Поющие в терновнике

           ThenI’mgoinghometoDrogheda,andIhopeIneverseeLukeagain."Sheturnedfromthecot."WillyouandLuddiecometoseeus?Droghedaalwayshasroomforfriends."

           "Onceayear,forasmanyyearsasyou’llhaveus.LuddieandIwanttoseeJustinegrowup."

           OnlythethoughtofRalph’sbabykeptMeggie’ssaggingcourageupasthelittlerailmotorrockedandjoltedthelongmilestoIngham.Haditnotbeenforthenewlifeshewassurewasgrowinginher,gettingintoabedwithLukeeveragainwouldhavebeentheultimatesinagainstherself;butforRalph’sbabyshewouldindeedhaveenteredintoacontractwiththeDevil.

           Fromapracticalviewpointitwasn’tgoingtobeeasyeither,sheknewthat.Butshehadlaidherplanswithwhatforesightshecould,andwithLuddie’said,oddlyenough.Ithadn’tbeenpossibletoconcealmuchfromhim;hewastooshrewd,andtoodeeplyinAnne’sconfidence.HehadlookedatMeggiesadly,shakenhishead,andthenproceededtogivehersomeexcellentadvice.Theactualaimofhermissionhadn’tbeenmentioned,ofcourse,butLuddiewasasadeptataddingtwoandtwoasmostpeoplewhoreadmassivetomes.

           "Youwon’twanttohavetotellLukeyou’releavinghimwhenhe’swornoutafterthecane,"saidLuddiedelicately."Muchbetterifyoucatchhiminagoodmood,isn’tit?Bestthingis,seehimonaSaturdaynightoraSundayafterit’sbeenhisweekcooking.