Поющие в терновнике

           "No?Whynot?"

           "Machismoisdefinitelyyourstyle—youknow,whatyou’vegotonnow,thegoldmedallionandchainonthehairychest.Asuitmakesyoulookasifyourwaistlineisbulging,whenitreallyisn’tatall."

           Foramomenthegazedatherinsurprise,thentheexpressioninhiseyesbecamealert,inwhatshecalledhis"concentratedthinkinglook.""Afirst,"hesaid.

           "What’safirst?"

           "InthesevenyearsI’veknownyou,you’veneverbeforecommenteduponmyappearanceexceptperhapstodisparageit."

           "Oh,dear,haven’tI?"sheasked,lookingalittleashamed."Heavens,I’vethoughtofitoftenenough,andneverdisparagingly."Forsomereasonsheaddedhastily,"Imean,aboutthingslikethewayyoulookinasuit."

           Hedidn’tanswer,buthewassmiling,asataverypleasantthought.

           ThatridewithRainerseemedtobethelastquietthingtohappenfordays.ShortlyaftertheyreturnedfromvisitingCardinaldeBricassartandCardinaldiContini-Verchese,thelimousineRainerhadhireddepositedtheDroghedacontingentattheirhotel.OutofthecornerofhereyeJustinewatchedRain’sreactiontoherfamily,entirelyuncles.Rightuntilthemomenthereyesdidn’tfindhermother’sface,Justinehadbeenconvincedshewouldchangehermind,cometoRome.Thatshehadn’twasacruelblow;Justinedidn’tknowwhethersheachedmoreonDane’sbehalforonherown.ButinthemeantimehereweretheUnks,andshewasundoubtedlytheirhostess.