Поющие в терновнике

           Wedidn’thaveanypicturestoshowhimeither,andIneverthoughtuntilheaskedtoseethemthatitwasfunnyyouneverhadanyweddingpicturestaken.Heaskedifyouhadanykids,andIsaidIdidn’tthinkso.Youdon’t,doyou,Meggie?Howlongisitnowsinceyouweremarried?Gettingonfortwoyears?Mustbe,becausethisisJuly.Timeflies,eh?Ihopeyouhavesomekidssoon,becauseIthinktheBishopwouldbepleasedtohearofit.Iofferedtogivehimyouraddress,buthesaidno.Saiditwouldn’tbeanyusebecausehe’sgoingtoAthens,Greece,forawhilewiththearchbishopheworksfor.SomeDagonamefouryardslong,Inevercanrememberit.Canyouimagine,Meggie,they’reflying?’Struth!Anyway,oncehefoundoutyouweren’tonDroghedatogoroundwithhimhedidn’tstaylong,justtookarideortwo,saidMassforuseveryday,andwentsixdaysafterhegothere."

           Meggielaidtheletterdown.Heknew,heknew!Atlastheknew.Whathadhethought,howmuchhaditgrievedhim?Andwhyhadhepushedhertodothis?Ithadn’tmadethingsanybetter.Shedidn’tloveLuke,sheneverwouldloveLuke.Hewasnothingmorethanasubstitute,amanwhowouldgiveherchildrensimilarintypetothoseshemighthavehadwithRalphdeBricassart.Oh,God,whatamess!

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           ArchbishopdiContini-VerchesepreferredtostayinasecularhotelthanavailhimselfoftheofferedquartersinanAthensOrthodoxpalace.