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           HepausedtothinkhowMaryCarsonwouldhavegreetedthatbitofunderstatement,andlaughedsoundlessly."IfIhadpaidyouaskerrickofattentionitwouldhavebeenalloverGillyinrecordtime.Everypartylineinthedistrictwouldhavebeenbuzzingwithit.DoyouknowwhatImean?"

           Sheshookherhead;thecroppedcurlsweregrowingbrighterintheadvancinglight.

           "Well,you’reyoungtocometoknowledgeofthewaysoftheworld,butyou’vegottolearn,anditalwaysseemstobemyprovincetoteachyou,doesn’tit?ImeanpeoplewouldbesayingIwasinterestedinyouasaman,notasapriest."

           "Father!"

           "Dreadful,isn’tit?"Hesmiled."Butthat’swhatpeoplewouldsay,Iassureyou.Yousee,Meggie,you’renotalittlegirlanymore,you’reayounglady.Butyouhaven’tlearnedyettohideyouraffectionforme,sohadIstoppedtospeaktoyouwithallthosepeoplelookingon,you’dhavestaredatmeinawaywhichmighthavebeenmisconstrued."

           Shewaslookingathimoddly,asuddeninscrutabilityshutteringhergaze,thenabruptlysheturnedherheadandpresentedhimwithherprofile."Yes,Isee.Iwassillynottohaveseenit."

           "Nowdon’tyouthinkit’stimeyouwenthome?Nodoubteveryonewillsleepin,butifsomeone’sawakeattheusualtimeyou’llbeinthesoup.Andyoucan’tsayyou’vebeenwithme,Meggie,eventoyourownfamily."

           Shegotupandstoodstaringdownathim."I’mgoing,Father.ButIwishtheyknewyoubetter,thenthey’dneverthinksuchthingsofyou.