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           Areyougoingtobackout?"

           Exasperated,sheglaredathimfiercely,butheonlylaughedather.

           "You’respoiledrotten,youngMeghann;it’stimeyoudidn’tgetallyourownway."

           "I’mnotspoiled!"

           "Goon,tellmeanother!Theonlygirl,allthosebrotherstorunroundafteryou,allthislandandmoney,aposhhouse,servants?IknowtheCatholicChurchownsit,buttheClearysaren’tshortofapennyeither."

           Thatwasthebigdifferencebetweenthem!shethoughttriumphantly;ithadbeeneludinghersinceshemethim.FatherRalphwouldneverhavefallenforoutwardtrappings,butthismanlackedhissensitivity;hehadnoinbuiltantennaetotellhimwhatlaybeneaththesurface.Herodethroughlifewithoutanideainhisheadaboutitscomplexityoritspain.

           ***

           Flabbergasted,BobhandedoverthekeystothenewRollswithoutamurmur;hehadstaredatLukeforamomentwithoutspeaking,thengrinned.

           "IneverthoughtofMeggiegoingtoadance,buttakeher,Luke,andwelcome!Idaresayshe’dlikeit,thepoorlittlebeggar.Shenevergetsoutmuch.Weoughttothinkoftakingher,butsomehowweneverdo."

           "Whydon’tyouandJackandHughiecome,too?"Lukeasked,apparentlynotaversetocompany.

           Bobshookhishead,horrified."No,thanks.We’renottookeenondances."

           Meggieworeherashes-of-rosesdress,nothavinganythingelsetowear;ithadn’toccurredtohertousesomeofthestockpilingpoundsFatherRalphputinthebankinhernametohavedressesmadeforpartiesandballs.