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           AndJimmySharmanhimselfsaidIhadaterrificfutureasaboxer;hewantstotakemeintohistroupeandtrainme.Andhewantstopayme!Imaynotgrowanybigger,butI’mbigenoughtolickanymaneverborn—andthatgoesforyou,too,youstinkingoldhe-goat!"

           TheinferencebehindtheepithetwasnotlostonPaddy;hewentaswhiteashisson."Don’tyoudarecallmethat!"

           "Whatelseareyou?You’redisgusting,you’reworsethanaraminrut!Couldn’tyouleaveheralone,couldn’tyoukeepyourhandsoffher?"

           "No,no,no!"Meggiescreamed.FatherRalph’shandsbitintohershoulderslikeclawsandheldherpainfullyagainsthim.Thetearspoureddownherface,shetwistedtofreeherselffranticallyandvainly."No,Daddy,no!Oh,Frank,please!Please,please!"sheshrilled.

           ButtheonlyonewhoheardherwasFatherRalph.FrankandPaddyfacedeachother,thedislikeandthefear,eachfortheother,admittedatlast.ThedamofmutualloveforFeewasbreachedandthebitterrivalryforFeeacknowledged.

           "Iamherhusband.ItisbyGod’sgraceweareblessedwithourchildren,"saidPaddymorecalmly,fightingforcontrol.

           "You’renobetterthanashittyolddogafteranybitchyoucanstickyourthinginto!"

           "Andyou’renobetterthantheshittyolddogwhofatheredyou,whoeverhewas!ThankGodIneverhadahandinit!"shoutedPaddy,andstopped.