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Chapter 16
Isyourmotherhere,then?"
"She’sinGilly,butshe’llbebacksoon.MyNannaisinthehouse,though.Wouldyouliketoseeher?Icantakeyou."Eyesasblueascornflowersstaredathim,widened,narrowed."RalphdeBricassart.I’veheardofyou.Oh!CardinaldeBricassart!YourEminence,I’msorry!Ididn’tmeantoberude."
Thoughhehadabandonedhisclericalregaliainfavorofboots,breechesandawhiteshirt,therubyringwasstillonhisfinger,mustneverbewithdrawnaslongashelived.DaneO’Neillknelt,tookCardinalRalph’sslenderhandinhisownslenderones,andkissedtheringreverently.
"It’sallright,Dane.I’mnothereasCardinaldeBricassart.I’mhereasafriendofyourmother’sandyourgrandmother’s."
"I’msorry,YourEminence,IoughttohaverecognizedyournametheminuteIheardit.Wesayitoftenenoughroundhere.Onlyyoupronounceitabitdifferently,andyourChristiannamethrewmeoff.Mymotherwillbeverygladtoseeyou,Iknow."
"Dane,Dane,whereareyou?"calledanimpatientvoice,verydeepandentrancinglyhusky.
Thehangingfrondsofthepeppertreepartedandagirlofaboutfifteenduckedout,straightened.Heknewwhoshewasimmediately,fromthoseastonishingeyes.Meggie’sdaughter.Coveredinfreckles,sharp-faced,small-featured,disappointinglyunlikeMeggie.
"Oh,hello.I’msorry,Ididn’trealizewehadavisitor.I’mJustineO’Neill."
"Jussy,thisisCardinaldeBricassart!"Danesaidinaloudwhisper.
