Поющие в терновнике

           "ButIshallgiveyouintohischarge,becauseIknowhe’lllookafteryouformysake.YoucanenteraseminaryinRome."

           "Doyoureallymeanit,Mum?Really?"Anxietypushedthejoyoutofhisface."Isthereenoughmoney?ItwouldbemuchcheaperifIstayedinAustralia."

           "ThankstotheselfsameCardinaldeBricassart,mydear,you’llneverlackmoney."

           Atthecookhousedoorshepushedhiminside."GoandtellthegirlsandMrs.Smith,"shesaid."They’llbeabsolutelythrilled."

           Oneaftertheothersheputherfeetdown,madethemploduptheramptothebighouse,tothedrawingroomwhereFeesat,miraculouslynotworkingbuttalkingtoAnneMuellerinstead,overanafternoonteatray.AsMeggiecameintheylookedup,sawfromherfacethatsomethingserioushadhappened.

           ForeighteenyearstheMuellershadbeenvisitingDrogheda,expectingthatwashowitalwayswouldbe.ButLuddieMuellerhaddiedsuddenlytheprecedingautumn,andMeggiehadwrittenimmediatelytoAnnetoaskherifshewouldliketolivepermanentlyonDrogheda.Therewasplentyofroom,aguestcottageforprivacy;shecouldpayboardifshewastooproudnotto,thoughheavenknewtherewasenoughmoneytokeepathousandpermanenthouseguests.MeggiesawitasachancetoreciprocateforthoselonelyQueenslandyears,andAnnesawitassalvation.HimmelhochwithoutLuddiewashorriblylonely.Thoughshehadputonamanager,notsoldtheplace;whenshedieditwouldgotoJustine.

           "Whatisit,Meggie?"Anneasked.

           Meggiesatdown.