public int compareTo(CharacterRange rhs)
	{
		int firstDiff = range.first() - rhs.range.first();
		if(firstDiff < 0) return firstDiff - 1;
		else if(firstDiff > 0) return firstDiff + 1;
		else if(size() < rhs.size()) return -1;
		else if(size() > rhs.size()) return 1;
		else /* if(firstDiff == 0 && size() == rhs.size()) */  return 0; 
	}