Поющие в терновнике

           Shedrewhisshirtoverhishead,andforamomentherhandrestedwithluxurioussensitivityonhisbareback,thenshewentacrosstothelampandturneditout,whilehedrapedhisclothesoverachairback.Hecouldhearhermovingabout,sheddingherwrapper.AndtomorrowmorningI’llsayMass.Butthat’stomorrowmorning,andthemagichaslonggone.Thereisstillthenight,andMeggie.Ihavewantedher.She,too,isasacrament.

           ***

           Danewasdisappointed."Ithoughtyou’dweararedsoutane!"hesaid.

           "SometimesIdo,Dane,butonlywithinthewallsofthepalace.Outsideit,Iwearablacksoutanewitharedsash,likethis."

           "Doyoureallyhaveapalace?"

           "Yes."

           "Isitfullofchandeliers?"

           "Yes,butsoisDrogheda."

           "Oh,Drogheda!"saidDaneindisgust."I’llbetoursarelittleonescomparedtoyours.I’dlovetoseeyourpalace,andyouinaredsoutane."

           CardinalRalphsmiled."Whoknows,Dane?Perhapsonedayyouwill."

           Theboyhadacuriousexpressionalwaysatthebackofhiseyes;adistantlook.WhenheturnedduringtheMass,CardinalRalphsawitreinforced,buthedidn’trecognizeit,onlyfeltitsfamiliarity.Nomanseeshimselfinamirrorashereallyis,noranywoman.

           ***

           LuddieandAnneMuellerweredueinforChristmas,asindeedtheywereeveryyear.Thebighousewasfulloflight-heartedpeople,lookingforwardtothebestChristmasinyears;MinnieandCatsangtunelesslyastheyworked,Mrs.