Поющие в терновнике

           Foramomentnooneanswered,thenBobsaidwarmly,"That’snice,Justine."

           Herpleasuredidn’tevaporate;insteaditbuiltuptoanuncontrollableelation.Laughing,shefloppedintoachairandstaredatheruncles.Whattrulylovelymentheywere!Ofcoursehernewsmeantnothingtothem!Theydidn’thaveacluewhoDesdemonawas.Ifshehadcometotellthemshewasgettingmarried,Bob’sanswerwouldhavebeenmuchthesame.

           Sincethebeginningofmemorytheyhadbeenapartofherlife,andsadlyshehaddismissedthemascontemptuouslyasshedideverythingaboutDrogheda.TheUnks,apluralityhavingnothingtodowithJustineO’Neill.Simplymembersofaconglomeratewhodriftedinandoutofthehomestead,smiledathershyly,avoidedherifitmeantconversation.Notthattheydidn’tlikeher,sherealizednow;onlythattheysensedhowforeignshewas,anditmadethemuncomfortable.ButinthisRomanworldwhichwasalientothemandfamiliartoher,shewasbeginningtounderstandthembetter.

           Feelingaglowofsomethingforthemwhichmighthavebeencalledlove,Justinestaredfromonecreased,smilingfacetothenext.