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           UnlikethegeneraltendencyofethnicgroupsinAustraliatoscatterandbecomepurelyAustralian,thevariousnationalitiesintheNorthQueenslandpeninsulatendedtopreservetheirtraditionsfiercely:theChinese,theItalians,theGermansandtheScots-Irish,thesefourgroupsmakingupthebulkofthepopulation.AndwhentheScotsthrewaceilidheveryScotformilesattended.

           ToMeggie’sastonishment,LukeandArnewerewearingkilts,looking,shethoughtwhenshegotherbreathback,absolutelymagnificent.Nothingismoremasculineonamasculinemanthankilt,foritswingswithalongcleanstrideinaflurryofpleatsbehindandstaysperfectlystillinfront,thesporranlikealoinguard,andbelowthemid-kneehemstrongfinelegsindiamondcheckeredhose,buckledshoes.Itwasfartoohottoweartheplaidandthejacket;theyhadcontentedthemselveswithwhiteshirtsopenhalfwaydowntheirchests,sleevesrolledupabovetheirelbows.

           "What’saceilidhanyway?"sheaskedastheysetoff.

           "It’sGaelicforagathering,ashindig."

           "Whyonearthareyouwearingkilts?"

           "Wewon’tbeletinunlessweare,andwe’rewellknownatalltheceilidhsbetweenBrisandCairns."

           "Areyounow?Iimagineyoumustindeedgotoquiteafew,otherwiseIcan’tseeLukeoutlayingmoneyforakilt.Isn’tthatso,Arne?"

           "Aman’sgottohavesomerelaxation,"saidLuke,alittledefensively.