Поющие в терновнике

           "IrememberonedaySisterAgwassomadatmethatshekeptscreamingatme,‘Cry,fortheloveofheaven!Makeanoise,FrancisCleary!Ifyou’dgivemethesatisfactionofhearingyoubellow,Iwouldn’thityousohardorsooften!’

           "That’sanotherreasonwhyshehatesus;it’swherewe’rebetterthantheMarshallsandtheMacDonalds.Shecan’tmaketheClearyscry.We’resupposedtolickherboots.Well,ItoldtheboyswhatI’ddotoanyClearywhoevenwhimperedwhenhewascaned,andthatgoesforyou,too,Meggie.Nomatterhowhardshebeatsyou,notawhimper.Didyoucrytoday?"

           "No,Frank,"sheyawned,hereyelidsdroopingandherthumbpokingblindlyacrossherfaceinsearchofhermouth.Frankputherdowninthehayandwentbacktohiswork,hummingandsmiling.

           MeggiewasstillasleepwhenPaddywalkedin.HisarmswerefilthyfrommuckingoutMr.Jarman’sdairy,hiswide-brimmedhatpulledlowoverhiseyes.HetookinFrankshapinganaxleontheanvil,sparksswirlingroundhishead,thenhiseyespassedtowherehisdaughterwascurledupinthehay,withMr.Robertson’sbaymarehangingherheaddownoverthesleepingface.

           "Ithoughtthisiswhereshe’dbe,"Paddysaid,droppinghisridingcropandleadinghisoldroanintothestableendofthebarn.

           Franknoddedbriefly,lookingupathisfatherwiththatdarklingglanceofdoubtanduncertaintyPaddyalwaysfoundsoirritating,thenhereturnedtothewhite-hotaxle,sweatmakinghisbaresidesglisten.