Поющие в терновнике

           Itwasonlyashefeltthoselovely,omniscienteyesonhimthatherealizedhowpeculiarhemustlook,whysomanypeoplehadstaredathimsincehegotoffthetrainatCentral.WithoutrememberingthesuitcaseFatherWattyThomaswaskeepingforhimatthepresbytery,hehadboardedthenightmailwithtwominutestospareandcomesixhundredmilesinacoldtraincladinshirt,breechesandboots,soakingwet,nevernoticingthechill.Sohelookeddownathimselfwitharuefulsmile,thenacrossattheArchbishop.

           "I’msorry,YourGrace.SomuchhashappenedIdidn’tthinkhowoddImustlook."

           "Don’tapologize,Ralph."Unlikehispredecessor,hepreferredtocallhissecretarybyhisChristianname."Ithinkyoulookveryromanticanddashing.Onlyatrifletoosecular,don’tyouagree?"

           "Verydefinitelyonthesecularbit,anyway.Astotheromanticanddashing,YourGrace,it’sjustthatyou’renotusedtoseeingwhatiscustomarygarbinGillanbone."

           "MydearRalph,ifyoutookitintoyourheadtodonsackclothandashes,you’dmanagetomakeyourselfseemromanticanddashing!Theridinghabitsuitsyou,though,itreallydoes.Almostaswellasasoutane,anddon’twasteyourbreathtellingmeyouaren’tverywellawareitbecomesyoumorethanapriest’sblacksuit.Youhaveapeculiarandamostattractivewayofmoving,andyouhavekeptyourfinefigure;Ithinkperhapsyoualwayswill.IalsothinkthatwhenIamrecalledtoRomeIshalltakeyouwithme.