Поющие в терновнике

           Ifonlyshewouldlookup,givehimabetterchancetoseethatface!Justthenshedid,withsuchalookonitthathisbrowscametogether,puzzled;notasifshehatedhim,exactly,butasifshewastryingtoseesomethingandcouldn’t,orhadseensomethingandwishedshehadn’t.Orwhatever.Itseemedtoupsether,anyway.Lukewasnotusedtobeingweighedinafemininebalanceandfoundwanting.Caughtnaturallyinadelicioustrapofsunset-goldhairandsofteyes,hisinterestonlyfedonherdispleasureanddisappointment.Stillshewaswatchinghim,pinkmouthfallenslightlyopen,asilkydewofsweatonherupperlipandforeheadbecauseitwassohot,herreddish-goldbrowsarchedinseekingwonderment.

           HegrinnedtorevealFatherRalph’sbigwhiteteeth;yetitwasnotFatherRalph’ssmile."Doyouknowyoulookexactlylikeababy,alloh!andah!?"

           Shelookedaway."I’msorry,Ididn’tmeantostare.Youremindedmeofsomeone,that’sall."

           "Stareallyoulike.It’sbetterthanlookingatthetopofyourhead,prettythoughthatmightbe.WhodoIremindyouof?"

           "Nooneimportant.It’sjuststrange,seeingsomeonefamiliarandyetterriblyunfamiliar."

           "What’syourname,littleMissCleary?"

           "Meggie."

           "Meggie…Ithasn’tgotenoughdignity,itdoesn’tsuityouabit.I’dratheryouwerecalledsomethinglikeBelindaorMadeline,butifMeggie’sthebestyou’vegottooffer,I’llgoforit.What’stheMeggiestandfor—Margaret?"

           "No,Meghann."