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           ThushissizewasnevertheobsessionwithhimitwaswithFrank.

           Nowhewatchedtheboycarefully,tryingtounderstandhimandfailing;thisonehadalwaysbeenthefarthestfromhisheart,nomatterhowhestruggledagainstdiscriminatingamonghischildren.HeknewitgrievedFee,thatsheworriedovertheunspokenantagonismbetweenthem,butevenhisloveforFeecouldnotovercomehisexasperationwithFrank.

           Frank’sshort,finelymadehandswerespreadacrosstheopenpaperdefensively,hiseyesrivetedonPaddy’sfaceinacuriousmixtureofpleadingandapridethatwastoostiff-neckedtoplead.Howalienthefacewas!NoClearyorArmstronginit,exceptperhapsalittlelookofFeearoundtheeyes,ifFee’seyeshadbeendarkandcouldhavesnappedandflashedthewayFrank’sdidonslightestprovocation.Onethingtheladdidnotlack,andthatwascourage.

           ThesubjectendedabruptlywithPaddy’sremarkaboutFrank’ssize;thefamilyatestewedrabbitinunusualsilence,evenHughieandJacktreadingcarefullythroughasticky,self-consciousconversationpunctuatedbymuchshrillgiggling.Meggierefusedtoeat,fixinghergazeonFrankasifheweregoingtodisappearfromsightanymoment.Frankpickedathisfoodforadecentinterval,andassoonashecouldexcusedhimselffromthetable.Aminutelatertheyheardtheaxeclunkingdullyfromthewoodheap;FrankwasattackingthehardwoodlogsPaddyhadbroughthometostorefortheslow-burningfiresofwinter.