Поющие в терновнике

           "Iknowyoufairlywellbythistime;IthinkI’mentitledtoaskyouafewquestions,don’tyou?Afterall,youfeelfreetouseDroghedaasyourprivateplayground—offlearninghowtobeastockman,polishingyourriding,escapingfromthevicissitudesoflifeinGilly.Allatmyinvitation,ofcourse,butIdothinkI’mentitledtosomeanswers,don’tyou?"

           Hedidn’tliketoberemindedthatheoughttofeelgrateful,buthehadbeenwaitingforthedaywhenshewouldthinksheownedhimenoughtobegindemandingthingsofhim."Indeedyouare,Mrs.Carson.Ican’tthankyouenoughforpermittingmetherunofDrogheda,andforallyourgifts—myhorses,mycar."

           "Howoldareyou?"sheaskedwithoutfurtherpreamble.

           "Twenty-eight,"hereplied.

           "YoungerthanIthought.Evenso,theydon’tsendpriestslikeyoutoplaceslikeGilly.Whatdidyoudo,tomakethemsendsomeonelikeyououthereintothebackofbeyond?"

           "Iinsultedthebishop,"hesaidcalmly,smiling.

           "Youmusthave!ButIcan’tthinkapriestofyourpeculiartalentscanbehappyinaplacelikeGillanbone."

           "ItisGod’swill."

           "Stuffandnonsense!You’reherebecauseofhumanfailings—yourownandthebishop’s.OnlythePopeisinfallible.You’reutterlyoutofyournaturalelementinGilly,weallknowthat,notthatwe’renotgratefultohavesomeonelikeyouforachange,insteadoftheordainedremittancementheysendususually.Butyournaturalelementliesinsomecorridorofecclesiasticalpower,nothereamonghorsesandsheep.