Поющие в терновнике

           Untilnowshehadmanagedtorefuseinvitations,formenlikeEnochDaviesandAlastairMacQueenwereeasytodiscouragewithafirmno.Theydidn’thaveLukeO’Neill’sgall.

           ButasshestaredatherselfinthemirrorshethoughtshejustmightgointoGillynextweekwhenMummadeherusualtrip,visitoldGertandhavehermakeupafewnewfrocks.

           Forshehatedwearingthisdress;ifshehadownedoneotherevenremotelysuitable,itwouldhavebeenoffinasecond.Othertimes,adifferentblack-hairedman;itwassotiedupwithloveanddreams,tearsandloneliness,thattowearitforsuchaoneasLukeO’Neillseemedadesecration.Shehadgrownusedtohidingwhatshefelt,toappearingalwayscalmandoutwardlyhappy.Self-controlwasgrowingaroundherthickerthanbarkonatree,andsometimesinthenightshewouldthinkofhermother,andshiver.

           WouldsheenduplikeMum,cutofffromallfeeling?WasthishowitbeganforMumbackinthedayswhentherewasFrank’sfather?AndwhatonearthwouldMumdo,whatwouldshesayifsheknewMeggiehadlearnedthetruthaboutFrank?Oh,thatsceneinthepresbytery!Itseemedlikeyesterday,DaddyandFrankfacingeachother,andRalphholdinghersohardhehurt.Shoutingthoseawfulthings.Everythinghadfallenintoplace.Meggiethoughtshemustalwayshaveknown,onceshedid.Shehadgrownupenoughtorealizetherewasmoretogettingbabiesthansheusedtothink;somesortofphysicalcontactabsolutelyforbiddenbetweenanybutamarriedcouple.