Поющие в терновнике

           Withourwoolatapoundperpoundintheauctions,theDroghedawoolcheckthisyearmusthavemadeeventhegoldmineslooksick.TalkaboutGoldenFleece.Overfourmillionpounds,justfromshavingourbaa-lambs."

           "Don’tbecynical,Meggie,itdoesn’tsuityou,"saidFee;hermannertowardMeggiethesedays,thoughoftenmildlywithering,wastemperedwithrespectandaffection."We’vedonewellenough,haven’twe?Don’tforgetwegetourmoneyeveryyear,goodorbad.Didn’thepayBobahundredthousandasabonus,therestofusfiftythousandeach?IfhethrewusoffDroghedatomorrowwecouldaffordtobuyBugela,evenattoday’sinflatedlandprices.Andhowmuchhashegivenyourchildren?Thousandsuponthousands.Befairtohim."

           "Butmychildrendon’tknowit,andthey’renotgoingtofindout.DaneandJustinewillgrowuptothinktheymustmaketheirownwaysintheworld,withoutbenefitofdearRalphRaoul,CardinaldeBricassart.FancyhissecondnamebeingRaoul!VeryNorman,isn’tit?"

           Feegotup,walkedovertothefireandthrewthefrontpageoftheHeraldontotheflames.RalphRaoul,CardinaldeBricassartshuddered,winkedather,andthenshriveledup.

           "Whatwillyoudoifhecomesback,Meggie?"

           Meggiesniffed."Fatchance!"

           "Hemight,"saidFeeenigmatically.

           Hedid,inDecember.Veryquietly,withoutanyoneknowing,drivinganAstonMartinsportscarallthewayfromSydneyhimself.