Поющие в терновнике

           "Whyisit,Justine,thatyoudidn’tintroducemetoanyofyourfriends?Ididn’tseeasignofanyoneatBothwellGardensexceptMrs.Devine,"MeggiesaidastheysatinGermaineRocher’ssalonwatchingthelanguidmannequinspreenandsimper.

           "Oh,they’reabitshy…Ilikethatorangething,don’tyou?"

           "Notwithyourhair.Settleforthegrey."

           "Pooh!Ithinkorangegoesperfectlywithmyhair.IngreyIlooklikesomethingthecatdraggedin,sortofmuddyandhalfrotten.Movewiththetimes,Mum.Redheadsdon’thavetobeseeninwhite,grey,black,emeraldgreenorthathorriblecoloryou’resoaddictedto—whatisit,ashesofroses?Victorian!"

           "Youhavethenameofthecolorright,"Meggiesaid.Sheturnedtolookatherdaughter."You’reamonster,"shesaidwryly,butwithaffection.

           Justinedidn’tpayanyattention;itwasnotthefirsttimeshehadheardit."I’lltaketheorange,thescarlet,thepurpleprint,themossgreen,theburgundysuit…"

           Meggiesattornbetweenlaughterandrage.WhatcouldonedowithadaughterlikeJustine?

           TheHimalayasailedfromDarlingHarborthreedayslater.Shewasalovelyoldship,flat-hulledandveryseaworthy,builtinthedayswhennoonewasinatearinghurryandeveryoneacceptedthefactEnglandwasfourweeksawayviaSuezorfiveweeksawayviatheCapeofGoodHope.Nowadayseventheoceanlinerswerestreamlined,hullsshapedlikedestroyerstogettherefaster.Butwhattheydidtoasensitivestomachmadeseasonedsailorsquail.