Поющие в терновнике

           MinniecameinwheelingtheteatrolleyasFatherdeBricassartsaid,"Thankyou,Mary."

           Overfreshbannocksandanchoviesontoast,MaryCarsonsighed."DearFather,Iwantyoutoprayespeciallyhardformethismorning."

           "CallmeRalph,"hesaid,thenwentonmischievously,"Idoubtit’spossibleformetoprayanyharderforyouthanInormallydo,butI’lltry."

           "Oh,you’reacharmer!Orwasthatremarkinnuendo?Idon’tusuallycareforobviousness,butwithyouI’mneversureiftheobviousnessisn’tactuallyacloakforsomethingdeeper.Likeacarrotbeforeadonkey.Justwhatdoyoureallythinkofme,FatherdeBricassart?I’llneverknow,becauseyou’llneverbetactlessenoughtotellme,willyou?Fascinating,fascinating…Butyoumustprayforme.I’mold,andI’vesinnedmuch."

           "Agecreepsonusall,andI,too,havesinned."

           Adrychuckleescapedher."I’dgivealottoknowhowyou’vesinned!Indeed,indeedIwould."Shewassilentforamoment,thenchangedthesubject."AtthisminuteI’mminusaheadstockman."

           "Again?"

           "Fiveinthepastyear.It’sgettinghardtofindadecentman."

           "Well,rumorhathityou’renotexactlyagenerousoraconsiderateemployer."

           "Oh,impudent!"shegasped,laughing."Whoboughtyouabrand-newDaimlersoyouwouldn’thavetoride?"

           "Ah,butlookhowhardIprayforyou!"

           "IfMichaelhadonlyhadhalfyourwitandcharacter,Imighthavelovedhim,"shesaidabruptly.Herfacechanged,becamespiteful.