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           Hershoulderswerebentasiftheloadwasveryheavy,butsheliftedherheadtolookdirectlyintohisface.

           "Iwon’tfillmyheadwithdreamsofyou,don’tworry.Iknowyou’reapriest."

           "I’mnotconvincedIchosemyvocationwrongly.Itfillsaneedinmenohumanbeingevercould,evenyou."

           "Iknow.IcanseeitwhenyousayMass.Youhaveapower.IsupposeyoumustfeellikeOurLord."

           "Icanfeeleverysuspendedbreathinthechurch,Meggie!AseachdaygoesonIdie,andineachmorningsayingMassIamreborn.ButisitbecauseI’mGod’schosenpriest,orbecauseIhearthoseawedbreaths,knowthepowerIhaveovereverysoulpresent?"

           "Doesitmatter?Itjustis."

           "Itwouldprobablynevermattertoyou,butitdoestome.Idoubt,Idoubt."

           Sheswitchedthesubjecttowhatmatteredtoher."Idon’tknowhowIshallgetonwithoutyou,Father.FirstFrank,nowyou.SomehowwithHalit’sdifferent;Iknowhe’sdeadandcannevercomeback.ButyouandFrankarealive!I’llawaysbewonderinghowyouare,whatyou’redoing,ifyou’reallright,ifthere’sanythingIcoulddotohelpyou.I’llevenhavetowonderifyou’restillalive,won’tI?"

           "I’llbefeelingthesame,Meggie,andI’msurethatFrankdoes,too."

           "No.Frank’sforgottenus…Youwill,too."

           "Icouldneverforgetyou,Meggie,notaslongasIlive.AndformypunishmentI’mgoingtolivealong,longtime."Hegotupandpulledhertoherfeet,puthisarmsaboutherlooselyandaffectionately.