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Jill looked bashful "I don’t know"

Mary persisted "I’d like to hear you sing, Jill"

Jill sang A Christmas carol

What child is this who laid to rest

on Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whoreet with anthe…

And the world stopped

Later--how much later, Mary could not know--Jill sat down on an unoccupied cot, cradled her doll close, and fell to sleep

The roo stock-still, as if they’d been frozen But everywhere eyes were alight and , Mary looked at Francis

"Did you…"

Francis nodded There were tears in his eyes "Mary, you need to catch some sleep, hon Eliza and I will handle breakfast"

"I’ to sit down, rest my feet for a while," Mary said But sleep took her, anyway

Francis woke her what seeo," he said

"Is it time?" Mary shook her head to clear it Her eyes didn’t seeood-byes to say first," he said He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "You’re a great person, Mary And another great person has co what Francis was saying, just knowing that soht and fragile looking Mary instinctively liked her She seemed like one of the kids, almost, one of the littles

Francis touched Orsay’s hand and almost seemed to bow his head as if in prayer for a moment "Prophetess," he said

"Mother Mary, the Prophetess," Francis said, perfor a very for the president or so

"Orsay, please," Orsay said in a soft voice "And this is my friend, Nerezza"

Nerezza was very different froreen eyes and olive skin and hair that was black and lustrous, gathered in a sort of loose wave on one side Mary did not recall having seen her before But Mary was trapped in the day care rinned a little nervously, it seemed to Mary

"Happy rebirthday," Nerezza said

"Yes Thank you," Francis said He squared his shoulders, nodded to Nerezza, and to Orsay said, "I have some more people to see, and notme the way" And with that, he turned away quickly and left