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           AllsavethemosteducatedandsophisticatedAustralianwomenwererearedtothinkthemselvesmoreorlessthechattelsoftheirmen,andthiswasespeciallytrueofMeggie.DaddyhadalwaysruledFeeandhischildren,andsincehisdeathFeehaddeferredtoBobashissuccessor.Themanownedthemoney,thehouse,hiswifeandhischildren.Meggiehadneverquestionedhisrighttodoso.

           "Oh!"sheexclaimed."Ididn’tknowsigninganythingwasnecessary,Luke.Ithoughtthatwhatwasmineautomaticallybecameyourswhenwemarried."

           "Itusedtobelikethat,butthosestupiddrongosinCanberrastoppeditwhentheygavewomenthevote.Iwanteverythingtobefairandsquarebetweenus,Meghann,soI’mtellingyounowhowthingsaregoingtobe."

           Shelaughed,"It’sallright,Luke,Idon’tmind."

           Shetookitlikeagoodold-fashionedwife;Dotwouldn’thavegiveninsoreadily."Howmuchhaveyougot?"heasked.

           "Atthemoment,fourteenthousandpounds.EveryyearIgettwothousandmore."

           Hewhistled."Fourteenthousandpounds!Phew!That’salotofmoney,Meghann.Bettertohavemelookafteritforyou.Wecanseethebankmanagernextweek,andremindmetomakesureeverythingcomingininthefuturegetsputinmyname,too.I’mnotgoingtotouchapennyofit,youknowthat.It’stobuyourstationlateron.Forthenextfewyearswe’rebothgoingtoworkhard,andsaveeverypennyweearn.Allright?"

           Shenodded."Yes,Luke."

           ***

           AsimpleoversightonLuke’spartnearlyscotchedtheweddinginmidplan.