,forceditopenhungrily,wantingmoreandmoreofher,notabletoholdhercloseenoughtoassuagetheghastlydrivegrowinginhim.Shegavehimherneck,baredhershoulderswheretheskinwascool,smootherandglossierthansatin;itwaslikedrowning,sinkingdeeperanddeeper,gaspingandhelpless.Mortalitypresseddownonhim,agreatweightcrushinghissoul,liberatingthebitterdarkwineofhissensesinasuddenflood.Hewantedtoweep;thelastofhisdesiretrickledawayundertheburdenofhismortality,andhewrenchedherarmsfromabouthiswretchedbody,satbackonhisheelswithhisheadsunkenforward,seemingtobecomeutterlyabsorbedinwatchinghishandstrembleonhisknees.Meggie,whathaveyoudonetome,whatmightyoudotomeifIletyou?

           "Meggie,Iloveyou,Ialwayswill.ButI’mapriest,Ican’t…Ijustcan’t!"

           Shegottoherfeetquickly,straightenedherblouse,stoodlookingdownathimandsmilingatwistedsmilewhichonlythrewthefailedpaininhereyesintogreateremphasis.

           "It’sallright,Ralph.I’llgoandseeifMrs.Smithcangetyousomethingtoeat,thenI’llbringyouthehorseliniment.It’smarvelousforbringingoutabruise;stopsthesorenessmuchbetterthankissesevercould,Idaresay."