Поющие в терновнике

           What’sthematterwithyou?"

           "I’msickofthewayyoutreatyourwife,that’swhat!FortheloveofGod,Luke,growup,shoulderyourresponsibilitiesforawhile!You’vegotawifeandbaby!Youshouldbemakingahomeforthem—beahusbandandafather,notabloodystranger!"

           "Iwill,Iwill!ButIcan’tyet;I’vegottocarryoninthesugarforacouplemoreyearsjusttomakesure.Idon’twanttosayI’mlivingoffMeg,whichiswhatI’dbedoinguntilthingsgotbetter."

           Anneliftedherlipcontemptuously."Oh,bullshit!Youmarriedherforhermoney,didn’tyou?"

           Adark-redflushstainedhisbrownface.Hewouldn’tlookather."Iadmitthemoneyhelped,butImarriedherbecauseIlikedherbetterthananyoneelse."

           "Youlikedher!Whataboutlovingher?"

           "Love!What’slove?Nothingbutafigmentofwomen’simagination,that’sall."Heturnedawayfromthecribandthoseunsettlingeyes,notsuresomeonewitheyeslikethatcouldn’tunderstandwhatwasbeingsaid."Andifyou’vequitefinishedtellingmeoff,where’sMeg?"

           "Shewasn’twell.Isentherawayforawhile.Oh,don’tpanic!Notonyourmoney.IwashopingIcouldpersuadeyoutojoinher,butIseethat’simpossible."

           "Outofthequestion.ArneandIareonourwaytoSydneytonight."

           "WhatshallItellMeggiewhenshecomesback?"

           Heshrugged,dyingtogetaway."Idon’tcare.Oh,tellhertohangonawhilelonger.Nowthatshe’sgoneaheadwiththefamilybusiness,Iwouldn’tmindason."