Поющие в терновнике

           Nanna,andMum,andme.Heapsofmen,though."

           "Exceptinyourgenerationtherearenotheapsofmen.OnlyDane."

           "DuetothefactMumleftmyfather,Iexpect.Sheneverseemedtogetinterestedinanyoneelse.Pity,Ithink.Mum’sarealhome-body;shewouldhavelikedahusbandtofussover."

           "Isshelikeyou?"

           "Idon’tthinkso."

           "Moreimportantly,doyoulikeeachother?"

           "MumandI?"Shesmiledwithoutrancor,muchashermotherwouldhavedonehadsomeoneaskedherwhethershelikedherdaughter."I’mnotsureifwelikeeachother,butthereissomethingthere.Maybeit’sasimplebiologicalbond;Idon’tknow."Hereyeskindled."I’vealwayswantedhertotalktomethewayshedoestoDane,andwantedtogetalongwithherthewayDanedoes.Buteitherthere’ssomethinglackinginher,orsomethinglackinginme.Me,I’dreckon.She’samuchfinerpersonthanIam."

           "Ihaven’tmether,soIcan’tagreeordisagreewithyourjudgment.Ifit’sofanyconceivablecomforttoyou,Herzchen,Ilikeyouexactlythewayyouare.No,Iwouldn’tchangeathingaboutyou,evenyourridiculouspugnacity."

           "Isn’tthatniceofyou?AndafterIinsultedyou,too.I’mnotreallylikeDane,amI?"

           "Daneisn’tlikeanyoneelseintheworld."

           "Youmeanbecausehe’ssonotofthisworld?"

           "Isupposeso."Heleanedforward,outoftheshadowsintotheweaklightofthelittlecandleinitsChiantibottle.