Поющие в терновнике

           "Justine,thisisnotsomethingtoplaywith,noramIsomeonetoplaywith.There’splentyoftime.YouhaveeveryreasontoknowIcanbepatient.Butgetitoutofyourheadentirelythatthiscanbesettledinanywaybutmarriage.Ihavenowishtobeknownasanyonelessimportanttoyouthanahusband."

           "I’mnotgivingupacting!"shesaidaggressively.

           "VerfluchteKiste,didIaskyouto?Growup,Justine!AnyonewouldthinkIwascondemningyoutoalifesentenceoverasinkandstove!We’renotexactlyonthebreadline,youknow.Youcanhaveasmanyservantsasyouwant,nanniesforthechildren,whateverelseisnecessary."

           "Erk!"saidJustine,whohadn’tthoughtofchildren.

           Hethrewbackhisheadandlaughed."Oh,Herzchen,thisiswhat’sknownasthemorningafterwithavengeance!I’mafooltobringuprealitiessosoon,Iknow,butallyouhavetodoatthisstageisthinkaboutthem.ThoughIgiveyoufairwarning—whileyou’remakingyourdecision,rememberthatifIcan’thaveyouformywife,Idon’twantyouatall."

           Shethrewherarmsaroundhim,clingingfiercely."Oh,Rain,don’tmakeitsohard!"shecried.

           ***

           Alone,DanedrovehisLagondauptheItalianboot,pastPerugia,Firenze,Bologna,Ferrara,Padova,betterby-passVenezia,spendthenightinTrieste.Itwasoneofhisfavoritecities,sohestayedontheAdriaticcoastafurthertwodaysbeforeheadingupthemountainroadtoLjubljana,anothernightinZagreb.