Поющие в терновнике

           Muchbetter.

           ***

           Meggiecaughtherselfonasigh,suppressedit.Ifherbonesdidn’tachesomuchshemighthavesaddledahorseandridden,buttodaythemerethoughtofitwaspainful.Someothertime,whenherarthritisdidn’tmakeitspresencefeltsocruelly.

           Sheheardacar,thethumpofthebrassram’sheadonthefrontdoor,heardvoicesmurmuring,hermother’stones,footsteps.NotJustine,sowhatdiditmatter?

           "Meggie,"saidFeefromtheverandaentrance,"wehaveavisitor.Couldyoucomeinside,please?"

           Thevisitorwasadistinguished-lookingfellowinearlymiddleage,thoughhemighthavebeenyoungerthanheappeared.Verydifferentfromanymanshehadeverseen,exceptthathepossessedthesamesortofpowerandself-confidenceRalphusedtohave.Usedtohave.Thatmostfinaloftenses,nowtrulyfinal.

           "Meggie,thisisMr.RainerHartheim,"saidFee,standingbesideherchair.

           "Oh!"exclaimedMeggieinvoluntarily,verysurprisedatthelookoftheRainwhohadfiguredsolargelyinJustine’slettersfromtheolddays.Then,rememberinghermanners,"Dositdown,Mr.Hartheim."

           Hetoowasstaring,startled."You’renotabitlikeJustine!"hesaidratherblankly.

           "No,I’mnot."Shesatdownfacinghim.

           "I’llleaveyoualonewithMr.Hartheim,Meggie,ashesayshewantstoseeyouprivately.Whenyou’rereadyforteayoumightring,"Feecommanded,anddeparted.

           "You’reJustine’sGermanfriend,ofcourse,"saidMeggie,ataloss.

           Hepulledouthiscigarettecase."MayI?"

           "Pleasedo."