Поющие в терновнике

           "Soyou’reRalph,"Annesaid,proppinghersticksagainstabambootablewhilethepriestsatoppositeherwiththefoldsofhissoutanefallingabouthim,hisglossyblackridingbootsclearlyvisible,forhehadcrossedhisknees.Itwasaneffeminatethingforamantodo,buthewasapriestsoitdidn’tmatter;yettherewassomethingintenselymasculineabouthim,crossedlegsorno.Hewasprobablynotasoldasshehadfirstthought;inhisveryearlyforties,perhaps.Whatawasteofamagnificentman!

           "Yes,I’mRalph."

           "EversinceMeggie’slaborstartedshe’sbeenaskingforsomeonecalledRalph.ImustadmitIwaspuzzled.Idon’teverrememberhermentioningaRalphbefore."

           "Shewouldn’t."

           "HowdoyouknowMeggie,YourGrace?Forhowlong?"

           Thepriestsmiledwrylyandclaspedhisthin,verybeautifulhandstogethersotheymadeapointedchurchroof."I’veknownMeggiesinceshewastenyearsold,onlydaysofftheboatfromNewZealand.YoumightinalltruthsaythatI’veknownMeggiethroughfloodandfireandemotionalfamine,andthroughdeath,andlife.Allthatwehavetobear.MeggieisthemirrorinwhichI’mforcedtoviewmymortality."

           "Youloveher!"Anne’stonewassurprised.

           "Always."

           "It’satragedyforbothofyou."

           "Ihadhopedonlyforme.Tellmeabouther,what’shappenedtohersinceshemarried.It’smanyyearssinceI’veseenher,butIhaven’tbeenhappyabouther."

           "I’lltellyou,butonlyafteryou’vetoldmeaboutMeggie.