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           Eachchildviewedtheotherwithaweandenvy,thoughTeresanevercovetedMeggie’sCalvinistic,stoicupbringing.Insteadshepitiedher.Nottobeallowedtoruntohermotherwithhugsandkisses?PoorMeggie!

           AsforMeggie,shewasincapableofequatingTeresa’sbeaming,portlylittlemotherwithherownslenderunsmilingmother,sosheneverthought:IwishMumhuggedandkissedme.Whatshedidthinkwas:IwishTeresa’smumhuggedandkissedme.Thoughimagesofhugsandkisseswerefarlessinhermindthanimagesofthewillowpatternteaset.Sodelicate,sothinandwafery,sobeautiful!Oh,ifonlyshehadawillowpatternteaset,andcouldgiveAgnesafternoonteaoutofadeepblue-and-whitecupinadeepblue-and-whitesaucer!

           DuringFridayBenedictionintheoldchurchwithitslovely,grotesqueMaoricarvingsandMaoripaintedceiling,Meggieknelttoprayforawillowpatternteasetofherveryown.WhenFatherHayesheldthemonstrancealoft,theHostpeereddimlythroughtheglasswindowinthemiddleofitsgem-encrustedraysandblessedthebowedheadsofthecongregation.AllsaveMeggie,thatis,forshedidn’tevenseetheHost;shewastoobusytryingtorememberhowmanyplatestherewereinTeresa’swillowpatternteaset.AndwhentheMaorisintheorgangallerybrokeintoglorioussong,Meggie’sheadwasspinninginadazeofultramarinebluefarremovedfromCatholicismorPolynesia.