Поющие в терновнике

           AfterawhilesheforgotthatFatherRalphhadsmiledsowiththesamemouth,whileLukesmiledthus,thatFatherRalph’svividblueeyeshadhadadistantstillnesstothemwhileLuke’sglitteredwithrestlesspassion.Shewasyoungandshehadneverquitegottosavorlove,ifforamomentortwoshehadtastedit.Shewantedtorollitroundonhertongue,getthebouquetofitintoherlungs,spinitdizzyingtoherbrain.FatherRalphwasBishopRalph;hewouldnever,nevercomebacktoher.Hehadsoldherforthirteenmillionpiecesofsilver,anditrankled.Ifhehadn’tusedthephrasethatnightbytheboreheadshewouldnothavewondered,buthehadusedit,andcountlesswerethenightssincewhenshehadlainpuzzlingastowhathecouldpossiblyhavemeant.

           AndherhandsitchedwiththefeelofLuke’sbackwhenheheldhercloseinadance;shewasstirredbyhim,histouch,hiscrispvitality.Oh,sheneverfeltthatdarkliquidfireinherbonesforhim,sheneverthoughtthatifshedidn’tseehimagainshewouldwitheranddryup,shenevertwitchedandtrembledbecausehelookedather.ButshehadgrowntoknowmenlikeEnochDavies,LiamO’Rourke,AlastairMacQueenbetterasLukesquiredhertomoreandmoreofthedistrictaffairs,andnoneofthemmovedherthewayLukeO’Neilldid.Iftheyweretallenoughtoobligehertolookup,theywouldturnoutnottohaveLuke’seyes,oriftheyhadthesamesortofeyes,theywouldn’thavehishair.