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Chapter 3

"Isn’tthatarathershabbywaytotreatyouronlybrother,Mary?Evenifyouragesaresodisparate?"

"He’llinherit—lethimearnit,"shesaidcrudely.

***

FionaClearywasdeliveredofanotherboysixdaysbeforeMeggie’sninthbirthday,countingherselfluckynothingbutacoupleofmiscarriageshadhappenedintheinterim.AtnineMeggiewasoldenoughtobearealhelp.Feeherselfwasfortyyearsold,toooldtobearchildrenwithoutagreatdealofstrength-sappingpain.Thechild,namedHarold,wasadelicatebaby;forthefirsttimeanyonecouldeverremember,thedoctorcameregularlytothehouse.

Andastroublesdo,theClearytroublesmultiplied.Theaftermathofthewarwasnotaboom,butaruraldepression.Workbecameincreasinglyhardertoget.

OldAngusMacWhirterdeliveredatelegramtothehouseonedayjustastheywerefinishingtea,andPaddytoreitopenwithtremblinghands;telegramsneverheldgoodnews.Theboysgatheredround,allsaveFrank,whotookhiscupofteaandleftthetable.Fee’seyesfollowedhim,thenturnedbackasPaddygroaned.

"Whatisit?"sheasked.

Paddywasstaringatthepieceofpaperasifitheldnewsofadeath."Archibalddoesn’twantus."

Bobpoundedhisfistonthetablesavagely;hehadbeensolookingforwardtogoingwithhisfatherasanapprenticeshearer,andArchibald’swastohavebeenhisfirstpen."Whyshouldhedoadirtythinglikethistous,Daddy?Wewereduetostarttheretomorrow."