Поющие в терновнике

           "Doyouknow,IthinkI’dgiveupeveryambition,everydesireinme,forthechancetobeaperfectpriest?"

           "Perfectioninanything,"shesaid,"isunbearablydull.Myself,Ipreferatouchofimperfection."

           Helaughed,lookingatherinadmirationtingedwithenvy.Shewasaremarkablewoman.

           Herwidowhoodwasthirty-threeyearsoldandheronlychild,ason,haddiedininfancy.BecauseofherpeculiarstatusintheGillanbonecommunityshehadnotavailedherselfofanyoftheoverturesmadetoherbythemoreambitiousmalesofheracquaintance;asMichaelCarson’swidowshewasindisputablyaqueen,butassomeone’swifeshepassedcontrolofallshehadtothatsomeone.NotMaryCarson’sideaofliving,toplaysecondfiddle.Soshehadabjuredtheflesh,preferringtowieldpower;itwasinconceivablethatsheshouldtakealover,forwhenitcametogossipGillanbonewasasreceptiveasawiretoanelectricalcurrent.Toproveherselfhumanandweakwasnotapartofherobsession.

           Butnowshewasoldenoughtobeofficiallybeyondthedrivesofthebody.Ifthenewyoungpriestwasassiduousinhisdutiestoherandsherewardedhimwithlittlegiftslikeacar,itwasnotatallincongruous.AstaunchpillaroftheChurchallherlife,shehadsupportedherparishanditsspiritualleaderinfittingfashionevenwhenFatherKellyhadhiccupedhiswaythroughtheMass.