Поющие в терновнике

           "Butyoucan’ttellmesomeofthesquattersoffotherstationshaven’ttriedtogetyoutocometotheodddancewiththem.StockmenIcanunderstand,you’reacutabovetheusualstockman’sinclinations,butsomeofthesheepcockiesmusthavegivenyouthegladeye."

           "IfI’macutabovestockmen,whydidyouaskme?"sheparried.

           "Oh,I’vegotallthecheekintheworld."Hegrinned."Comeonnow,don’tchangethesubject.TheremustbeafewblokesaroundGillywho’veasked."

           "Afew,"sheadmitted."ButI’vereallyneverwantedtogo.Youpushedmeintoit."

           "Thentherestofthemaresillierthanpetsnakes,"hesaid."IknowagoodthingwhenIseeit."

           Shewasn’ttoosurethatshecaredforthewayhetalked,butthetroublewithLukewasthathewasahardmantoputdown.

           Everyonecametoawoolsheddance,fromsquatters’sonsanddaughterstostockmenandtheirwivesifany,maidservants,governesses,towndwellersofallagesandsexes.Forinstance,thesewereoccasionswhenfemaleschoolteachersgottheopportunitytofraternizewiththestock-and-station-agentapprentices,thebankjohnniesandtherealbushiesoffthestations.

           Thegrandmannersreservedformoreformalaffairswerenotinevidenceatall.