Поющие в терновнике

           "Isn’tthislovely,Luke?Doyouthinkperhapsafteracoupleofyearsupherewemightbeabletorentahouseformetolivein?I’mdyingtotrysomethinglikethisformyself."

           "Whatonearthdoyouwanttolivealoneinahousefor?Thisisn’tGilly,Meg;it’sthesortofplacewhereawomanonherownisn’tsafe.You’remuchbetteroffhere,believeme.Aren’tyouhappyhere?"

           "I’mashappyasonecanbeinsomeoneelse’shome."

           "Look,Meg,you’vejustgottobecontentwithwhatyouhavenowuntilwemoveoutwest.Wecan’tspendmoneyrentinghousesandhavingyoulivealifeofleisureandstillsave.Doyouhearme?"

           "Yes,Luke."

           Hewassoupsethedidn’tdowhathehadintendedtodowhenheledherunderthehouse,namelykissher.Insteadhegaveheracasualsmackonthebottomwhichhurtalittletoomuchtobecasual,andsetoffdowntheroadtothespotwherehehadlefthisbikeproppedagainstatree.Hehadpedaledtwentymilestoseeherratherthanspendmoneyonarailmotorandabus,whichmeanthehadtopedaltwentymilesback.

           "Thepoorlittlesoul!"saidAnnetoLuddie."Icouldkillhim!"

           ***

           Januarycameandwent,theslackestmonthoftheyearforcanecutters,buttherewasnosignofLuke.HehadmurmuredabouttakingMeggietoSydney,butinsteadhewenttoSydneywithArneandwithouther.ArnewasabachelorandhadanauntwithahouseinRozelle,withinwalkingdistance(notramfares;savemoney)oftheCSR,theColonialSugarRefineries.