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           ShewasnotaloneinfeelingcharitablyinclinedtowardFatherKelly’ssuccessor;FatherRalphdeBricassartwasdeservedlypopularwitheverymemberofhisflock,richorpoor.IfhismoreremoteparishionerscouldnotgetintoGillytoseehim,hewenttothem,anduntilMaryCarsonhadgivenhimhiscarhehadgoneonhorseback.Hispatienceandkindnesshadbroughthimlikingfromallandsincerelovefromsome;MartinKingofBugelahadexpensivelyrefurnishedthepresbytery,DominicO’RourkeofDibban-Dibbanpaidthesalaryofagoodhousekeeper.

           SofromthepedestalofherageandherpositionMaryCarsonfeltquitesafeinenjoyingFatherRalph;shelikedmatchingherwitsagainstabrainasintelligentasherown,shelikedoutguessinghimbecauseshewasneversuresheactuallydidoutguesshim.

           "GettingbacktowhatyouweresayingaboutGillynotbeingtheepicenteroftheArchbishopPapalLegate’smap,"shesaid,settlingdeeplyintoherchair,"whatdoyouthinkwouldshakethereverendgentlemansufficientlytomakeGillythepivotofhisworld?"

           Thepriestsmiledruefully."Impossibletosay.Acoupofsomesort?Thesuddensavingofathousandsouls,asuddencapacitytohealthelameandtheblind…Buttheageofmiraclesispast."

           "Oh,comenow,Idoubtthat!It’sjustthatHe’salteredHistechnique.ThesedaysHeusesmoney."

           "Whatacynicyouare!Maybethat’swhyIlikeyousomuch,Mrs.Carson."

           "MynameisMary.PleasecallmeMary."