Поющие в терновнике

           Pleasetakeit,Father."

           "MynameisRalph,"hesaid.Heopenedhislittlesacramentcaseandtookoutthebigmissalwhichwashisownproperty,boundincostlymother-of-pearl.Hisdeadfatherhadgivenittohimathisordination,thirteenlongyearsago.Thepagesfellopenatagreatthickwhiteribbon;heturnedoverseveralmore,laidtherosedown,andshutthebookuponit."Doyouwantakeepsakefromme,Meggie,isthatit?"

           "Yes."

           "Iwon’tgiveyouone.Iwantyoutoforgetme,Iwantyoutolookaroundyourworldandfindsomegoodkindman,marryhim,havethebabiesyouwantsomuch.You’reabornmother.Youmustn’tclingtome,itisn’tright.IcanneverleavetheChurch,andI’mgoingtobecompletelyhonestwithyou,foryourownsake.Idon’twanttoleavetheChurch,becauseIdon’tloveyouthewayahusbandwill,doyouunderstand?Forgetme,Meggie!"

           "Won’tyoukissmegoodbye?"

           Foranswerhepulledhimselfuponthepublican’sbayandwalkedittothedoorbeforeputtingonthepublican’soldfelthat.Hisblueeyesflashedamoment,thenthehorsemovedoutintotherainandslitheredreluctantlyupthetracktowardGilly.Shedidnotattempttofollowhim,butstayedinthegloomofthedampstable,breathinginthesmellsofhorsedungandhay;itremindedherofthebarninNewZealand,andofFrank.

           ***

           ThirtyhourslaterFatherRalphwalkedintotheArchbishopPapalLegate’schamber,crossedtheroomtokisshismaster’sring,andflunghimselfwearilyintoachair.