Поющие в терновнике

           "Doesheremindyouofanyone?"Meggieaskedidly,flatonherstomachonthecarpetreadingabook.

           Feeconsideredthequestionforamoment."Well,Isupposehe’sabitlikeFatherdeBricassart.Thesamebuild,thesamecoloring.Butitisn’tastrikinglikeness;they’retoodifferentasmen.

           "Meggie,Iwishyou’dsitinachairlikealadytoread!Justbecauseyou’reinjodhpursyoudon’thavetoforgetmodestyentirely."

           "Pooh!"saidMeggie."Asifanyonenotices!"

           Andsoitwent.Therewasalikeness,butthemenbehindthefacesweresounalikeonlyMeggiewasplaguedbyit,forshewasinlovewithoneofthemandresentedfindingtheotherattractive.Inthekitchenshefoundhewasaprimefavorite,andalsodiscoveredhowhecouldaffordtheluxuryofwearingwhiteshirtsandwhitebreechesintothepaddocks;Mrs.Smithwashedandironedthemforhim,succumbingtohisready,beguilingcharm.

           "Och,whatafineIrishmanheisandall!"Minniesighedecstatically.

           "He’sanAustralian,"saidMeggieprovocatively.

           "Bornhere,maybe,MissMeggiedarlin’,butwit’anamelikeO’Neillnow,he’sasIrishasPaddy’spigs,notmeanin’anydisrespecttoyersaintedfather,MissMeggie,mayherestinpeaceandsingwit’theangels.Mr.LukenotIrish,andhimwit’thatblackhair,thimblueeyes?IntheolddaystheO’NeillswasthekingsofIreland."

           "IthoughttheO’Connorswere,"saidMeggieslyly.

           Minnie’sroundlittleeyestwinkled."Ah,wellnow,MissMeggie,’twasabigcountryandall."