Поющие в терновнике

           TrulyIthinkonlyofyou,myson.Jealousyandresentmentarenotstrangerstoseminariesanymorethantheyaretosecularinstitutions.YouwillsufferalittlebecausetheythinkRalphisyouruncle,yourmother’sbrother,butyouwouldsufferfarmoreiftheythoughtnobloodbondlinkedyoutogether.Wearefirstmen,anditiswithmenyouwilldealinthisworldasinothers."

           Danebowedhishead,thenleanedforwardtostrokethecat,pausingwithhishandextended."MayI?Ilovecats,YourEminence."

           Noquickerpathwaytothatoldbutconstantheartcouldhehavefound."Youmay.Iconfessshegrowstooheavyforme.Sheisaglutton,areyounot,Natasha?GotoDane;heisthenewgeneration."

           ***

           TherewasnopossibilityofJustinetransferringherselfandherbelongingsfromthesoutherntothenorthernhemisphereasquicklyasDanehad;bythetimesheworkedouttheseasonattheCullodenandbadeanotunregretfulfarewelltoBothwellGardens,herbrotherhadbeeninRometwomonths.

           "HowonearthdidImanagetoaccumulatesomuchjunk?"sheasked,surroundedbyclothes,papers,boxes.

           Meggielookedupfromwhereshewascrouched,aboxofsteelwoolsoappadsinherhand.

           "Whatwerethesedoingunderyourbed?"

           Alookofprofoundreliefsweptacrossherdaughter’sflushedface."Oh,thankGod!Isthatwheretheywere?IthoughtMrs.D’spreciouspoodleatethem;he’sbeenoffcolorforaweekandIwasn’tgametomentionmymissingsoappads.