Поющие в терновнике

           Idon’tknow."

           "Don’tworry,Ralph,I’llletyougowithoutanyfuss.Mytimeisalmostup,too.I’mleavingLuke,I’mgoinghometoDrogheda."

           "Oh,mydear!Notbecauseofthis,becauseofme?"

           "No,ofcoursenot,"shelied."I’dmadeupmymindbeforeyouarrived.Lukedoesn’twantmeorneedme,hewon’tmissmeintheslightest.ButIneedahome,somewhereofmyown,andIthinknowthatDroghedaisalwaysgoingtobethatplace.Itisn’trightthatpoorJustineshouldgrowupinahousewhereI’mtheservant,thoughIknowAnneandLuddiedon’tthinkofmelikeaservant.Butit’showIthinkofmyself,andhowJustinewillthinkofmewhenshe’soldenoughtounderstandshehasn’tanormalsortofhome.Inawaysheneverwillenjoythat,butImustdoasmuchforherasIcan.SoI’mgoingbacktoDrogheda."

           "I’llwritetoyou,Meggie."

           "No,don’t.DoyouthinkIneedletters,afterthis?Idon’twantanythingbetweenuswhichmightendangeryou,fallintothehandsofunscrupulouspeople.Sonoletters.Ifyou’reeverinAustraliaitwouldbenaturalandnormalofyoutovisitDrogheda,thoughI’mwarningyou,Ralph,tothinkbeforeyoudo.ThereareonlytwoplacesintheworldwhereyoubelongtomeaheadofGod—hereonMatlock,andonDrogheda."

           Hepulledherintohisarmsandheldher,strokingherbrighthair."Meggie,IwishwithallmyheartIcouldmarryyou,neverbeapartfromyouagain.Idon’twanttoleaveyou…AndinawayI’llneverbefreeofyouagain.