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           FatherRalphhadsentPaddyacheckforfivethousandpoundsatthebeginningoftheprecedingDecember,tobegoingonwith,hislettersaid;PaddyhandedittoFeewithadazedexclamation.

           "IdoubtI’vemanagedtoearnthismuchinallmyworkingdays,"hesaid.

           "WhatshallIdowithit?"Feeasked,staringatitandthenlookingupthim,eyesblazing."Money,Paddy!Moneyatlast,doyourealizeit?Oh,Idon’tcareaboutAuntieMary’sthirteenmillionpounds—there’snothingrealaboutsomuch.Butthisisreal!WhatshallIdowithit?"

           "Spendit,"saidPaddysimply."Afewnewclothesforthechildrenandyourself?Andmaybetherearethingsyou’dliketobuyforthebighouse?Ican’tthinkofanythingelseweneed."

           "NorcanI,isn’titsilly?"UpgotFeefromthebreakfasttable,beckoningMeggieimperiously."Comeon,girl,we’rewalkinguptothebighousetolookatit."

           Thoughatthattimethreeweekshadelapsed,sincethefranticweekfollowingMaryCarson’sdeath,noneoftheClearyshadbeennearthebighouse.ButnowFee’svisitmorethanmadeupfortheirpreviousreluctance.FromoneroomtoanothershemarchedwithMeggie,Mrs.Smith,MinnieandCatinattendance,moreanimatedthanabewilderedMeggiehadeverknownher.Shemutteredtoherselfcontinually;thiswasdreadful,thatwasanabsolutehorror,wasMarycolor-blind,didshehavenotasteatall?

           InthedrawingroomFeepausedlongest,eyeingitexpertly.