Поющие в терновнике

           Whentheywerefinallysatisfied,shewasalmostblindfromscrewinguphereyesagainstthebiteofthecaustic,andlittlerowsofblistershadrisenalloverherfaceandscalp.Franksweptthefallencurlsintoasheetofpaperandthrustitintothecopperfire,thentookthebroomandstooditinapanfulofkerosene.HeandFeebothwashedtheirhair,gaspingasthelyesearedtheirskins,thenFrankgotoutabucketandscrubbedthekitchenfloorwithsheep-dip.

           Whenthekitchenwasassterileasahospitaltheywentthroughtothebedrooms,strippedeverysheetandblanketfromeverybed,andspenttherestofthedayboiling,wringingandpeggingoutthefamilylinen.Themattressesandpillowsweredrapedoverthebackfenceandsprayedwithkerosene,theparlorrugswerebeatenwithinaninchoftheirlives.Alltheboyswereputtohelping,onlyMeggieexemptedbecauseshewasinabsolutedisgrace.Shecrawledawaybehindthebarnandcried.Herheadthrobbedwithpainfromthescrubbing,theburnsandtheblisters;andshewassobitterlyashamedthatshewouldnotevenlookatFrankwhenhecametofindher,norcouldhepersuadehertocomeinside.

           Intheendhehadtodragherintothehousebybruteforce,kickingandfighting,andshehadpushedherselfintoacornerwhenPaddycamebackfromWahineinthelateafternoon.HetookonelookatMeggie’sshornheadandburstintotears,sittingrockinghimselfintheWindsorchairwithhishandsoverhisface,whilethefamilystoodshufflingtheirfeetandwishingtheywereanywherebutwheretheywere.