Поющие в терновнике

           "Butit’sonlythreenightsandthreedaystoDungloe!Whyspendmoneyonasleeperwhenwe’rebothyoung,healthyandstrong?Sittinguponatrainforawhilewon’tkillyou,Meghann!It’sabouttimeyourealizedyou’vemarriedaplainoldworkingman,notabloodysquatter!"

           SoMeggieslumpedinthewindowseatLukeseizedforherandrestedhertremblingchinonherhandtolookoutthewindowsoLukewouldn’tnoticehertears.Hehadspokentoherasonespeakstoanirresponsiblechild,andshewasbeginningtowonderifindeedthiswashowheregardedher.Rebellionbegantostir,butitwasverysmallandherfierceprideforbadetheindignityofquarreling.Insteadshetoldherselfshewasthisman’swife,butitwassuchanewthinghewasn’tusedtoit.Givehimtime.Theywouldlivetogether,shewouldcookhismeals,mendhisclothes,lookafterhim,havehisbabies,beagoodwifetohim.LookhowmuchDaddyhadappreciatedMum,howmuchhehadadoredher.GiveLuketime.

           TheyweregoingtoatowncalledDungloe,onlyfiftymilesshortofCairns,whichwasthefarnorthernterminusofthelinewhichranallthewayalongtheQueenslandcoast.Overathousandmilesofnarrowthree-foot-six-gaugerail,rockingandpitchingbackandforth,everyseatinthecompartmentoccupied,nochancetoliedownorstretchout.ThoughitwasfarmoredenselysettledcountrysidethanGilly,andfarmorecolorful,shecouldn’tsummonupinterestinit.