Поющие в терновнике

           ButIknewthewretchedanimalatethem;he’lleatanythingthatdoesn’teathimfirst.Not,"continuedJustinethoughtfully,"thatIwouldn’tbegladtoseethelastofhim."

           Meggiesatbackonherheels,laughing."Oh,Jus!Doyouknowhowfunnyyouare?"Shethrewtheboxontothebedamongamountainofthingsalreadythere."You’renocredittoDrogheda,areyou?Afterallthecarewetookpushingneatnessandtidinessintoyourhead,too."

           "Icouldhavetoldyouitwasalostcause.DoyouwanttotakethesoappadsbacktoDrogheda?IknowI’msailingandmyluggageisunlimited,butIdaresaytherearetonsofsoappadsinLondon."

           MeggietransferredtheboxintoalargecartonmarkedMRS.D."Ithinkwe’dbetterdonatethemtoMrs.Devine;shehastorenderthisflathabitableforthenexttenant."Anunsteadytowerofunwasheddishesstoodontheendofthetable,sproutinggruesomewhiskersofmold."Doyoueverwashyourdishes?"

           Justinechuckledunrepentantly."DanesaysIdon’twashthematall,Ishavetheminstead."

           "You’dhavetogivethislotahaircutfirst.Whydon’tyouwashthemasyouusethem?"

           "Becauseitwouldmeantrekkingdowntothekitchenagain,andsinceIusuallyeataftermidnight,nooneappreciatesthepatterofmylittlefeet."

           "Givemeoneoftheemptyboxes.I’lltakethemdownanddisposeofthemnow,"saidhermother,resigned;shehadknownbeforevolunteeringtocomewhatwasboundtobeinstoreforher,andhadbeenratherlookingforwardtoit.