Поющие в терновнике

           Butbehindherwasthepartitionshuttingoffthemiddlegrade’sroom,oneithersidedeskscrowdedherin,andinfrontwasSisterAgatha.Hereyesnearlyfilledherpinchedlittlefaceasshestaredupatthenuninsuffocatedfear,herhandsclenchingandunclenchingonthedesktop.

           "Youspoke,MeghannCleary."

           "Yes,Sister."

           "Andwhatdidyousay?"

           "Myname,Sister."

           "Yourname!"SisterAgathasneered,lookingaroundattheotherchildrenasifthey,too,surelymustsharehercontempt."Well,children,arewenothonored?AnotherClearyinourschool,andshecannotwaittobroadcasthername!"SheturnedbacktoMeggie."StandupwhenIaddressyou,youignorantlittlesavage!Andholdoutyourhands,please."

           Meggiescrambledoutofherseat,herlongcurlsswingingacrossherfaceandbouncingaway.Grippingherhandstogether,shewrungthemdesperately,butSisterAgathadidnotmove,onlywaited,waited,waited…ThensomehowMeggiemanagedtoforceherhandsout,butasthecanedescendedshesnatchedthemaway,gaspinginterror.SisterAgathalockedherfingersinthebunchedhairontopofMeggie’sheadandhauledhercloser,bringingherfaceuptowithininchesofthosedreadfulspectacles.

           "Holdoutyourhands,MeghannCleary."Itwassaidcourteously,coldly,implacably.

           MeggieopenedhermouthandvomitedalloverthefrontofSisterAgatha’shabit.