Поющие в терновнике

           Nordidshehavethekindofconfidencethatmighthavetoldherthatinherchildren’seyesshewasjustasspecialastheyweretoher.Sosherodethepaddocks,andforweeksonendgottoseeherchildrenonlyaftertheywereinbedforthenight.

           WheneverMeggielookedatDaneherheartturnedover.Hewasabeautifulchild;evenstrangersonthestreetsofGillyremarkedonitwhenFeetookhimintotown.Hishabitualexpressionwasasmilingone,hisnatureacuriouscombinationofquietnessanddeep,surehappiness;heseemedtohavegrownintohisidentityandacquiredhisself-knowledgewithnoneofthepainchildrenusuallyexperience,forherarelymademistakesaboutpeopleorthings,andnothingeverexasperatedorbewilderedhim.TohismotherhislikenesstoRalphwassometimesveryfrightening,butapparentlynooneelseevernoticed.RalphhadbeengonefromGillyforalongtime,andthoughDanehadthesamefeatures,thesamebuild,hehadonegreatdifference,whichtendedtocloudtheissue.Hishairwasn’tblacklikeRalph’s,itwasapalegold;notthecolorofwheatorsunsetbutthecolorofDroghedagrass,goldwithsilverandbeigeinit.

           Fromthemomentsheseteyesonhim,Justineadoredherbabybrother.NothingwastoogoodforDane,nothingtoomuchtroubletofetchorpresentinhishonor.Oncehebegantowalksheneverlefthisside,forwhichMeggiewasverygrateful,worryingthatMrs.Smithandthemaidsweregettingtoooldtokeepasatisfactorilysharpeyeonasmallboy.