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           Hegaveitaliltingforeignpronunciation,sothatitcameoutsoundinglikeMegheeOnill.

           CardinalRalphcametohisfeet,thecolordrainingfromhisfacetoleaveitaswhiteashishair.

           "YourEminence!Areyouill?"

           "No,Father,I’mperfectlyallright,thankyou.CancelmyappointmentsuntilInotifyyouotherwise,andbringMrs.O’Neilltomeatonce.WearenottobedisturbedunlessitistheHolyFather."

           Thepriestbowed,departed.O’Neill.Ofcourse!ItwasyoungDane’sname,heshouldhaveremembered.SavethatintheCardinal’spalaceeveryonejustsaidDane.Ah,hehadmadeagravemistake,keepingherwaiting.IfDanewasHisEminence’sdearlylovednephewthenMrs.O’Neillwashisdearlylovedsister.

           WhenMeggiecameintotheroomCardinalRalphhardlyknewher.Itwasthirteenyearssincehehadlastseenher;shewasfifty-threeandhewasseventy-one.Bothofthemagednow,insteadofonlyhim.Herfacehadn’tchangedsomuchassettled,andintoamoldunliketheonehehadgivenherinhisimagination.Substituteatrenchantincisivenessforsweetness,atouchofironforsoftness;sheresembledavigorous,aging,willfulmartyrratherthantheresigned,contemplativesaintofhisdreams.Herbeautywasasstrikingasever,hereyesstillthatclearsilverygrey,butbothhadhardened,andtheoncevividhairhadfadedtoadrabbeige,likeDane’swithoutthelife.Mostdisconcertingofall,shewouldn’tlookathimforlongenoughtosatisfyhiseagerandlovingcuriosity.