Поющие в терновнике

           Foronething,Justinedidn’tseemtoneedamother,sinceshewasconvincedshewasrightabouteverything.Norwasshethesortoflittlegirlwhorequiredaconfidante,orwarmapproval.Asfarasshewasconcerned,MeggiewasmostlysomeonewhointerferedwithherpleasureinDane.Shegotonalotbetterwithhergrandmother,whowasjustthesortofpersonJustineheartilyapprovedof;shekeptherdistanceandassumedonehadalittlesense.

           "Itoldhimnottoeatdirt,"Justinesaid.

           "Well,itwon’tkillhim,Justine,butitisn’tgoodforhim,either."Meggieturnedtoherson."Dane,why?"

           Heconsideredthequestiongravely."Itwasthere,soIateit.Ifitwasbadforme,wouldn’tittastebad,too?Ittastesgood."

           "Notnecessarily,"Justineinterruptedloftily."Igiveuponyou,Dane,Ireallydo.Someofthebest-tastingthingsarethemostpoisonous."

           "Nameone!"hechallenged.

           "Treacle!"shesaidtriumphantly.

           DanehadbeenveryillafterfindingatinoftreacleinMrs.Smith’spantryandeatingthelot.Headmittedthethrust,butcountered."I’mstillhere,soitcan’tbeallthatpoisonous."

           "That’sonlybecauseyouvomited.Ifyouhadn’tvomited,you’dbedead."

           Thiswasinarguable.Heandhissisterweremuchofaheight,sohetuckedhisarmcompanionablythroughhersandtheysaunteredawayacrossthelawntowardtheircubbyhouse,whichtheiruncleshaderectedasinstructedamidthedown-droopingbranchesofapeppertree.