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           Butthiswasn’thelpinghisMeggie.Whenhewassurethecolorhadsubsidedhegottohisfeet,pickedherupandsatheronaflat-toppedmarblepedestal,whereherfaceandhiswerelevel.

           "Meggie,lookatme.No,lookatme!"

           Sheraisedhuntedeyesandsawthathewassmiling;animmeasurablecontentmentfilledhersoulatonce.Hewouldnotsmilesoifsheweredying;sheknewverywellhowmuchshemeanttohim,forhehadneverconcealedit.

           "Meggie,you’renotdyingandyouhaven’tgotcancer.Itisn’tmyplacetotellyouwhat’sthematter,butIthinkIhadbetter.Yourmothershouldhavetoldyouyearsago,preparedyou,andwhyshedidn’tisbeyondme."

           Helookedupattheinscrutablemarbleangelabovehimandgaveapeculiar,half-strangledlaugh."DearJesus!ThethingsThougivestmetodo!"Then,tothewaitingMeggie:"Inyearstocome,asyougrowolderandlearnmoreaboutthewaysoftheworld,youmightbetemptedtoremembertodaywithembarrassment,evenshame.Butdon’tremembertodaylikethat,Meggie.There’sabsolutelynothingshamefulorembarrassingaboutit.Inthis,asineverythingIdo,IamsimplytheinstrumentofOurLord.Itismyonlyfunctiononthisearth;Imustadmitnoother.Youwereveryfrightened,youneededhelp,andOurLordhassentyouthathelpinmyperson.Rememberthatalone,Meggie.IamOurLord’spriest,andIspeakinHisName.

           "You’reonlydoingwhatallwomendo,Meggie.Onceamonthforseveraldaysyou’llpassblood.