Поющие в терновнике

           Bob,JackandHughiestoodstiffly,hopingFrankwouldputupanotherfight;Stuartjustlookedonquietly,fromoutofhispeaceful,sympatheticlittlesoul;Meggieheldherhandstohercheeks,pushingandkneadingattheminanagonyoffearthatsomeonemeanttohurtFrank.

           Heturnedtolookathismotherfirst,blackeyesintogreyinadarkandbittercommunionwhichhadneverbeenspoken,noreverwas.Paddy’sfiercebluegazebeathimdown,contemptuousandscathing,asifthiswaswhathehadexpected,andFrank’sdowncastlidsacknowledgedhisrighttobeangry.FromthatdayforwardPaddyneverspoketohissonbeyondcommoncivility.ButitwasthechildrenFrankfoundhardesttoface,ashamedandembarrassed,thebrightbirdbroughthomewiththeskyunplumbed,wingsclipped,songdrownedintosilence.

           MeggiewaiteduntilafterFeehaddonehernightlyrounds,thenshewriggledthroughtheopenwindowandmadeoffacrossthebackyard.SheknewwhereFrankwouldbe,upinthehayinthebarn,safefrompryingeyesandhisfather.

           "Frank,Frank,whereareyou?"shesaidinastagewhisperassheshuffledintothestillyblacknessofthebarn,hertoesexploringtheunknowngroundinfrontofherassensitivelyasananimal.

           "Overhere,Meggie,"camehistiredvoice,hardlyFrank’svoiceatall,nolifeorpassiontoit.

           Shefollowedthesoundtowherehewasstretchedoutinthehay,andsnuggleddownbesidehimwithherarmsasfararoundhischestastheywouldreach."Oh,Frank,I’msogladyou’reback,"shesaid