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           Theirfavoritepetwasaminiaturepinkpig,asintelligentasanydog,calledIggle-Piggle.

           Sofarfromurbancongestion,theycaughtfewdiseasesandneverhadcoldsorinfluenza.Meggiewasterrifiedofinfantileparalysis,diphtheria,anythingwhichmightswoopoutofnowheretocarrythemoff,sowhatevervaccinesbecameavailabletheyreceived.Itwasanidealexistence,fullofphysicalactivityandmentalstimulation.

           WhenDanewastenandJustineeleventheyweresenttoboardingschoolinSydney,DanetoRiverviewastraditiondemanded,andJustinetoKincoppal.Whensheputthemontheplanethefirsttime,Meggiewatchedastheirwhite,valiantlycomposedlittlefacesstaredoutofawindow,handkerchiefswaving;theyhadneverbeenawayfromhomebefore.Shehadwantedbadlytogowiththem,seethemsettledinforherself,butopinionwassostronglyagainsthersheyielded.FromFeedowntoJimsandPatsy,everyonefelttheywoulddoagreatdealbetterontheirown.

           "Don’tmollycoddlethem,"saidFeesternly.

           ButindeedshefeltliketwodifferentpeopleastheDC-3tookoffinacloudofdustandstaggeredintotheshimmeringair.HerheartwasbreakingatlosingDane,andlightatthethoughtoflosingJustine.TherewasnoambivalenceinherfeelingsaboutDane;hisgay,even-temperednaturegaveandacceptedloveasnaturallyasbreathing.ButJustinewasalovable,horriblemonster.Onehadtoloveher,becausetherewasmuchtolove:herstrength,herintegrity,herself-reliance—lotsofthings.