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           Butthishadbeenatreat,requiringspecialpermissionfromhermotherandthenuns.

           Herconversationathomewasall"Teresasays"and"DoyouknowwhatTeresadid?"untilPaddyroaredthathehadheardmorethanenoughaboutTeresa.

           "Idon’tknowthatit’ssuchagoodideatobetoothickwithDagos,"hemuttered,sharingtheBritishcommunity’sinstinctivemistrustofanydarkorMediterraneanpeople."Dagosaredirty,Meggiegirl,theydon’twashtoooften,"heexplainedlamely,wiltingunderthelookofhurtreproachMeggiegavehim.

           Fiercelyjealous,Frankagreedwithhim.SoMeggiespokelessoftenofherfriendwhenshewasathome.Buthomedisapprovalcouldn’tinterferewiththerelationship,confinedasitwasbydistancetoschooldaysandhours;BobandtheboyswereonlytoopleasedtoseeherutterlyengrossedinTeresa.Itleftthemtocareermadlyaroundtheplaygroundjustasiftheirsisterdidnotexist.

           TheunintelligiblethingsSisterAgathawasalwayswritingontheblackboardgraduallybegantomakesense,andMeggielearnedthata"+"meantyoucountedallthenumbersuptoatotal,wherea"−"meantyoutookthenumbersonthebottomawayfromthenumbersonthetopandwoundupwithlessthanyouhadinthefirstplace.Shewasabrightchild,andwouldhavebeenanexcellentifnotbrilliantstudenthadsheonlybeenabletoovercomeherfearofSisterAgatha.Buttheminutethosegimleteyesturnedherwayandthatdryoldvoicerappedacurtquestionather,shestammeredandstutteredandcouldnotthink.