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           However,unlikemoststockmenhepreferredawhiteshirtandwhitemoleskinstogreyflannelandgreytwill;somewhatofadandy,shedecided,amused.Goodlucktohim,ifhedidn’tmindthebotherofsomuchwashingandironing.

           "G’day,Missus!"hecalledastheyconverged,doffinghisbatteredoldgreyfelthatandreplacingitrakishlyonthebackofhishead.

           LaughingblueeyeslookedatMeggieinundisguisedadmirationasshedrewalongside.

           "Well,you’recertainlynottheMissus,soyou’vegottobethedaughter,"hesaid."I’mLukeO’Neill."

           Meggiemutteredsomethingbutwouldn’tlookathimagain,soconfusedandangryshecouldn’tthinkofanyappropriatelylightconversation.Oh,itwasn’tfair!HowdaresomeoneelsehaveeyesandfacelikeFatherRalph!Notthewayhelookedather:themirthwassomethingofhisownandhehadnoloveburningforherthere;fromthefirstmomentofseeingFatherRalphkneelinginthedustoftheGillystationyardMeggiehadseenloveinhiseyes.Tolookintohiseyesandnotseehim!Itwasacrueljoke,apunishment.

           Unawareofthethoughtshiscompanionharbored,LukeO’NeillkepthiswickedbaybesideMeggie’sdemuremareastheysplashedthroughthecreek,stillrunningstrongfromsomuchrain.Shewasabeauty,allright!Thathair!WhatwassimplycarrotsonthemaleClearyswassomethingelseagainonthislittlesprig.