Поющие в терновнике

           "Butyoutookeverybitofit!Idon’thaveapenny!Whataboutspendingmoney?"

           "Whyonearthdoyouwantspendingmoney?You’llbeoutatHimmelhochinthemorning,andyoucan’tspendanythingthere.I’lltakecareofthehotelbill.It’stimeyourealizedyou’vemarriedaworkingman,Meg,thatyou’renotthepamperedsquatter’sdaughterwithmoneytoburn.Muellerwillpayyourwagesstraightintomybankaccount,wherethey’llstayalongwithmine.I’mnotspendingthemoneyonmyself,Meg,youknowthat.Neitherofusisgoingtotouchit,becauseit’sforourfuture,ourstation."

           "Yes,Iunderstand.You’reverysensible,Luke.ButwhatifIshouldhaveababy?"

           Foramomenthewastemptedtotellherthetruth,thattherewouldbenobabyuntilthestationwasareality,butsomethinginherfacemadehimdecidenotto.

           "Well,let’scrossthatbridgewhenwecometoit,eh?I’dratherwedidn’thaveoneuntilwe’vegotourstation,solet’sjusthopewedon’t."

           Nohome,nomoney,nobabies.Nohusband,forthatmatter.Meggiestartedtolaugh.Lukejoinedher,histeacupliftedinatoast.

           "Here’stoFrenchletters,"hesaid.

           InthemorningtheywentouttoHimmelhochonthelocalbus,anoldFordwithnoglassinitswindowsandroomfortwelvepeople.Meggiewasfeelingbetter,forLukehadleftheralonewhensheofferedhimabreast,andseemedtolikeitquiteaswellasthatotherawfulthing.Muchandallasshewantedbabies,hercouragehadfailedher.