Поющие в терновнике

           "Butyoudoknowmebetter,don’tyou?I’dneverputyoudown,butsometimesyourmotivesareplainthoughtlesslysilly."Headoptedatolling,monotonousvoice."Iamthevoiceofyourconscience,JustineO’Neill."

           "Youare,too,youprawn."Shadeforgotten,shefloppedbackonthegrassbesidehimsohecouldn’tseeherface."Look,youknowwhy.Don’tyou?"

           "Oh,Jussy,"hesaidsadly,butwhateverhewasgoingtoaddwaslost,forshespokeagain,alittlesavagely.

           "I’mnever,never,nevergoingtoloveanyone!Ifyoulovepeople,theykillyou.Ifyouneedpeople,theykillyou.Theydo,Itellyou!"

           Italwayshurthim,thatshefeltleftoutoflove,andhurtmorethatheknewhimselfthecause.Iftherewasoneoverridingreasonwhyshewassoimportanttohim,itwasbecauseshelovedhimenoughtobearnogrudges,hadnevermadehimfeelamoment’slesseningofherlovethroughjealousyorresentment.Tohim,itwasacruelfactthatshemovedonanoutercirclewhilehewastheveryhub.Hehadprayedandprayedthingswouldchange,buttheyneverdid.Whichhadn’tlessenedhisfaith,onlypointedouttohimwithfreshemphasisthatsomewhere,sometime,hewouldhavetopayfortheemotionsquanderedonhimatherexpense.Sheputagoodfaceonit,hadmanagedtoconvinceevenherselfthatshedidverywellonthatouterorbit,buthefeltherpain.Heknew.Therewassomuchworthlovinginher,solittleworthlovinginhimself.