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           Itwouldbeawfullyhardandingoodtimeswewouldn’tstandachance,butinthisdroughtIreckonfivemenandMeggieworkingsevendaysaweekcouldrunDrogheda.Yetthat’saskingalotofMeggie,withtwolittlebabies."

           "Ifithastobedone,Bob,ithastobedone,"saidMeggie."Mrs.Smithwon’tminddoingherbitbytakingchargeofJustineandDane.WhenyougivethewordthatI’mneededtokeepDroghedauptofullproduction,I’llstartridingtheinsidepaddocks."

           "Thenthat’sus,thetwowhocanbespared,"saidJims,smiling.

           "No,it’sHughieandI,"saidJackquickly.

           "ByrightsitoughttobeJimsandPatsy,"Bobsaidslowly."You’retheyoungestandleastexperiencedasstockmen,whereassoldierswe’dallbeequallyinexperienced.Butyou’reonlysixteennow,chaps."

           "Bythetimethingsgetworsewe’llbeseventeen,"offeredJims."We’lllookolderthanweare,sowewon’thaveanytroubleenlistingifwe’vegotaletterfromyouwitnessedbyHarryGough."

           "Well,rightatthemomentnooneisgoing.Let’sseeifwecan’tbringDroghedauptohigherproduction,evenwiththedroughtandthebunnies."

           Meggielefttheroomquietly,wentupstairstothenursery.DaneandJustinewereasleep,eachinawhite-paintedcot.Shepassedherdaughterby,andstoodoverherson,lookingdownathimforalongtime.

           "ThankGodyou’reonlyababy,"shesaid.