Поющие в терновнике

           EvenifshemarriedBoyKing,ashisgrandfatherandIhavehopedforyears,herchildrenwouldbeaswellcaredforinherabsencesastheywouldbewereshemarriedtoyou.Thisisherhome!Sheknowsandunderstandsthiskindoflife.Ifshechoseit,she’dcertainlybeverywellawarewhatwasinvolved.Canyousaythesameforthesortoflifeyou’dofferher?"

           "No,"hesaidstolidly."ButJustinethrivesonsurprises.OnDroghedashe’dstagnate."

           "Whatyoumeanis,she’dbeunhappyhere."

           "No,notexactly.Ihavenodoubtthatifsheelectedtoreturnhere,marriedthisBoyKing—whoisthisBoyKing,bytheway?"

           "Theheirtoaneighboringproperty,Bugela,andanoldchildhoodfriendwhowouldliketobemorethanafriend.Hisgrandfatherwantsthemarriagefordynasticreasons;IwantitbecauseIthinkit’swhatJustineneeds."

           "Isee.Well,ifshereturnedhereandmarriedBoyKing,she’dlearntobehappy.Buthappinessisarelativestate.Idon’tthinkshewouldeverknowthekindofsatisfactionshewouldfindwithme.Because,Mrs.O’Neill,Justinelovesme,notBoyKing."

           "Thenshe’sgotaverystrangewayofshowingit,"saidMeggie,pullingthebellropefortea."Besides,Mr.Hartheim,asIsaidearlier,Ithinkyouoverestimatemyinfluencewithher.JustinehasnevertakenascrapofnoticeofanythingIsay,letalonewant."

           "You’renobody’sfool,"heanswered."Youknowyoucandoitifyouwantto.IcanasknomorethanthatyouthinkaboutwhatI’vesaid.