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I hesitated, looking around irl seemed ashamed to be naked, so I threw my own shift aside and splashed into the water, exhilaration flooding ht to splash and play in the water as I had so often done with August and Cathy and the other girls in our district; I felt delight such as I had not known since two years ago, e had all been together at Brianag, before Sean went away The girls all squealed and laughed and I laughed, too Mary Ellen surfaced near lad you came with us; you seem not so sad," she said

I s us," she said, "we all love hirow to love it here," she said, "as Robbie does"

I knew that I would never love any place as rateful to her

We sat on the rocks in the sun to dry off; there were girls of all ages, including one about nant belly Her name was Celia and she was married to Rody, the son of Hamish's son Donnach

She stroked the roundness of her belly "It's a blessed thing, the growing of a child inside you," said Celia "It is sohed "Indeed, you speak truly!"

"Of course the seed

Robbie had not touched me since we had been , on the porch at Brianag I grew hot and then shivery, the tips of hed

"You need not be ashamed, it is only natural to desire it," she said "We must be fruitful and multiply, as the word tells us, and that is the only way to obey"

Suddenly we heard a rustling in the bushes above us, and looked up to see a little boy's face peering down The girls squealed and jumped into the water Celia called up, "Run home, little boys, or I shall tell Uncle Hahed with everyone else The tightness around in to seep into my soul