Поющие в терновнике

           Yes,itwasthesameMeggie—butsomuchmore,somehow.WhateverArchbishopRalphmighthavetoldhimselfbeforehewenttoMatlock,onMatlockthingshadgoneMeggie’swayatlast,nothis.Abouttime,too.

           ShetookJustineintoherarmsasifsheonlynowunderstoodwhathavingJustinemeant,andstoodrockingthelittlethingwhileshelookedaroundtheroom,smiling.HereyesmetAnne’s,soalive,soshiningwithemotionthatAnnefeltherowneyesfillwithreciprocaltearsofthatsamejoy.

           "Ican’tthankyouenough,Anne."

           "Pish,forwhat?"

           "ForsendingRalph.YoumusthaveknownitwouldmeanI’dleaveLuke,soIthankyoujustthatmuchmore,dear.Oh,youhavenoideawhatitdidforme!IhadmadeupmymindIwasgoingtostaywithLuke,youknow.NowI’mgoingbacktoDrogheda,andI’mnevergoingtoleaveitagain."

           "IhatetoseeyougoandespeciallyIhatetoseeJustinego,butI’mgladforbothofyou,Meggie.Lukewillnevergiveyouanythingbutunhappiness."

           "Doyouknowwhereheis?"

           "BackfromtheCSR.He’scuttingnearIngham."

           "I’llhavetogoandseehim,tellhim.And,muchasIloathetheidea,sleepwithhim."

           "What?"

           Theeyesshone."I’mtwoweeksoverdue,andI’mneveradayoverdue.TheonlyothertimeIwas,Justinewasstarting.I’mpregnant,Anne,IknowIam!"

           "MyGod!"AnnegaspedatMeggieasifshehadneverseenherbefore;andperhapsshehadnot.Shelickedherlipsandstammered,"Itcouldbeafalsealarm."

           ButMeggieshookherheadpositively."Oh,no.