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           Theymadenonostalgicpilgrimagesbacktotheoldcountry;ithaddonenothingforthemsavediscriminateagainstthemfortheirreligiousconvictions,whereAustraliawastooCatholicacountrytodiscriminate.AndtheGreatNorthwestwashome.

           Besides,MaryCarsonwasfootingthebilltonight.Shecouldwellaffordit.RumorsaidshewasabletobuyandselltheKingofEngland.Shehadmoneyinsteel,moneyinsilver-lead-zinc,moneyincopperandgold,moneyinahundreddifferentthings,mostlythesortofthingsthatliterallyandmetaphoricallymademoney.Droghedahadlongsinceceasedtobethemainsourceofherincome;itwasnomorethanaprofitablehobby.

           FatherRalphdidn’tspeakdirectlytoMeggieduringdinner,nordidheafterward;throughouttheeveninghestudiouslyignoredher.Hurt,hereyessoughthimwhereverhewasinthereceptionroom.Awareofit,heachedtostopbyherchairandexplaintoherthatitwouldnotdoherreputation(orhis)anygoodifhepaidhermoreattentionthanhedid,say,MissCarmichael,MissGordonorMissO’Mara.LikeMeggiehedidn’tdance,andlikeMeggiethereweremanyeyesonhim;theywereeasilythetwomostbeautifulpeopleintheroom.

           Halfofhimhatedherappearancetonight,theshorthair,thelovelydress,thedaintyashes-of-rosessilkslipperswiththeirtwo-inchheels;shewasgrowingtaller,developingaveryfemininefigure.Andhalfofhimwasbusybeingterrificallyproudofthefactthatsheshonealltheotheryoungladiesdown.