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Chapter 16

Oh,idiocy!Itdidn’tdohimanygood,didit?Itwasonlyamatteroftimebeforesomethinghappened."

Aroundthecorneroftheverandasomeonedroppedahammer,andletflywithastringofcurses;Feewinced,shuddered."Dearheaven,I’llbegladwhenthey’redonewiththescreening!"Shegotbacktothesubject."Didyouthinkyoufooledmewhenyouwouldn’thaveRalphdeBricassarttomarryyoutoLuke?Iknew.Youwantedhimasthebridegroom,notastheofficiatingcleric.ThenwhenhecametoDroghedabeforeheleftforAthensandyouweren’there,Iknewsoonerorlaterhe’dhavetogoandfindyou.HewanderedaroundtheplaceaslostasalittleboyattheSydneyRoyalEasterShow.MarryingLukewasthesmartestmoveyoumade,Meggie.AslongasheknewyouwerepiningforhimRalphdidn’twantyou,buttheminuteyoubecamesomebodyelse’sheexhibitedalltheclassicalsignsofthedoginthemanger.Ofcoursehe’dconvincedhimselfthathisattachmenttoyouwasaspureasthedrivensnow,butthefactremainedthatheneededyou.Youwerenecessarytohiminawaynootherwomaneverhadbeen,orIsuspecteverwillbe.Strange,"saidFeewithrealpuzzlement."Ialwayswonderedwhatonearthhesawinyou,butIsupposemothersarealwaysalittleblindabouttheirdaughtersuntilthey’retoooldtobejealousofyouth.YouareaboutJustine,thesameasIwasaboutyou."