Поющие в терновнике

           Pushedintoadoubledeskinthebackrowoftheyoungestchildren’sclassroom,shedidnotevennoticewhowassharingthedeskuntilafteramiserablelunchhourspenthuddledbehindBobandJackinasecludedcorneroftheplayground.OnlyBob’ssterncommandpersuadedhertoeatFee’sgooseberryjamsandwiches.WhenthebellrangforafternoonclassesandMeggiefoundaplaceonline,hereyesfinallybegantoclearenoughtotakeinwhatwasgoingonaroundher.Thedisgraceofthecaningrankledassharplyasever,butsheheldherheadhighandaffectednottonoticethenudgesandwhispersofthelittlegirlsnearher.

           SisterAgathawasstandinginfrontwithhercane;SisterDeclanprowledupanddownbehindthelines;SisterCatherineseatedherselfatthepianojustinsidetheyoungestchildren’sclassroomdoorandbegantoplay"Onward,ChristianSoldiers"withaheavyemphasisontwo-fourtime.Itwas,properlyspeaking,aProtestanthymn,butthewarhadrendereditinterdenominational.Thedearchildrenmarchedtoitjustlikeweesoldiers,SisterCatherinethoughtproudly.

           Ofthethreenuns,SisterDeclanwasareplicaofSisterAgathaminusfifteenyearsoflife,whereSisterCatherinewasstillremotelyhuman.Shewasonlyinherthirties,Irishofcourse,andthebloomofherardorhadnotyetentirelyfaded;shestillfoundjoyinteaching,stillsawChrist’simperishableImageinthelittlefacesturneduptoherssoadoringly.