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           ButtoseeDrogheda’shomesteadgardensbareandbrowninspringhurtbadly.AgainstdroughttheycouldsurvivethankstoMichaelCarson’swatertanks,butinafirenothingsurvived.Eventhewistariafailedtobloom;whentheflamescameitstenderclustersofbudswerejustforming,andshriveled.Roseswerecrisped,pansiesweredead,stocksturnedtosepiastraw,fuchsiasinshadyspotswitheredpastrejuvenation,babies’-breathsmothered,sweetpeavinesweresereandscentless.Whathadbeenbledfromthewatertanksduringthefirewasreplacedbytheheavyrainthatfollowedhardonit,soeveryoneonDroghedasacrificedanebuloussparetimetohelpingoldTombringthegardensback.

           BobdecidedtokeeponwithPaddy’spolicyofmorehandstorunDrogheda,andputonthreemorestockmen;MaryCarson’spolicyhadbeentokeepnopermanentnon-Clearymenonherbooks,preferringtohireextrahandsatmustering,lambingandshearingtime,butPaddyfeltthemenworkedbetterknowingtheyhadpermanentjobs,anditdidn’tmakemuchdifferenceinthelongrun.Moststockmenwerechronicallyafflictedwithitchyfeet,andneverstayedverylonganywhere.

           Thenewhousessittingfartherbackfromthecreekwereinhabitedbymarriedmen;oldTomhadaneatnewthree-roomcottageunderapeppertreebehindthehorseyards,andcackledwithproprietarygleeeverytimeheenteredit.Meggiecontinuedtolookaftersomeoftheinnerpaddocks,andhermotherthebooks.