Поющие в терновнике

           ThatRainmightwanttomakeheroverintoJustineHartheimneverevencrossedhermind.Shewastoobusyrememberingthequalityofhiskiss,anddreamingofmore.

           ThereremainedonlythetaskoftellingDaneshecouldn’tgotoGreecewithhim,butaboutthisshewasuntroubled.Danewouldunderstand,healwaysdid.Onlysomehowshedidn’tthinkshe’dtellhimallthereasonswhyshewasn’tabletogo.Muchasshelovedherbrother,shedidn’tfeellikelisteningtowhatwouldbeoneofhissternesthomiliesever.HewantedhertomarryRain,soifshetoldhimwhatherplansforRainwere,he’dcartherofftoGreecewithhimifitmeantforcibleabduction.WhatDane’searsdidn’thear,hisheartcouldn’tgrieveabout.

           ***

           "DearRain,"thenotesaid."SorryIranlikeahairygoattheothernight,can’tthinkwhatgotintome.Thehecticdayandeverything,Isuppose.Pleaseforgivemeforbehavinglikeanutterprawn.I’mashamedofmyselfformakingsomuchfussaboutatrifle.AndIdaresaythedayhadgottoyou,too,wordsofloveandall,Imean.SoItellyouwhat—youforgiveme,andI’llforgiveyou.Let’sbefriends,please.Ican’tbeartobeatoutswithyou.Nexttimeyou’reinLondon,cometodinneratmyplaceandwe’llformallydraftoutapeacetreaty."

           Asusualitwassignedplain"Justine."Nowordsevenofaffection;sheneverusedthem.Frowning,hestudiedtheartlesslycasualphrasesasifhecouldseethroughthemtowhatwasreallyinhermindasshewrote.