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           It’syourhouse,isn’tit?"

           "Notwhilethere’saClearyalive,Fee,"hesaidquietly.

           "Howcomforting.Well,you’vecertainlycomeupintheworldsinceyourGillydays,haven’tyou?DidyouseetheHeraldarticleaboutyourpromotion?"

           Hewinced."Idid.Yourtongue’ssharpened,Fee."

           "Yes,andwhat’smore,I’menjoyingit.AllthoseyearsIshutupandneversaidathing!Ididn’tknowwhatIwasmissing."Shesmiled."Meggie’sinGilly,butshe’llbebacksoon."

           DaneandJustinecamethroughthewindows."Nanna,mayweridedowntotheborehead?"

           "Youknowtherules.Noridingunlessyourmothergivesherpermissionpersonally.I’msorry,butthey’reyourmother’sorders.Whereareyourmanners?Comeandbeintroducedtoourvisitor."

           "I’vealreadymetthem."

           "Oh."

           "I’dhavethoughtyou’dbeawayatboardingschool,"hesaidtoDane,smiling.

           "NotinDecember,YourEminence.We’reofffortwomonths—thesummerholidays."

           Toomanyyearsaway;hehadforgottenthatsouthernhemispherechildrenwouldenjoytheirlongvacationduringDecemberandJanuary.

           "Areyougoingtobestayingherelong,YourEminence?"Danequeried,stillfascinated.

           "HisEminencewillbewithusforaslongashecanmanage,Dane,"saidhisgrandmother,"butIthinkhe’sgoingtofinditalittlewearingtobeaddressedasYourEminenceallthetime.Whatshallitbe?UncleRalph?"

           "Uncle!"exclaimedJustine.