Поющие в терновнике

           "Whateveritwashesawinyou,"shewenton,"hesawitthefirsttimehemetyou,anditneverleftoffenchantinghim.Thehardestthinghehadtofacewasyourgrowingup,buthefaceditthattimehecametofindyougone,married.PoorRalph!Hehadnochoicebuttolookforyou.Andhedidfindyou,didn’the?Iknewitwhenyoucamehome,beforeDanewasborn.OnceyouhadRalphdeBricassartitwasn’tnecessarytostayanylongerwithLuke."

           "Yes,"sighedMeggie,"Ralphfoundme.Butitdidn’tsolveanythingforus,didit?IknewhewouldneverbewillingtogiveuphisGod.ItwasforthatreasonIwasdeterminedtohavetheonlypartofhimIevercould.Hischild.Dane."

           "It’slikelisteningtoanecho,"Feesaid,laughingherrustylaugh."Youmightbeme,sayingthat."

           "Frank?"

           Thechairscraped;Feegotup,pacedthetiles,camebackandstaredhardatherdaughter."Well,well!Titfortat,eh,Meggie?Howlonghaveyouknown?"

           "SinceIwasalittlegirl.SincethetimeFrankranaway."

           "Hisfatherwasmarriedalready.Hewasalotolderthanme,animportantpolitician.IfItoldyouhisname,you’drecognizeit.TherearestreetsnamedforhimalloverNewZealand,atownortwoprobably.Butforthepurpose,I’llcallhimPakeha.It’sMaorifor‘whiteman,’butit’lldo.He’sdeadnow,ofcourse.IhaveatraceofMaoribloodinme,butFrank’sfatherwashalfMaori.ItshowedinFrankbecausehegotitfrombothofus.