Поющие в терновнике

           Thisisfar,farworse.I’mjustfrightenedthatyourhealthwillsuffer.Itoftendoesinwomenwhoweren’tbornandbroughtuphere;somethingtodowiththeblood.We’reonthesamelatitudesouthasBombayandRangoonarenorth,youknow;notfitcountryformanorbeastunlessborntoit."Shesmiled."Oh,it’snicehavingyoualready!YouandIaregoingtohaveawonderfultime!Doyoulikereading?LuddieandIhaveapassionforit."

           Meggie’sfacelitup."Oh,yes!"

           "Splendid!You’llbetoocontenttomissthatbighandsomehusbandofyours."

           Meggiedidn’tanswer.MissLuke?Washehandsome?Shethoughtthatifsheneversawhimagainshewouldbeperfectlyhappy.Exceptthathewasherhusband,thatthelawsaidshehadtomakeherlifewithhim.Shehadgoneintoitwithhereyesopen;shehadnoonetoblamesaveherself.AndperhapsasthemoneycameinandthestationinWesternQueenslandbecameareality,therewouldbetimeforLukeandhertolivetogether,settledown,knoweachother,getalong.

           Hewasn’tabadman,orunlikable;itwasjustthathehadbeenalonesolonghedidn’tknowhowtosharehimselfwithsomeoneelse.Andhewasasimpleman,ruthlesslysingleofpurpose,untormented.Whathedesiredwasaconcretething,evenifadream;itwasapositiverewardwhichwouldsurelycomeastheresultofunremittingwork,grindingsacrifice.Forthatonehadtorespecthim.Notforamomentdidshethinkhewouldusethemoneytogivehimselfluxuries;hehadmeantwhathesaid.Itwouldstayinthebank.