Поющие в терновнике

           JimsandPatsywereboardingatRiverview,vowingtheywouldn’tstayatschoolaminutelongerthanthefourteenyearsofagewhichwaslegal.TheyburnedforthedaywhentheywouldbeoutinthepaddockswithBob,JackandHughie,whenDroghedacouldrunonfamilyagainandtheoutsiderswouldbewelcometocomeandgoasfrequentlyastheypleased.Sharingthefamilypassionforreadingdidn’tendearRiverviewtothematall;abookcouldbecarriedinasaddlebagorajacketpocketandreadwithfarmorepleasureinthenoondayshadeofawilgathaninaJesuitclassroom.Ithadbeenahardtransitionforthem,boardingschool.Thebigwindowedclassrooms,thespaciousgreenplayingfields,thewealthofgardensandfacilitiesmeantnothingtothem,nordidSydneywithitsmuseums,concerthallsandartgalleries.Theychummedupwiththesonsofothergraziersandspenttheirleisurehourslongingforhome,orboastingaboutthesizeandsplendorofDroghedatoawedbutbelievingears;anyonewestofBurrenJunctionhadheardofmightyDrogheda.

           SeveralweekspassedbeforeMeggiesawthenewstockman.Hisnamehadbeendulyenteredinthebooks,LukeO’Neill,andhewasalreadytalkedaboutinthebighousefarmorethanstockmenusuallywere.Foronething,hehadrefusedtobunkinthejackaroos’barracksbuthadtakenupresidenceinthelastemptyhouseuponthecreek.Foranother,hehadintroducedhimselftoMrs.Smith,andwasinthatlady’sgoodbooks,thoughshedidn’tusuallycareforstockmen.