Поющие в терновнике

           AtthejunctionoftheHighRoadandJustine’slittlemewsRainhelpedherfromthecar,toldFritztodrivearoundtheblock,andputhishandbeneathherelbowcourteouslytoguideher,histouchquiteimpersonal.InthefreezingdampofaLondondrizzletheywalkedslowlyacrossthecobbles,drippingechoesoftheirfootstepsallaroundthem.Mournful,lonelyfootsteps.

           "So,Justine,wesaygoodbye,"hesaid.

           "Well,forthetimebeing,atanyrate,"sheansweredbrightly,"butit’snotforever,youknow.I’llbeacrossfromtimetotime,andIhopeyou’llfindthetimetocomedowntoDrogheda."

           Heshookhishead."No.Thisisgoodbye,Justine.Idon’tthinkwehaveanyfurtheruseforeachother."

           "Youmeanyouhaven’tanyfurtheruseforme,"shesaid,andmanagedafairlycreditablelaugh."It’sallright,Rain!Don’tspareme,Icantakeit!"

           Hetookherhand,benttokissit,straightened,smiledintohereyesandwalkedaway.

           Therewasaletterfromhermotheronthemat.Justinestoopedtopickitup,droppedherbagandwrapwhereithadlain,hershoesnearby,andwentintothelivingroom.Shesatdownheavilyonapackingcrate,chewingatherlip,hereyesrestingforamomentinwondering,bewilderedpityonamagnificenthead-and-shouldersstudyofDanetakentocommemoratehisordination.Thenshecaughtherbaretoesintheactofcaressingtherolled-upkangaroo-furrug,grimacedindistasteandgotupquickly.

           Ashortwalktothekitchen,thatwaswhatsheneeded.