Поющие в терновнике

           HehadopeneditintheWahinepostofficethemomenthecollectedhismail,andcamebacktothehouseskippinglikeachild.

           "We’regoingtoAustralia!"heyelled,wavingtheexpensivevellumpagesunderhisfamily’sstunnednoses.

           Therewassilence,alleyesrivetedonhim.Fee’swereshocked,sowereMeggie’s,buteverymalepairhadlitwithjoy.Frank’sblazed.

           "But,Paddy,whyshouldshethinkofyousosuddenlyafteralltheseyears?"Feeaskedaftershehadreadtheletter."Hermoney’snotnewtoher,norisherisolation.Ineverrememberherofferingtohelpusbefore."

           "Itseemsshe’sfrightenedofdyingalone,"hesaid,asmuchtoreassurehimselfasFee."Yousawwhatshewrote:‘Iamnotyoung,andyouandyourboysaremyheirs.IthinkweoughttoseeeachotherbeforeIdie,andit’stimeyoulearnedhowtorunyourinheritance.Ihavetheintentionofmakingyoumyheadstockman—itwillbeexcellenttraining,andthoseofyourboyswhoareoldenoughtoworkmayhaveemploymentasstockmenalso.Droghedawillbecomeafamilyconcern,runbythefamilywithouthelpfromoutsiders.’"

           "DoesshesayanythingaboutsendingusthemoneytogettoAustralia?"Feeasked.

           Paddy’sbackstiffened."Iwouldn’tdreamofdunningherforthat!"hesnapped."WecangettoAustraliawithoutbeggingfromher;Ihaveenoughputby."

           "Ithinksheoughttopayourway,"Feemaintainedstubbornly,andtoeveryone’sshockedsurprise;shedidnotoftenvoiceanopinion.