Поющие в терновнике

           I’velearnedtoswearinmyoldage,mostlythankstoJustine.Andyou,alittle.AndLuke,alittle.Andthewar,alittle.Funnyhowtheyallmountup."

           "You’vechangedalot,Meggie."

           "HaveI?"Thesoft,fullmouthcurvedintoasmile."Idon’tthinkso,really.It’sjusttheGreatNorthwest,wearingmedown,strippingoffthelayerslikeSalome’ssevenveils.Orlikeanonion,whichishowJustinewouldratherputit.Nopoetry,thatchild.I’mthesameoldMeggie,Ralph,onlymorenaked."

           "Perhapsso."

           "Ah,butyou’vechanged,Ralph."

           "Inwhatway,myMeggie?"

           "Asifthepedestalrockswitheverypassingbreeze,andasiftheviewfromupthereisadisappointment."

           "Itis."Helaughedsoundlessly."AndtothinkIoncehadthetemeritytosayyouweren’tanythingoutoftheordinary!Itakeitback.You’retheonewoman,Meggie.Theone!"

           "Whathappened?"

           "Idon’tknow.DidIdiscoverevenChurchidolshavefeetofclay?DidIsellmyselfforamessofpottage?AmIgraspingatnothing?"Hisbrowsdrewtogther,asifinpain."Andthat’sit,perhaps,inanutshell.I’mamassofclichés.It’sanold,sour,petrifiedworld,theVaticanworld."

           "Iwasmorereal,butyoucouldneverseeit."

           "TherewasnothingelseIcoulddo,truly!IknewwhereIshouldhavegone,butIcouldn’t.WithyouImighthavebeenabetterman,iflessaugust.ButIjustcouldn’t,Meggie.Oh,IwishIcouldmakeyouseethat!"

           Herhandstolealonghisbarearm,tenderly."DearRalph,Idoseeit.