Поющие в терновнике
Chapter 16
***
ThateventuallyFrankmanagedtofitintoDroghedalifeatallwasthankstoFee,whointhefaceofstiffmaleClearyoppositioncontinuedtoactasifheroldestsonhadbeengonebutashortwhile,andhadneverbroughtdisgraceonhisfamilyorbitterlyhurthismother.Quietlyandinconspicuouslysheslippedhimintothenicheheseemedtowanttooccupy,removedfromherothersons;nordidsheencouragehimtoregainsomeofthevitalityofotherdays.Forithadallgone;shehadknownitthemomenthelookedatherontheGillystationplatform.Swallowedupbyanexistencethenatureofwhichherefusedtodiscusswithher.Themostshecoulddoforhimwastomakehimashappyaspossible,andsurelythewaytodothatwastoacceptthenowFrankasthealwaysFrank.
Therewasnoquestionofhisworkingthepaddocks,forhisbrothersdidn’twanthim,nordidhewantakindoflifehehadalwayshated.Thesightofgrowingthingspleasedhim,soFeeputhimtopotterinthehomesteadgardens,lefthiminpeace.AndgraduallytheClearymengrewusedtohavingFrankbackinthefamilybosom,begantounderstandthatthethreatFrankusedtorepresenttotheirownwelfarewasquiteempty.Nothingwouldeverchangewhattheirmotherfeltforhim,itdidn’tmatterwhetherhewasinjailoronDrogheda,shewouldstillfeelit.TheimportantthingwasthattohavehimonDroghedamadeherhappy.Hedidn’tintrudeupontheirlives,hewasnomoreornolessthanalways
