Поющие в терновнике

           Ashissisterhuggedandkissedhimheturnedhisfaceaway,shrankinsidehisbaggycoatandsearchedbeyondhertohismother,whosatlookingathimasiftosay:Itdoesn’tmatter,itwillallseemnormalsoon,justgiveittime.Aminutelater,whilehewasstillsearchingforsomethingtosaytothisstranger,Meggie’sdaughtercamein;atall,skinnyyounggirlwhosatdownstiffly,herbighandspleatingfoldsinherdress,herlighteyesfixedfirstononeface,thenonanother.Meggie’ssonenteredwiththeCardinalandwenttositonthefloorbesidehissister,abeautiful,calmlyaloofboy.

           "Frank,thisismarvelous,"saidCardinalRalph,shakinghimbythehand,thenturningtoFeewithhisleftbrowraised."Acupoftea?Verygoodidea."

           TheClearymencameintotheroomtogether,andthatwasveryhard,fortheyhadn’tforgivenhimatall.Frankknewwhy;itwasthewayhehadhurttheirmother.Buthedidn’tknowofanythingtosaywhichwouldmakethemunderstandanyofit,norcouldhetellthemofthepain,theloneliness,orbegforgiveness.Theonlyonewhoreallymatteredwashismother,andshehadneverthoughttherewasanythingtoforgive.

           ItwastheCardinalwhotriedtoholdtheeveningtogether,wholedtheconversationroundthedinnertableandthenafterwardbackinthedrawingroom,chattingwithdiplomaticeaseandmakingaspecialpointofincludingFrankinthegathering.

           "Bob,I’vemeanttoaskyoueversinceIarrived—wherearetherabbits?"theCardinalasked.