Поющие в терновнике

           Ikeptherinmyheartandsheknewit.IfIhadtrulypluckedheroutshewouldhaveknownthat,too,andshewouldhavebecomesomeoneIcouldn’tinfluence."Hesmiled."YouseethatIhavemuchtorepent.Itriedalittlecreatingofmyown."

           "ItwastheRose?"

           Theheadwentback;ArchbishopRalphlookedattheelaborateceilingwithitsgildedmoldingsandbaroqueMuranochandelier."Couldithavebeenanyoneelse?She’smyonlyattemptatcreation."

           "Andwillshebeallright,theRose?Didyoudohermoreharmbythisthanindenyingher?"

           "Idon’tknow,Vittorio.IwishIdid!Atthetimeitjustseemedtheonlythingtodo.I’mnotgiftedwithPrometheanforesight,andemotionalinvolvementmakesoneapoorjudge.Besides,itsimply…happened!ButIthinkperhapssheneededmostwhatIgaveher,therecognitionofheridentityasawoman.Idon’tmeanthatshedidn’tknowshewasawoman.ImeanIdidn’tknow.IfIhadfirstmetherasawomanitmighthavebeendifferent,butIknewherasachildformanyyears."

           "Yousoundratherpriggish,Ralph,andnotyetreadyforforgiveness.Ithurts,doesitnot?Thatyoucouldhavebeenhumanenoughtoyieldtohumanweakness.Wasitreallydoneinsuchaspiritofnobleself-sacrifice?"

           Startled,helookedintotheliquiddarkeyes,sawhimselfreflectedinthemastwotinymanikinsofinsignificantproportion."No,"hesaid."I’maman,andasamanIfoundapleasureinherIdidn’tdreamexisted.