Поющие в терновнике

           Takeyourtime,there’snohurry.I’mapatientman."

           Meggiesmiled."Thenyou’reararity,"shesaid.

           Hedidn’tbroachthesubjectagain,nordidshe.Duringtheweekofhisstayhebehavedlikeanyotherguest,thoughMeggiehadafeelinghewastryingtoshowherwhatkindofmanhewas.Howmuchherbrotherslikedhimwasclear;fromthemomentwordreachedthepaddocksofhisarrival,theyallcameinandstayedinuntilheleftforGermany.

           Feelikedhim,too;hereyeshaddeterioratedtothepointwhereshecouldnolongerkeepthebooks,butshewasfarfromsenile.Mrs.Smithhaddiedinhersleepthepreviouswinter,notbeforeherduetime,andratherthaninflictanewhousekeeperonMinnieandCat,botholdbutstillhale,FeehadpassedthebookscompletelytoMeggieandmoreorlessfilledMrs.Smith’splaceherself.ItwasFeewhofirstrealizedRainerwasadirectlinkwiththatpartofDane’slifenooneonDroghedahadeverhadopportunitytoshare,sosheaskedhimtospeakofit.Heobligedgladly,havingquicklynoticedthatnoneoftheDroghedapeoplewereatallreluctanttotalkofDane,andderivedgreatpleasurefromlisteningtonewtalesabouthim.

           BehindhermaskofpolitenessMeggiecouldn’tgetawayfromwhatRainhadtoldher,couldn’tstopdwellingonthechoicehehadofferedher.ShehadlongsincegivenuphopeofJustine’sreturn,onlytohavehimalmostguaranteeit,admittoothatJustinewouldbehappyifshedidreturn.