Поющие в терновнике

           "Youknow‘uncle’isagainstthefamilyrules,Nanna!OurunclesarejustBob,Jack,Hughie,JimsandPatsy.Sothatmeanshe’sRalph."

           "Don’tbesorude,Justine!Whatonearth’sthematterwithyourmanners?"demandedFee.

           "No,Fee,it’sallright.I’dpreferthateveryonecallmeplainRalph,really,"theCardinalsaidquickly.Whydidshedislikehimso,theoddmite?

           "Icouldn’t!"gaspedDane."Icouldn’tcallyoujustRalph!"

           CardinalRalphcrossedtheroom,tookthebareshouldersbetweenhishandsandsmileddown,hisblueeyesverykind,andvividintheroom’sshadows."Ofcourseyoucan,Dane.Itisn’tasin."

           "Comeon,Dane,let’sgetbacktothecubbyhouse,"Justineordered.

           CardinalRalphandhissonturnedtowardFee,lookedathertogether.

           "Heavenhelpus!"saidFee."Goon,Dane,gooutsideandplay,willyou?"Sheclappedherhands."Buzz!"

           Theboyranforhislife,andFeeedgedtowardherbooks.CardinalRalphtookpityonherandannouncedthathewouldgotothecookhouse.Howlittletheplacehadchanged!Stilllamplit,obviously.Stillredolentofbeeswaxandgreatvasesofroses.

           HestayedtalkingtoMrs.Smithandthemaidsforalongtime.Theyhadgrownmucholderintheyearssincehehadleft,butsomehowagesuitedthemmorethanitdidFee.Happy.That’swhattheywere.Genuinelyalmostperfectlyhappy.PoorFee,whowasn’thappy.ItmadehimhungrytoseeMeggie,seeifshewashappy.