Поющие в терновнике

           Butshetaughttheoldestchildren,whomSisterAgathadeemedbeatenenoughtobehaveinspiteofayoungandsoftsupervisor.SisterAgathaherselftooktheyoungestchildrentoformmindsandheartsoutofinfantileclay,leavingthoseinthemiddlegradestoSisterDeclan.

           Safelyhiddeninthelastrowofdesks,Meggiedaredtoglancesidewaysatthelittlegirlsittingnexttoher.Agap-toothedgrinmetherfrightenedgaze,hugeblackeyesstaringroundlyoutofadark,slightlyshinyface.ShefascinatedMeggie,usedtofairnessandfreckles,forevenFrankwithhisdarkeyesandhairhadafairwhiteskin;soMeggieendedinthinkingherdeskmatethemostbeautifulcreatureshehadeverseen.

           "What’syourname?"thedarkbeautymutteredoutofthesideofhermouth,chewingontheendofherpencilandspittingthefrayedbitsintoheremptyink-wellhole.

           "MeggieCleary,"shewhisperedback.

           "Youthere!"cameadry,harshvoicefromthefrontoftheclassroom.

           Meggiejumped,lookingaroundinbewilderment.Therewasahollowclatterastwentychildrenallputtheirpencilsdowntogether,amutedrustlingasprecioussheetsofpaperwereshuffledtoonesidesoelbowscouldbesurreptitiouslyplacedondesks.Withaheartthatseemedtocrumpledowntowardherboots,Meggierealizedeveryonewasstaringather.SisterAgathawascomingdowntheaislerapidly;Meggie’sterrorwassoacutethathadthereonlybeensomewheretoflee,shewouldhaverunforherlife.