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           FatherRalph’seyesdancedashesurveyedthewater,almostashallowpond;heturnedtothechildwhosehandhehadkeptinhisfirmly,andbentdowntoherwithaspecialtendernesstheladycouldnotmistake,forithadbeenentirelylackinginhiscivilexchangeswithher.

           "Iwearnocloak,darlingMeggie,soIcan’tbeyourSirWalterRaleigh.I’msureyou’llexcuseme,mydearMissCarmichael"—thereinswerepassedtothelady—"butIcan’tpermitmyfavoritegirltomuddyhershoes,nowcanI?"

           HepickedMeggieupandtuckedhereasilyagainsthiship,leavingMissCarmichaeltocollectherheavytrailingskirtsinonehand,thereinsinherother,andsplashherwayacrossunaided.ThesoundofFrank’shootoflaugherjustbehindthemdidn’timprovehertemper;onthefarsideofthepuddlesheleftthemabruptly.

           "Idobelieveshe’dkillyouifshecould,"FranksaidasFatherRalphputMeggiedown.HewasfascinatedbythisencounterandbyFatherRalph’sdeliberatecruelty.ShehadseemedtoFranksobeautifulandsohaughtythatnomancouldgainsayher,evenapriest,yetFatherRalphhadwantonlysetouttoshatterherfaithinherself,inthatheadyfemininityshewieldedlikeaweapon.Asifthepriesthatedherandwhatshestoodfor,Frankthought,theworldofwomen,anexquisitemysteryhehadneverhadtheopportunitytoplumb.Smartingfromhismother’swords,hehadwantedMissCarmichaeltonoticehim,theoldestsonofMaryCarson’sheir,butshehadnotsomuchasdeignedtoadmitheexisted.