Поющие в терновнике

           Justinegrinned,pushingadampcurloutofhereye.Meggiewatchedherregardinghergrandmotherwithanaffectionsheneverseemedtoextendtohermother.

           "You’reagoodgirl,Justine,"Feepronounced,andfinishedthecookieshehadstartedsounenthusiastically."Notbadatall,butIwishyou’dicedtheminwhite."

           "Youcan’ticetreesinwhite,"Meggiecontradicted.

           "Ofcourseyoucanwhenthey’refirs;itmightbesnow,"hermothersaid.

           "Toolatenow,they’revomitgreen,"laughedJustine.

           "Justine!"

           "Ooops!Sorry,Mum,didn’tmeantooffendyou.Ialwaysforgetyou’vegotaweakstomach."

           "Ihaven’tgotaweakstomach,"saidMeggie,exasperated.

           "Icametoseeiftherewasanychanceofacuppa,"Feebrokein,pullingoutachairandsittingdown."Putonthekettle,Justine,likeagoodgirl."

           Meggiesatdown,too."DoyoureallythinkthiswillworkoutforJustine,Mum?"sheaskedanxiously.

           "Whyshouldn’tit?"Feeanswered,watchinghergranddaughterattendingtothetearitual.

           "Itmightbeapassingphase."

           "Isitapassingphase,Justine?"Feeasked.

           "No,"Justinesaidtersely,puttingcupsandsaucersontheoldgreenkitchentable.

           "Useaplateforthebiscuits,Justine,don’tputthemoutintheirbarrel,"saidMeggieautomatically,"andforpity’ssakedon’tdumpthewholemilkcanonthetable,putsomeinaproperafternoonteajug."

           "Yes,Mum,sorry,Mum,"Justineresponded,equallymechanically."Can’tseethepointoffrillsinthekitchen.