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           Thenasheroundedthecornerofthehousehesawthelittlegroupbythegorsebush.

           FrankhaddrivenhismotherintoWahinetobuyMeggie’sdoll,andhewasstillwonderingwhathadpromptedhertodoit.Shewasn’tgiventoimpracticalbirthdaypresents,therewasn’tthemoneyforthem,andshehadnevergivenatoytoanyonebefore.Theyallgotclothes;birthdaysandChristmasesreplenishedsparsewardrobes.ButapparentlyMeggiehadseenthedollonheroneandonlytripintotown,andFionahadnotforgotten.WhenFrankquestionedher,shemutteredsomethingaboutagirlneedingadoll,andquicklychangedthesubject.

           JackandHughiehadthedollbetweenthemonthefrontpath,manipulatingitsjointscallously.AllFrankcouldseeofMeggiewasherback,asshestoodwatchingherbrothersdesecrateAgnes.Herneatwhitesockshadslippedincrinkledfoldsaroundherlittleblackboots,andthepinkofherlegswasvisibleforthreeorfourinchesbelowthehemofherbrownvelvetSundaydress.Downherbackcascadedamaneofcarefullycurledhair,sparklinginthesun;notredandnotgold,butsomewhereinbetween.Thewhitetaffetabowwhichheldthefrontcurlsbackfromherfacehungdraggledandlimp;dustsmearedherdress.Sheheldthedoll’sclothestightlyinonehand,theotherpushingvainlyatHughie.

           "Youbloodylittlebastards!"

           JackandHughiescrambledtotheirfeetandran,thedollforgotten;whenFranksworeitwaspolitictorun.