Поющие в терновнике

           Whenshehandedhimthebigfive-poundtinofArnottsbiscuitshetookacoupleofhandfulsofcookiesoutofitandputthemonaplate.Thejugboiled,sheemptiedthehotwateroutoftheteapot,spoonedlooseteaintoitandfilleditwithbubblingwater.Whileshecarriedthecookieplateandtheteapot,hefollowedwiththecupsandsaucers,backintothelivingroom.

           Thethreeroomshadbeenbuiltalongsideeachother,thebedroomopeningoffonesideofthelivingroomandthekitchenofftheother,withthebathroombeyondit.Thismeantthehousehadtwoverandas,onefacingtheroadandtheotherthebeach.Whichinturnmeanttheyeachhadsomewhereexcusabletolookwithouthavingtolookateachother.Fulldarknesshadfallenwithtropicalsuddenness,buttheairthroughthewide-openslidingdoorswasfilledwiththelappingofwater,thedistantsurfonthereef,thecomingandgoingofthewarmsoftwind.

           Theydranktheteainsilence,thoughneithercouldeatabiscuit,andthesilencestretchedonaftertheteawasfinished,heshiftinghisgazetoherandshekeepingherssteadfastlyonthebreezyanticsofababypalmoutsidetheroad-verandadoors.

           "What’sthematter,Meggie?"heasked,sogentlyandtenderlyherheartknockedfrantically,andseemedtodiefromthepainofit,theoldqueryofthegrownmantothelittlegirl.Hehadn’tcometoMatlocktoseethewomanatall.Hehadcometoseethechild.Itwasthechildheloved,notthewoman.Thewomanhehadhatedfromthemomentshecameintobeing.