Поющие в терновнике

           Shecouldn’tresistadding,"Don’tworry,noonewillseeyou!"

           "Howreassuring."Verygentlyheeasedthesleepingbabyoutofhisarms,handedhertoAnne."Thankyou,"hesaid,goingtothesteps.Thenheturnedback,inhiseyesaratherpatheticappeal."You’requitewrong,"hesaid."Ijustwanttoseeher,nomorethanthat.IshallneverinvolveMeggieinanythingwhichmightendangerherimmortalsoul."

           "Oryourown,eh?Thenyou’dbettergoasLukeO’Neill;he’sexpected.Thatwayyou’llbesuretocreatenoscandal,forMeggieorforyourself."

           "AndwhatifLuketurnsup?’

           "There’snochanceofthat.He’sgonetoSydneyandhewon’tbebackuntilMarch.TheonlywayhecouldhaveknownMeggiewasonMatlockisthroughme,andIdidn’ttellhim,YourGrace."

           "DoesMeggieexpectLuke?"

           Annesmiledwryly."Oh,dearme,no."

           "Ishan’tharmher,"heinsisted."Ijustwanttoseeherforalittlewhile,that’sall."

           "I’mwellawareofit,YourGrace.Butthefactremainsthatyou’dharmheragreatdeallessifyouwantedmore,"saidAnne.

           ***

           WhenoldRob’scarcamesputteringalongtheroadMeggiewasatherstationonthecottageveranda,handraisedinthesignalthateverythingwasfineandsheneedednothing.Hestoppedintheusualspottoreverse,butbeforehedidsoamaninshorts,shirtandsandalssprangoutofthecar,suitcaseinhand.

           "Hooroo,Mr.O’Neill!"Robyelledashewent.