Поющие в терновнике

           Youtakecareofthingshere,andholddinneruntilIgetback."

           "Isn’titwonderful,Mum?Frank’scominghomeintimeforChristmas!"

           "Yes,"saidFee,"itiswonderful."

           ***

           Noonetraveledonthenightmailthesedaysiftheycouldfly,sobythetimeithadhuffedthesixhundredmilesfromSydney,droppingitsmostlysecond-classpassengersatthissmalltownorthat,fewpeoplewerelefttobedisgorgedinGilly.

           ThestationmasterhadanoddingacquaintancewithMrs.Clearybutwouldneverhavedreamedofengagingherinconversation,sohejustwatchedherdescendthewoodenstepsfromtheoverheadfootbridge,andleftheralonetostandstifflyonthehighplatform.Shewasastylisholdgirl,hethought;up-to-datedressandhat,high-heeledshoes,too.Goodfigure,notmanylinesonherfacereallyforanoldgirl;justwenttoshowwhattheeasylifeofagraziercoulddoforawoman.

           SothatonthesurfaceFrankrecognizedhismothermorequicklythanshedidhim,thoughherheartknewhimatonce.Hewasfifty-twoyearsold,andtheyearsofhisabsencewerethosewhichhadcarriedhimfromyouthtomiddleage.ThemanwhostoodintheGillysunsetwastoothin,gauntalmost,verypale;hishairwascroppedhalfwayuphishead,heworeshapelessclotheswhichhungonaframestillhintingatpowerforallitssmallsize,andhiswell-shapedhandswereclampedonthebrimofagreyfelthat.