Поющие в терновнике

           Iknowyoudon’tlovehim,butIthinkifhegaveyouhalfachanceyoumightbehappywithhim."

           Thegreyeyeswerethesamecolorastherainfallinginsheetsallaroundthehouse;theirvoiceshadrisentoshoutingpitchtobeaudibleabovetheincredibledinontheironroof.

           "Butthat’sjustit,Anne!WhenLukeandIwentuptoAthertonIrealizedatlastthathe’llneverleavethesugarwhilehe’sgotthestrengthtocutit.Helovesthelife,hereallydoes.Helovesbeingwithmenasstrongandindependentasheishimself;helovesroamingfromoneplacetotheother.He’salwaysbeenawanderer,nowIcometothinkofit.Asforneedingawomanforpleasureifnothingelse,he’stooexhaustedbythecane.AndhowcanIputit?Lukeisthekindofmanwhoquitegenuinelydoesn’tcareifheeatshisfoodoffapackingcrateandsleepsonthefloor.Don’tyousee?Onecan’tappealtohimastoonewholikesnicethings,becausehedoesn’t.SometimesIthinkhedespisesnicethings,prettythings.They’resoft,theymightmakehimsoft.Ihaveabsolutelynoenticementspowerfulenoughtoswayhimfromhispresentwayoflife."

           Sheglancedupimpatientlyattheverandaroof,asiftiredofshouting."Idon’tknowifI’mstrongenoughtotakethelonelinessofhavingnohomeforthenexttenorfifteenyears,Anne,orhoweverlongit’sgoingtotakeLuketowearhimselfout.It’slovelyherewithyou;Idon’twantyoutothinkI’mungrateful.