Поющие в терновнике

           "Well,Iwassickalloverthetableanditwentrightthroughtomydrawers,soMumhadtowashmeandchangemydress,andImadeusalllate,"Meggieexplainedartlessly.

           SisterAgatha’sfeaturesremainedexpressionless,buthermouthtightenedlikeanoverwoundspring,andthetipofthecanelowereditselfaninchortwo."Whoisthis?"shesnappedtoBob,asiftheobjectofherinquirywereanewandparticularlyobnoxiousspeciesofinsect.

           "Please,Sister,she’smysisterMeghann."

           "Theninfutureyouwillmakeherunderstandthattherearecertainsubjectswedonotevermention,Robert,ifwearetrueladiesandgentlemen.Onnoaccountdoweever,evermentionbynameanyitemofourunderclothing,aschildrenfromadecenthouseholdwouldautomaticallyknow.Holdoutyourhands,allofyou."

           "But,Sister,itwasmyfault!"Meggiewailedassheextendedherhandspalmsup,forshehadseenherbrothersdoitinpantomimeathomeathousandtimes.

           "Silence!"SisterAgathahissed,turningonher."Itisamatterofcompleteindifferencetomewhichoneofyouwasresponsible.Youarealllate,thereforeyoumustallbepunished.Sixcuts."Shepronouncedthesentencewithmonotonousrelish.

           Terrified,MeggiewatchedBob’ssteadyhands,sawthelongcanewhistledownalmostfasterthanhereyescouldfollow,andcracksharplyagainstthecenterofhispalms,wherethefleshwassoftandtender.