Поющие в терновнике

           Grownpallidwithageandencroachingcataracts,hereyesrestedonMeggie’sstartledface,grimandironic."Doyoutakemeforafool,Meggie?Idon’tmeanLukeO’Neill.ImeanDaneisthelivingimageofRalphdeBricassart."

           Lead.Herfootwasmadeoflead.ItdroppedtotheSpanishtiles,herleadenbodysagged,theleadheartwithinherbreaststruggledagainstitsvastweighttobeat.Beat,damnyou,beat!You’vegottogoonbeatingformyson!

           "Why,Mum!"Hervoicewasleaden,too."Why,Mum,whatanextraordinarythingtosay!FatherRalphdeBricassart?"

           "Howmanypeopleofthatnamedoyouknow?LukeO’Neilneverbredthatboy;he’sRalphdeBricassart’sson.IknewittheminuteItookhimoutofyouathisbirth."

           "Then—whyhaven’tyousaidsomething?Whywaituntilhe’ssevenyearsoldtomakesuchaninsaneandunfoundedaccusation?"

           Feestretchedherlegsout,crossedthemdaintilyattheankles."I’mgettingoldatlast,Meggie.Andthingsdon’thurtasmuchanymore.Whatablessingoldagecanbe!It’ssogoodtoseeDroghedacomingback,Ifeelbetterwithinmyselfbecauseofit.ForthefirsttimeinyearsIfeelliketalking."

           "Well,Imustsaywhenyoudecidetotalkyoureallyknowhowtopickyoursubject!Mum,youhaveabsolutelynorighttosaysuchathing.Itisn’ttrue!"saidMeggiedesperately,notsureifhermotherwasbentontortureorcommiseration.