Поющие в терновнике

           Agroveofbamboofortyfeethighcutthehouseofffromtheworstofthenorthwestmonsoonalwinds;evenwithitshillelevationitwasstillmountedontopoffifteen-footpiles.

           Lukecarriedhercase;Meggietoileduptheredroadbesidehim,gasping,stillincorrectshoesandstockings,herhatwiltingaroundherface.Thecanebaronhimselfwasn’tin,buthiswifecameontotheverandaastheymountedthesteps,balancingherselfbetweentwosticks.Shewassmiling;lookingatherdearkindface,Meggiefeltbetteratonce.

           "Comein,comein!"shesaidinastrongAustralianaccent.

           ExpectingaGermanvoice,Meggiewasimmeasurablycheered.Lukeputhercasedown,shookhandswhentheladytookherrightoneoffitsstick,thenpoundedawaydownthestepsinahurrytocatchthebusonitsreturnjourney.ArneSwensonwaspickinghimupoutsidethepubatteno’clock.

           "What’syourfirstname,Mrs.O’Neill?"

           "Meggie."

           "Oh,that’snice.MineisAnne,andI’dratheryoucalledmeAnne.It’sbeensolonelyupheresincemygirlleftmeamonthago,butit’snoteasytogetgoodhousehelp,soI’vebeenbattlingonmyown.There’sonlyLuddieandmetolookafter;wehavenochildren.Ihopeyou’regoingtolikelivingwithus,Meggie."

           "I’msureIwill,Mrs.Mueller—Anne."

           "Letmeshowyoutoyourroom.Canyoumanagethecase?I’mnotmuchgoodatcarryingthings,I’mafraid."