Поющие в терновнике

           There’ssomethinginLukeandinyouwhichbelievesthatneedingawomanisaweakness.Idon’tmeantosleepwith;Imeantoneed,reallyneed."

           "Andacceptingthat,youcanstillwantus?"

           Sheshrugged,smiledwithatraceofpity."Oh,Ralph!Idon’tsayitisn’timportant,andit’scertainlycausedmealotofunhappiness,butitisthewaythingsare.I’dbeafooltowastemyselftryingtoeradicateit,whenitcan’tbeeradicated.ThebestIcandoisexploittheweakness,notignoreitsexistence.BecauseIwantandneed,too.AndapparentlyIwantandneedpeoplelikeyouandLuke,orIwouldn’thavespentmyselfoverthepairofyouthewayIhave.I’dhavemarriedagood,kind,simplemanlikemyfather,someonewhodidwantandneedme.Butthere’sastreakofSamsonineveryman,Ithink.It’sjustthatinmenlikeyouandLuke,it’smorepronounced."

           Hedidn’tseematallinsulted;hewassmiling."MywiseMeggie!"

           "That’snotwisdom,Ralph.Justcommonsense.I’mnotaverywisepersonatall,youknowthat.Butlookatmybrothers.Idoubttheolderonesatanyratewillevergetmarried,orhavegirlfriendseven.They’reterriblyshy,they’refrightenedofthepowerawomanmighthaveoverthem,andthey’requitewrappedupinMum."

           ***

           Dayfollowedday,andnightfollowednight.Eventheheavysummerrainswerebeautiful,tobewalkedinnakedandlistenedtoontheironroof,aswarmandfullofcaressesasthesun.