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           Forwhat?Theniggardlywagesshepaid?NevertoFatherRalph’sknowledgehadPaddycomplainedofbeingshabbilytreated,thinkingnodoubtthatwhenhissisterdiedhewouldbeamplyrepaidformanagingthepropertyonordinarystockman’spay,whilehissonsdidstockman’sworkforrouseabout’swages.Hehadmadedo,andgrowntoJoveDroghedaasifitwerehisown,rightlyassumingitwouldbe.

           "Bravo,Mary!"saidFatherRalphagain,thesefirsttearssincehisboyhooddroppingfromhisfaceontothebacksofhishands,butnotontothepaper.

           Thirteenmillionpounds,andthechancetobeCardinaldeBricassartyet.AgainstPaddyCleary,hiswife,hissons—andMeggie.Howdiabolicallywellshehadreadhim!HadshestrippedPaddyofeverything,hiswaywouldhavebeenclear:hecouldhavetakenthewilldowntothekitchenstoveandthrustitinsidethefireboxwithoutaqualm.ButshehadmadesurePaddywouldn’twant,thatafterherdeathhewouldbemorecomfortableonDroghedathanduringherlife,andthatDroghedacouldnotquitebetakenfromhim.Itsprofitsandtitle,yes,butnotthelanditself.No,hewouldn’tbetheownerofthatfabulousthirteenmillionpounds,buthewouldbewellrespected,comfortablyprovidedfor.Meggiewouldn’tgohungry,orbethrownshoelessupontheworld.NorwouldshebeMissCleary,either,abletostandonanequalfootingwithMissCarmichaelandthatilk.Quiterespectable,sociallyadmissible,butnottopdrawer.Nevertopdrawer.

           Thirteenmillionpounds.