Поющие в терновнике

           "Youhavethesethingseverywhereinyourhair,fromthatEyetiegirlyou’resothickwith!NowwhatamIgoingtodowithyou?"

           MeggiegapedatthetinythingroamingblindlyroundFee’sbareskininsearchofmorehirsuteterritory,thenshebegantoweep.

           Withoutneedingtobetold,FrankgotthecoppergoingwhilePaddypacedupanddownthekitchenroaring,hisrageincreasingeverytimehelookedatMeggie.Finallyhewenttotherowofhooksonthewallinsidethebackdoor,jammedhishatonhisheadandtookthelonghorsewhipfromitsnail.

           "I’mgoingintoWahine,Fee,andI’mgoingtotellthatblastedDagowhathecandowithhisslimyfishandchips!ThenI’mgoingtoseeSisterAgathaandtellherwhatIthinkofher,allowinglousychildreninherschool!"

           "Paddy,becareful!"Feepleaded."Whatifitisn’ttheEyetiegirl?Evenifshehaslice,it’spossibleshemighthavegotthemfromsomeoneelsealongwithMeggie."

           "Rot!"saidPaddyscornfully.Hepoundeddownthebacksteps,andafewminuteslatertheyheardhisroan’shoofsbeatingdowntheroad.Feesighed,lookingatFrankhopelessly.

           "Well,Isupposewe’llbeluckyifhedoesn’tlandinjail.Frank,you’dbetterbringtheboysinside.Noschooltoday."

           OnebyoneFeewentthroughhersons’hairminutely,thencheckedFrank’sheadandmadehimdothesameforher.TherewasnoevidencethatanyoneelsehadacquiredpoorMeggie’smalady,butFeedidnotintendtotakechances.