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           Becausehecouldnotembarrassherfamilybygivinghergifts,hegaveherasmuchofhiscompanyashecould,andspenttimeandthoughtonredecoratingherroomatthepresbytery;notsomuchtoseeherpleasureastocreateafittingsettingforhisjewel.NopinchbeckforMeggie.

           AtthebeginningofMaytheshearersarrivedonDrogheda.MaryCarsonwasextraordinarilyawareofhoweverythingonDroghedawasdone,fromdeployingthesheeptocrackingastockwhip;shesummonedPaddytothebighousesomedaysbeforetheshearerscame,andwithoutmovingfromherwingchairshetoldhimpreciselywhattododowntothelastlittledetail.UsedtoNewZealandshearing,Paddyhadbeenstaggeredbythesizeoftheshed,itstwenty-sixstands;now,aftertheinterviewwithhissister,factsandfigureswarredinsidehishead.NotonlywouldDroghedasheepbeshornonDrogheda,butBugelaandDibban-DibbanandBeel-Beelsheepaswell.Itmeantagruelingamountofworkforeverysoulontheplace,maleandfemale.CommunalshearingwasthecustomandthestationssharingDrogheda’sshearingfacilitieswouldnaturallypitchintohelp,butthebruntoftheincidentalworkinevitablyfellontheshouldersofthoseonDrogheda.

           Theshearerswouldbringtheirowncookwiththemandbuytheirfoodfromthestationstore,butthosevastamountsoffoodhadtobefound;theramshacklebarrackswithkitchenandprimitivebathroomattachedhadtobescoured,cleanedandequippedwithmattressesandblankets.