Поющие в терновнике

           "You’rejustlikeyourfather!"

           "Anotherevasion.WheneverIdispleaseyou,Ibecomejustlikemyfather.Well,I’llhavetotakeyourwordforthat,sinceI’veneverlaideyesonthegentleman."

           "Whenareyouleaving?"Meggieaskeddesperately.

           Justinegrinned."Can’twaittogetridofme,eh?It’sallright,Mum,Idon’tblameyouintheleast.ButIcan’thelpit,Ijustloveshockingpeople,especiallyyou.Howabouttakingmeintothe’drometomorrow?"

           "Makeitthedayafter.TomorrowI’lltakeyoutothebank.You’dbetterknowhowmuchyou’vegot.And,Justine…"

           Justinewasaddingflourandfoldingexpertly,butshelookedupatthechangeinhermother’svoice."Yes?"

           "Ifeveryou’reintrouble,comehome,please.We’vealwaysgotroomforyouonDrogheda,Iwantyoutorememberthat.Nothingyoucouldeverdowouldbesobadyoucouldn’tcomehome."

           Justine’sgazesoftened."Thanks,Mum.You’renotabadoldstickunderneath,areyou?"

           "Old?"gaspedMeggie."Iamnotold!I’monlyforty-three!"

           "GoodLord,asmuchasthat?"

           MeggiehurledacookieandhitJustineonthenose."Oh,youwretch!"shelaughed."Whatamonsteryouare!NowIfeellikeahundred."

           Herdaughtergrinned.

           AtwhichmomentFeewalkedintoseehowthingsinthecookhouseweregoing;Meggiehailedherarrivalwithrelief.