Поющие в терновнике

           Themainthingisyou’renottotellanyoneyousawmetonight,hear?Idon’twantthemthinkingyou’reinonit."

           "Ididhear,Frank,Iheardallofit,"Meggiesaid."Iwon’tsayawordtoanybody,though,Ipromise.Butoh,Idowishyoudidn’thavetogoaway!"

           Shewastooyoungtobeabletotellhimwhatwasnomorethananunreasoningsomethingwithinherheart;whoelsewasthere,ifFrankwent?Hewastheonlyonewhogaveherovertaffection,theonlyonewhoheldherandhuggedher.WhenshewassmallerDaddyusedtopickherupalot,buteversinceshestartedatschoolhehadstoppedlettinghersitonhisknee,wouldn’tletherthrowherarmsaroundhisneck,saying,"You’reabiggirlnow,Meggie."AndMumwasalwayssobusy,sotired,sowrappedintheboysandthehouse.ItwasFrankwholayclosesttoherheart,Frankwholoomedasthestarinherlimitedheaven.Hewastheonlyonewhoseemedtoenjoysittingtalkingtoher,andheexplainedthingsinawayshecouldunderstand.EversincethedayAgneshadlostherhairtherehadbeenFrank,andinspiteofhersoretroublesnothingsincehadspearedherquitetothecore.NotcanesorSisterAgathaorlice,becauseFrankwastheretocomfortandconsole.

           Butshegotupandmanagedasmile."Ifyouhavetogo,Frank,thenit’sallright."

           "Meggie,yououghttobeinbed,andyou’dbetterbebacktherebeforeMumchecks.