Поющие в терновнике

           Thensheputherglassonthehearthwitharingingsnapandsatforward,herarmslinkedaboutherknees,barefeethiddenbyfoldsofdenselyblackgown.

           "Ican’tstandbeatingaroundthebush,"shesaid."Didyoumeanit,Rain?"

           Suddenlyrelaxingdeeply,helaybackinhischair."Meanwhat?"

           "WhatyousaidinRome…Thatyoulovedme."

           "Isthatwhatthisisallabout,Herzchen?"

           Shelookedaway,shrugged,lookedbackathimandnodded.

           "Well,ofcourse."

           "Butwhybringitupagain?Youtoldmewhatyouthought,andIhadgatheredtonight’sinvitationwasn’textendedtobringupthepast,onlyplanafuture."

           "Oh,Rain!You’reactingasifI’mmakingafuss!EvenifIwas,surelyyoucanseewhy."

           "No,Ican’t."Heputhisglassdownandbentforwardtowatchhermoreclosely."Yougavemetounderstandmostemphaticallythatyouwantednopartofmylove,andIhadhopedyou’datleasthavethedecencytorefrainfromdiscussingit."

           Ithadnotoccurredtoherthatthismeeting,nomatterwhatitsoutcome,wouldbesouncomfortable;afterall,hehadputhimselfinthepositionofasuppliant,andoughttobewaitinghumblyforhertoreverseherdecision.Insteadheseemedtohaveturnedthetablesneatly.Hereshewasfeelinglikeanaughtyschoolgirlcalledupontoanswerforsomeidioticprank.