Поющие в терновнике

           Annestucktherubberinhermouthandgotenoughbreathbacktospeak."Well,YourGrace,thisisasurprise!"Hereyesslidoverhim,amused."Imustsayyoudon’texactlylooklikeanarchbishop.Notthatyoueverdid,eveninthepropertogs.Ialwaysimaginearchbishopsofanyreligiousdenominationtobefatandself-satisfied."

           "AtthemomentI’mnotanarchbishop,onlyapriestonawellearnedholiday,soyoucancallmeRalph.IsthisthelittlethingcausedMeggiesomuchtroublewhenIwasherelast?MayIhaveher?IthinkIcanmanagetoholdthebottleattheappropriateangle."

           HesettledintoachairalongsideAnne,tookbabyandbottleandcontinuedtofeedher,hislegscrossedcasually.

           "DidMeggienameherJustine?"

           "Yes."

           "Ilikeit.GoodLord,lookatthecolorofherhair!Hergrandfatherallover."

           "That’swhatMeggiesays.Ihopethepoorlittlemitedoesn’tcomeoutinamillionfreckleslateron,butIthinkshewill."

           "Well,Meggie’ssortofaredheadandsheisn’tabitfreckled.ThoughMeggie’sskinisadifferentcolorandtexture,moreopaque."Heputtheemptybottledown,satthebabyboltuprightonhisknee,facinghim,bentherforwardinasalaamandbeganrhythmicallyrubbingherbackhard."AmongmyotherdutiesIhavetovisitCatholicorphanages,soI’mquitedeedywithbabies.MotherGonzagaatmyfavoriteinfants’homealwayssaysthisistheonlywaytoburpababy.