Поющие в терновнике

           That’swhyshe’ssuchanicesisterformetohave.I’mnotarebel,butIdoadmirethem."

           HerrHartheimshiftedhischairsothathecouldcontinuetokeepherinhislineofvisionevenwhenshestraightened,stoppedplayingwiththecat.Atthatmomentthebeautifulanimalgrewtiredofthehandwithanalienfemalescent,andwithoutgettingtoitsfeetcrawleddelicatelyfromredlaptogrey,curlingitselfunderHerrHartheim’sstrongsquarestrokinghands,purringsoloudlythateveryonelaughed.

           "Excusemeforliving,"saidJustine,notproofagainstagoodjokeevenwhenshewasitsvictim.

           "Hermotorisasgoodasever,"saidHerrHartheim,theamusementworkingfascinatingchangesinhisface.HisEnglishwassogoodhehardlyhadanaccent,butithadanAmericaninflection;herolledhisr’s.

           Theteacamebeforeeveryonesettleddownagain,andoddlyenoughitwasHerrHartheimwhopoured,handingJustinehercupwithamuchfriendlierlookthanhehadgivenheratintroduction.

           "InaBritishcommunity,"hesaidtoher,"afternoonteaisthemostimportantrefreshmentoftheday.Thingshappenoverteacups,don’tthey?Isupposebecausebyitsverynatureitcanbedemandedandtakenatalmostanytimebetweentwoandfive-thirty,andtalkingisthirstywork."

           Thenexthalfhourseemedtoprovehispoint,thoughJustinetooknopartinthecongress.