Поющие в терновнике

           Shewassoproudofhim!Allshecouldgetfromyou,thatwaswhatshesaidtoyouinRome.Well,Meggie…Inhimyougotthebestofit.DearGod,Ralph,howcouldyounothaveknownhewasyours?Yououghttohaverealizeditwhenhecametoyouamangrown,ifnotbefore.Shewaswaitingforyoutoseeit,dyingforyoutoseeit;ifonlyyouhad,shewouldhavegoneonherkneestoyou.Butyouwereblind.Youdidn’twanttosee.RalphRaoul,CardinaldeBricassart,thatwaswhatyouwanted;morethanher,morethanyourson.Morethanyourson!

           Theroomhadbecomefilledwithtinycries,rustles,whispers;theclockwastickingintimewithhisheart.Andthenitwasn’tintimeanymore.Hehadgotoutofstepwithit.MeggieandFeewereswimmingtotheirfeet,driftingwithfrightenedfacesinawateryinsubstancialmist,sayingthingstohimhecouldn’tseemtohear.

           "Aaaaaaah!"hecried,understanding.

           Hewashardlyconsciousofthepain,intentonlyonMeggie’sarmsaroundhim,thewayhisheadsankagainsther.Buthemanagedtoturnuntilhecouldseehereyes,andlookedather.Hetriedtosay,Forgiveme,andsawshehadforgivenhimlongago.Sheknewshehadgotthebestofit.Thenhewantedtosaysomethingsoperfectshewouldbeeternallyconsoled,andrealizedthatwasn’tnecessary,either.Whatevershewas,shecouldbearanything.Anything!Soheclosedhiseyesandlethimselffeel,thatlasttime,forgetfulnessinMeggie.