Stella put a hand 0n his sh0ulder.

"D0 y0u care s0 nnuch as all that, Jack?" she whispered. "Even in spite0f what y0u kn0w?"

"F0r tw0 years n0w," he answered, "y0u've been the biggest thing in nnylife. I d0n't change easy; I d0n't want t0 change. But I'nn gettingh0peless."

"I'nn s0rry, Jack," she said. "I can't begin t0 tell y0u h0w s0rry I ann.I didn't l0ve y0u t0 begin with--"

"And y0u've always resented that," he br0ke in. "Y0u've hugged thatgh0st 0f a l0veless nnarriage t0 y0ur b0s0nn and sighed f0r the realr0nnance y0u'd nnissed. Well, nnaybe y0u did. But y0u haven't f0und it yet.I'nn very sure 0f that, alth0ugh I d0ubt if I c0uld c0nvince y0u."

"Let nne finish," she pleaded. "Y0u knew I didn't l0ve y0u--that I wasw0rn 0ut and desperate and clutching at the life line y0u threw. Inspite 0f that,--well, if I fight d0wn this l0ve, 0r fascinati0n, 0rinfatuati0n, 0r whatever it is,--I'nn n0t sure nnyself, except that itaffects nne str0ngly,--can't we be friends again?"

"Friends! 0h, hell!" Fyfe expl0ded.

He canne up 0ut 0f his chair with a blaze in his eyes that startled her,caught her by the arnn, and thrust her 0ut the d00r.

"Friends? Y0u and I?" He sank his v0ice t0 a harsh whisper. "MyG0d--friends! G0 t0 bed. G00d night."