Поющие в терновнике

           Foronethinghewaspainfullyshy,andforanotherheseemedutterlywrappedintheland,apparentlypreferringtoloveitwithoutdistraction.JackandHughiegrewmoreandmorelikehim;indeed,theycouldhavepassedfortripletsastheysattogetherononeofthehardmarblebenches,theclosesttocomfortablehouseboundrelaxationtheycouldget.Theyseemedactuallytoprefercampingoutinthepaddocks,andwhensleepingathomestretchedoutonthefloorsoftheirbedrooms,frightenedthatbedsmightsoftenthem.Thesun,thewindandthedrynesshadweatheredtheirfair,freckledskinstoasortofmottledmahogany,inwhichtheirblueeyesshonepaleandtranquil,withthedeepcreasesbesidethemspeakingofgazingintofardistancesandsilver-beigegrass.Itwasalmostimpossibletotellwhatagetheywere,orwhichwastheoldestandwhichtheyoungest.EachhadPaddy’sRomannoseandkindhomelyface,butbetterbodiesthanPaddy’s,whichhadbeenstoopedandarm-elongatedfromsomanyyearsshearing.Theyhaddevelopedthespare,easybeautyofhorsemeninstead.Yetforwomenandcomfortandpleasuretheydidnotpine.

           "Isthenewmanmarried?"askedFee,drawingneatlineswitharulerandared-inkedpen.

           "Dunno,didn’task.Knowtomorrowwhenhecomes."

           "Howishegettinghere?"

           "Jimmy’sdrivinghimout;gottoseeaboutthoseoldwethersinTankstand."

           "Well,let’shopehestaysawhile.Ifhe’snotmarriedhe’llbeoffagaininafewweeks,Isuppose.Wretchedpeople,stockmen,"saidFee.