Поющие в терновнике

           "Oh,thatstubborn,pigheadedClearypride!Itwillbeyourdownfall,too,Justine,unlessyoulearntoruleit.Thatstupidfearofbeinglaughedat,orhelduptosomesortofridicule.ThoughwhyyouthinkyourmotherwouldbesocruelIdon’tknow."ShetappedJustineonthebackofherhand."Givealittle,Justine;cooperate."

           ButJustineshookherheadandsaid,"Ican’t."

           Feesighed."Well,forwhatearthlygooditwilldoyou,child,youhavemyblessingonyourenterprise."

           "Ta,Nanna,Iappreciateit."

           "ThenkindlyshowyourappreciationinaconcretefashionbyfindingyouruncleFrankandtellinghimthere’steainthekitchen,please."

           Justinewentoff,andMeggiestaredatFee."Mum,you’reamazing,youreallyare."

           Feesmiled."Well,youhavetoadmitInevertriedtotellanyofmychildrenwhattodo."

           "No,youneverdid,"saidMeggietenderly."Wedidappreciateit,too."

           ***

           ThefirstthingJustinedidwhenshearrivedbackinSydneywasbegintohaveherfrecklesremoved.Notaquickprocess,unfortunately;shehadsomanyitwouldtakeabouttwelvemonths,andthenshewouldhavetostayoutofthesunfortherestofherlife,ortheywouldcomeback.Thesecondthingshedidwastofindherselfanapartment,nomeanfeatinSydneyatthattime,whenpeoplebuiltprivatehomesandregardedlivingenmasseinbuildingsasanathema.