My pleasure reading. The Thorn Birds. pp. 65-148

The second chapter “Ralph” begins with the conversation between a local priest and Mary Carson, a rich widow who possessed an enormous sheep station called Drogheda. I got wise from their dialogue the reason of staying of a young, prospective, ambitious priest Ralph in such desolate place – his insulted a bishop and as result had been sent there.  In fact Mary was Paddy’s sister and she decided to invite him to live in Australia and offer him a job at her estate, feeling her forthcoming death.  The Cleary’s condition of living improved economically after their resettlement, in spite of many things which were strange or even frightening for them – droughts, conflagrations, hot and dry climate and many others.  In Australia, finally, Maggie’s life changed in positive way with the acquaintance with Ralph from him she got the attention and felt care which she really deserved and lacked for many years. The relationships between Frank and Paddy became worse and worse with the news that Fee was pregnant again (since my last summary she had already gave a life to a baby) and reached their apogee after Frank’s début as a boxer in a local fair, when Frank expressed his willingness to go with a famous boxing troupe. Paddy reminded him about his small stature (Frank’s largest complex which he tried to overcome unsuccessfully) in rude words, and during their quarrel he mentioned about an unknown Frank’s real father. As result Frank left home forever and Ralph was all that has reminded with Maggie.