Поющие в терновнике

           ShedrubbedtheeggsunmercifullywithaFrenchwhisk."Wewerequiteadecentbunchofgirls,actually.Verycultured.Itisn’teverygaggleofsillyadolescentfemalescanappreciatethedelicacyofaLatinlimerick:

           TherewasaRomanfromVinidium

           Whoseshirtwasmadeofiridium;

           Whenaskedwhythevest,

           Hereplied,"Idest

           Bonumsanguinempraesidium."

           Meggie’slipstwitched."I’mgoingtohatemyselfforasking,butwhatdidtheRomansay?"

           "‘It’sabloodygoodprotection.’"

           "Isthatall?Ithoughtitwasgoingtobealotworse.Yousurpriseme.Butgettingbacktowhatweweresaying,deargirl,inspiteofyourneatefforttochangethesubject,what’swrongwithmarriage?"

           Justineimitatedhergrandmother’sraresnortofironiclaughter."Mum!Really!You’reafineonetoaskthat,Imustsay."

           Meggiefeltthebloodwellupunderherskin,andlookeddownatthetrayofbright-greentrees."Don’tbeimpertinent,evenifyouarearipeoldseventeen."

           "Isn’titodd?"Justineaskedthemixingbowl."Theminuteoneventuresontostrictlyparentalterritory,onebecomesimpertinent.Ijustsaid:You’reafineonetoask.Perfectlytrue,dammit!I’mnotnecessarilyimplyingyou’reafailure,orasinner,orworse.ActuallyIthinkyou’veshownremarkablegoodsense,dispensingwithyourhusband.Whathaveyouneededonefor?There’sbeentonsofmaleinfluenceforyourchildrenwiththeUnksaround,you’vegotenoughmoneytoliveon.Iagreewithyou!Marriageisforthebirds."