Поющие в терновнике

           "Afterall,yousaidyourselfthatyouhaven’tseenhersincebeforeDanedied,andthat’stwoyearsago!"

           "Yes,you’reright.It’salloftwoyearsago."Hespokemoregently,realizingafreshwhatherlifemustbelike."Youbearitverywell,Mrs.O’Neill."

           "DoI?"sheasked,tightlytryingtosmile,hereyesneverleavinghis.

           SuddenlyhebegantounderstandwhattheCardinalmusthaveseeninhertohavelovedhersomuch.Itwasn’tinJustine,butthenhehimselfwasnoCardinalRalph;helookedfordifferentthings.

           "Yes,youbearitverywell,"herepeated.

           Shecaughttheundertoneatonce,andflinched."HowdoyouknowaboutDaneandRalph?"sheaskedunsteadily.

           "Iguessed.Don’tworry,Mrs.O’Neill,nobodyelsedid.IguessedbecauseIknewtheCardinallongbeforeImetDane.InRomeeveryonethoughttheCardinalwasyourbrother,Dane’suncle,butJustinedisillusionedmeaboutthatthefirsttimeIevermether."

           "Justine?NotJustine!"Meggiecried.

           Hereachedouttotakeherhand,beatingfranticallyagainstherknee."No,no,no,Mrs.O’Neill!Justinehasabsolutelynoideaofit,andIpraysheneverwill!Herslipwasquiteunintentional,believeme."

           "You’resure?"

           "Yes,Iswearit."

           "TheninGod’sNamewhydoesn’tshecomehome?Whywon’tshecometoseeme?Whycan’tshebringherselftolookatmyface?"

           NotonlyherwordsbuttheagonyinhervoicetoldhimwhathadtormentedJustine’smotheraboutherabsencetheselasttwoyears.