Поющие в терновнике

           "Ah,nowthat’smorelike!I’llcallyouMeghann."

           "No,youwon’t!"shesnapped."Idetestit!"

           Butheonlylaughed."You’vehadtoomuchofyourownway,littleMissMeghann.IfIwanttocallyouEustaciaSophroniaAugusta,Iwill,youknow."

           Theyhadreachedthestockyards;heslippedoffhisbay,aimingapunchatitssnappingheadwhichrockeditintosubmission,andstood,obviouslywaitingforhertoofferhimherhandssohecouldhelpherdown.Butshetouchedthechestnutmarewithherheelsandwalkedonupthetrack.

           "Don’tyouputthedaintyladywiththecommonoldstockmen?"hecalledafterher.

           "Certainlynot!"sheansweredwithoutturning.

           Oh,itwasn’tfair!EvenonhisowntwofeethewaslikeFatherRalph;astall,asbroadintheshouldersandnarrowinthehips,andwithsomethingofthesamegrace,thoughdifferentlyemployed.FatherRalphmovedlikeadancer,LukeO’Neilllikeanathlete.Hishairwasasthickandblackandcurling,hiseyesasblue,hisnoseasfineandstraight,hismouthaswellcut.AndyethewasnomorelikeFatherRalphthan—than—thanaghostgum,sotallandpaleandsplendid,waslikeabluegum,alsotallandpaleandsplendid.

           AfterthatchancemeetingMeggiekeptherearsopenforopinionsandgossipaboutLukeO’Neill.Bobandtheboyswerepleasedwithhisworkandseemedtogetalongwellwithhim;apparentlyhehadn’talazyboneinhisbody,accordingtoBob.EvenFeebroughthisnameupinconversationoneeveningbyremarkingthathewasaveryhandsomeman.