Поющие в терновнике

           "ComeinandI’llmakeyouanicecuppasometime,"hecalledafterher,rathertakenwiththosepale,intriguingeyes.

           Justinedid,carefulnottochooseatimewhenMrs.Devinewaslurkingjealouslyabout,andgotquiteusedtofightingPeteroff.TheyearsofridingandworkingonDroghedahadendowedherwithconsiderablestrength,andshewasuntroubledbyshibbolethslikehittingbelowthebelt.

           "Goddamnyou,Justine!"gaspedPeter,wipingthetearsofpainfromhiseyes."Givein,girl!You’vegottoloseitsometime,youknow!Thisisn’tVictorianEngland,youaren’texpectedtosaveitformarriage."

           "Ihavenointentionofsavingitformarriage,"sheanswered,adjustingherdress."I’mjustnotsurewho’sgoingtogetthehonor,that’sall."

           "You’renothingtowritehomeabout!"hesnappednastily;shehadreallyhurt.

           "No,thatI’mnot.Sticksandstones,Pete.Youcan’thurtmewithwords.Andthereareplentyofmenwhowillshaganythingifit’savirgin."

           "Plentyofwomen,too!Watchthefrontflat."

           "Oh,Ido,Ido,"saidJustine.

           Thetwogirlsinthefrontflatwerelesbians,andhadhailedJustine’sadventgleefullyuntiltheyrealizedshenotonlywasn’tinterested,shewasn’tevenintrigued.Atfirstshewasn’tquitesurewhattheywerehintingat,butaftertheyspelleditoutbaldlysheshruggedhershoulders,unimpressed.