Поющие в терновнике

           Forthereweremultiplecompensationsforthelookofit,likebeingabletoeatalfrescoontheverandawhenitwasveryhot,underthetappingleavesofthewistariavine.

           Thefrogslovedthescreening,too.Littlefellowstheywere,greenwithadelicateoverlayofglossygold.Onsuckeredfeettheycreptuptheoutsideofthemeshtostaremotionlessatthediners,verysolemnanddignified.Suddenlyonewouldleap,grabatamothalmostbiggerthanitself,andsettlebackintoinertiawithtwo-thirdsofthemothflappingmadlyoutofitsoverladenmouth.ItamusedDaneandJustinetotimehowlongittookafrogtoswallowabigmothcompletely,staringgravelythroughthewireandeverytenminutesgettingalittlemoremothdown.Theinsectlastedalongtime,andwouldoftenstillbekickingwhenthefinalpieceofwingtipwasengulfed.

           "Erckle!Whatafate!"chuckledDane."Fancyhalfofyoustillbeingalivewhiletheotherhalfofyouisbusybeingdigested."

           Avidreading—thatDroghedapassion—hadgiventhetwoO’Neillchildrenexcellentvocabulariesatanearlyage.Theywereintelligent,alertandinterestedineverything.Lifewasparticularlypleasantforthem.Theyhadtheirthoroughbredponies,increasinginsizeastheydid;theyenduredtheircorrespondencelessonsatMrs.Smith’sgreenkitchentable;theyplayedinthepeppertreecubbyhouse;theyhadpetcats,petdogs,evenapetgoanna,whichwalkedbeautifullyonaleashandansweredtoitsname.