Поющие в терновнике

           "Youdidratherdropitonmelikearock."

           Hiseyescleared,regardedherdoubtfully.Whyhadheimaginedhekilledher?ThosewereMum’seyesashehadalwaysknownthem;fulloflove,verymuchalive.Thestrongyoungarmsgatheredherclose,huggedher."You’resureyoudon’tmind?"

           "Mind?AgoodCatholicmothermindhersonbecomingapriest?Impossible!"Shejumpedtoherfeet."Brr!Howcoldit’sgot!Let’sbegettingback."

           Theyhadn’ttakenthehorses,butajeeplikeLand-Rover;Daneclimbedbehindthewheel,hismothersatbesidehim.

           "Doyouknowwhereyou’regoing?"askedMeggie,drawinginasobbingbreath,pushingthetumbledhairoutofhereyes.

           "SaintPatrick’sCollege,Isuppose.AtleastuntilIfindmyfeet.PerhapsthenI’llespouseanorder.I’dratherliketobeaJesuit,butI’mnotquitesureenoughofthattogostraightintotheSocietyofJesus."

           Meggiestaredatthetawnygrassbouncingupanddownthroughtheinsect-spatteredwindscreen."Ihaveamuchbetteridea,Dane."

           "Oh?"Hehadtoconcentrateondriving;thetrackdwindledabitandtherewerealwaysnewlogsacrossit.

           "IshallsendyoutoRome,toCardinaldeBricassart.Yourememberhim,don’tyou?"

           "DoIrememberhim?Whataquestion,Mum!Idon’tthinkIcouldforgethiminamillionyears.He’smyexampleoftheperfectpriest.IfIcouldbethepriestheis,I’dbeveryhappy."

           "Perfectionisasperfectiondoes!"saidMeggietartly.