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           HowhadsheeverconfusedLukewithhim?Therewasnoonelikehim,thereneverwouldbeforher,andshehadbetrayedwhatshefeltforhim.Lukewasthedarksideofthemirror;Ralphwasassplendidasthesun,andasremote.Oh,howbeautifultoseehim!

           "Ralph,helpme,"shesaid.

           Hekissedherhandpassionately,thenheldittohischeek."Always,myMeggie,youknowthat."

           "Prayforme,andthebaby.Ifanyonecansaveus,youcan.You’remuchclosertoGodthanweare.Noonewantsus,noonehaseverwantedus,evenyou."

           "Where’sLuke?"

           "Idon’tknow,andIdon’tcare."Sheclosedhereyesandrolledherheadupontheplllow,butthefingersinhisgrippedstrongly,wouldn’tlethimgo.

           ThenDocSmithtouchedhimontheshoulder."YourGrace,Ithinkyououghttostepoutsidenow."

           "Ifherlifeisindanger,you’llcallme?"

           "Inasecond."

           Luddiehadfinallycomeinfromthecane,franticbecausetherewasnoonetobeseenandhedidn’tdareenterthebedroom.

           "Anne,issheallright?"heaskedashiswifecameoutwiththeArchbishop.

           "Sofar.Docwon’tcommithimself,butIthinkhe’sgothope.Luddie,wehaveavisitor.ThisisArchbishopRalphdeBricassart,anoldfriendofMeggie’s."

           Betterversedthanhiswife,Luddiedroppedononekneeandkissedtheringonthehandheldouttohim."Sitdown,YourGrace,talktoAnne.I’llgoandputakettleonforsometea."