Поющие в терновнике

           Sowe’vebookedyouacottageonMatlockIslandfortwomonths,fromthebeginningofJanuarytothebeginningofMarch.LuddieandIwilllookafterJustine.Youknowshewon’tcometoanyharm,butifwe’retheslightestbitworriedabouther,youhaveourwordwe’llnotifyyourightaway,andtheisland’sonthephonesoitwouldn’ttakelongtofetchyouback."

           Therainbowshadgone,sohadthesun;itwasgettingreadytorainagain.

           "Anne,ifithadn’tbeenforyouandLuddiethesepastthreeyears,Iwouldhavegonemad.Youknowthat.SometimesinthenightIwakeupwonderingwhatwouldhavehappenedtomehadLukeputmewithpeoplelesskind.You’vecaredformemorethanLukehas."

           "Twaddle!IfLukehadputyouwithunsympatheticpeopleyouwouldhavegonebacktoDrogheda,andwhoknows?Maybethatmighthavebeenthebestcourse."

           "No.Ithasn’tbeenpleasant,thisthingwithLuke,butitwasfarbetterformetostayandworkitout."

           Therainwasbeginningtoinchitswayacrossthedimmingcaneblottingouteverythingbehinditsedge,likeagreycleaver.

           "You’reright,I’mnotwell,"Meggiesaid."Ihaven’tbeenwellsinceJustinewasconceived.I’vetriedtopullmyselfup,butIsupposeonereachesapointwherethereisn’ttheenergytodoit.Oh,Anne,I’msotiredanddiscouraged!I’mnotevenagoodmothertoJustine,andIoweherthat.I’mtheonecausedhertobe;shedidn’taskforit.ButmostlyI’mdiscouragedbecauseLukewon’tevengivemeachancetomakehimhappy.