Поющие в терновнике

           Thoughshedidn’thearthecomments,Lukedid,secretlylaughing.Whatadamnedcheekthefellowhad,anordinarystockman,stealingherfromundertheirnoses!DisapprovalmeantnothingtoLuke.Theyhadhadtheirchances;iftheyhadn’tmadethemostofthem,hardluck.

           Thelastdancewasawaltz.LuketookMeggie’shandandputhisarmaboutherwaist,drewheragainsthim.Hewasanexcellentdancer.Tohersurpriseshefoundshedidn’tneedtodoanythingmorethanfollowwherehepropelledher.Anditwasamostextraordinarysensationtobeheldsoagainstaman,tofeelthemusclesofhischestandthighs,toabsorbhisbodywarmth.HerbriefcontactswithFatherRalphhadbeensointenseshehadnothadtimetoperceivediscretethings,andshehadhonestlythoughtthatwhatshefeltinhisarmsshewouldneverfeelinanyoneelse’s.Yetthoughthiswasquitedifferent,itwasexciting;herpulseratehadgoneup,andsheknewhesenseditbythewayheturnedhersuddenly,grippedhermoreclosely,puthischeekonherhair.

           AstheRollspurredhome,makinglightofthebumpytrackandsometimesnotrackatall,theydidn’tspeakverymuch.BraichyPwllwasseventymilesfromDrogheda,acrosspaddockswithneverahousetobeseenalltheway,nolightsofsomeone’shome,nointrusionofhumanity.TheridgewhichcutacrossDroghedawasnotmorethanahundredfeethigherthantherestoftheland,butoutontheblack-soilplainstoreachthecrestofitwaslikebeingontopofanAlptoaSwiss.