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Chapter 6

Forawhilethepriestwascharmedwithheractivity,thenhewhackedthesideofhisdustybootwithhiscropandstaredmoodilyofftheverandatowardthebighouse,hiddenbyitsghostgumsandvines,theprofusionofstationbuildingsandpeppertreeswhichlaybetweenitsisolationandthishubofstationlife,theheadstockman’sresidence.Whatplotwassheweaving,thatoldspiderupthereatthecenterofhervastweb?

"Father,you’renotwatching!"Meggieaccusedhim.

"I’msorry,Meggie.Iwasthinking."HeturnedbacktoherasshefinishedwithJims;thethreeofthemstoodwatchinghimexpectantlyuntilhebentandscoopedthetwinsup,oneoneitherhip."Let’sgoandseeyourAuntieMary,shallwe?"

Meggiefollowedhimupthetrackcarryinghiscropandleadingthechestnutmare;hetotedtheinfantswitheasyfamiliarityandseemednottomind,thoughitwasalmostamilefromthecreektothebighouse.AtthecookhouseherelinquishedthetwinstoanecstaticMrs.SmithandpassedonupthewalkwaytothemainhousewithMeggiebyhisside.

MaryCarsonwassittinginherwingchair.Shehardlyevermovedfromitthesedays;therewasnotthenecessityanymorewithPaddysocapableofoverseeingthings.AsFatherRalphcameinholdingMeggie’shand,hermalevolentgazebeatthechild’sdown;FatherRalphfelttheincreaseinMeggie’spulserateandsqueezedherwristsympathetically.Thelittlegirldroppedherauntaclumsycurtsy,murmuringaninaudiblegreeting.