Поющие в терновнике

           Mostlyshenoticedeverythingphysicalaboutpeopleimmediately,butjustoccasionallythatvigilanceslippedandpeoplestoleuponher,carvedanicheinherlifewithoutherhavingmadethatvitalinitialassessment.Forifitwasn’tmade,sometimesyearswouldgobybeforetheyintrudedintoherthoughtsagainasstrangers.Likenow,watchingRain.Thatfirstmeetinghadbeenresponsible,ofcourse;surroundedbychurchmen,awed,frightened,brazeningitout.Shehadnoticedonlytheobviousthings:hispowerfulbuild,hishair,howdarkhewas.Thenwhenhehadtakenherofftodinnerthechancetorectifythingshadbeenlost,forhehadforcedanawarenessofhimselfonherfarbeyondhisphysicalattributes;shehadbeentoointerestedinwhatthemouthwassayingtolookatthemouth.

           Hewasn’treallyuglyatall,shedecidednow.Helookedwhathewas,perhaps,amixtureofthebestandtheworst.LikeaRomanemperor.Nowonderhelovedthecity.Itwashisspiritualhome.Abroadfacewithhigh,widecheekbonesandasmallyetaquilinenose.Thickblackbrows,straightinsteadoffollowingthecurveoftheorbits.Verylong,feminineblacklashesandquitelovelydarkeyes,mostlyhoodedtohidehisthoughts.Byfarhismostbeautifulpossessionwashismouth,neitherfullnorthin-lipped,neithersmallnorlarge,butverywellshaped,withadistinctcuttotheboundariesofitslipsandapeculiarfirmnessinthewayheheldit;asifperhapswerehetorelaxhisholduponit,itmightgiveawaysecretsaboutwhathewasreallylike.