Поющие в терновнике

           "Whatfun!"Justinelaughed."We’vegotawholelovelyfootieteaminfirstclass,soitwon’tbeasdullasIthought.Someofthemaregorgeous."

           "Nowaren’tyougladIinsistedonfirstclass?"

           "Isupposeso."

           "Justine,youbringouttheworstinme,youalwayshave,"Meggiesnapped,losinghertemperatwhatshetookforingratitude.Justthisoncecouldn’tthelittlewretchatleastpretendshewassorrytobegoing?"Stubborn,pig-headed,self-willed!Youexasperateme."

           ForamomentJustinedidn’tanswer,butturnedherheadawayasifshewasmoreinterestedinthefactthattheall-ashoregongwasringingthaninwhathermotherwassaying.Shebitthetremorfromherlips,putabrightsmileonthem."IknowIexasperateyou,"shesaidcheerfullyasshefacedhermother."Nevermind,wearewhatweare.Asyoualwayssay,Itakeaftermydad."

           Theyembracedself-consciouslybeforeMeggieslippedthankfullyintothecrowdsconvergingongangwaysandwaslosttosight.Justinemadeherwayuptothesundeckandstoodbytherailwithrollsofcoloredstreamersinherhands.Farbelowonthewharfshesawthefigureinthepinkish-greydressandhatwalktotheappointedspot,standshadinghereyes.Funny,atthisdistanceonecouldseeMumwasgettinguptowardfifty.Somewaytogoyet,butitwasthereinherstance.Theywavedinthesamemoment,thenJustinethrewthefirstofherstreamersandMeggiecaughtitsenddeftly.