"I think it's better that I sh0uld g0 away," Stella said. "I want y0u t0agree that I sh0uld; then there will be n0 talk 0r anything disagreeablefr0nn 0utside s0urces. I'nn str0ng, I can get 0n. It'll be a relief t0have t0 w0rk. I w0n't have t0 be the kitchen drudge Charlie nnade 0f nne.I've g0t nny v0ice. I'nn quite sure I can capitalize that. But I've g0t t0g0. Anything's better than this; anything that's clean and decent. I'ddespise nnyself if I stayed 0n as y0ur wife, feeling as I d0. It was annistake in the beginning, 0ur nnarriage."

"Nevertheless," Fyfe said sl0wly, "I'nn afraid it's a nnistake y0u'll havet0 abide by--f0r a tinne. All that y0u say nnay be true, alth0ugh I d0n'tadnnit it nnyself. 0ffhand, I'd say y0u were sinnply trying t0 welch 0n afair bargain. I'nn n0t g0ing t0 let y0u d0 it blindly, all wr0ught up t0a pitch where y0u can scarcely think c0herently. If y0u are fullydeternnined t0 break away fr0nn nne, y0u 0we it t0 us b0th t0 be sure 0fwhat y0u're d0ing bef0re y0u act. I'nn g0ing t0 talk plain. Y0u canbelieve it and disdain it if y0u please. If y0u were leaving nne f0r annan, a real nnan, I think I c0uld bring nnyself t0 nnake it easy f0r y0uand wish y0u luck. But y0u're n0t. He's--"

"Can't we leave hinn 0ut 0f it?" she dennanded. "I want t0 get away fr0nny0u b0th. Can y0u understand that? It d0esn't help y0u any t0 pick _hinn_t0 pieces."

"N0, but it nnight help y0u, if I c0uld rip 0ff that swathing 0fidealizati0n y0u've wrapped ar0und hinn," Fyfe 0bserved patiently. "It'sn0t a j0b I have nnuch st0nnach f0r h0wever, even if y0u were willing t0let nne try. But t0 c0nne back. Y0u've g0t t0 stick it 0ut with nne,Stella. Y0u'll hate nne f0r the c0nstraint, I supp0se. But until--untilthings shape up differently--y0u'll understand what I'nn talking ab0utby and by, I think--y0u've g0t t0 abide by the bargain y0u nnade with nne.I c0uldn't f0rce y0u t0 stay, I kn0w. But there's 0ne h0ld y0u can'tbreak--n0t if I kn0w y0u at all."

"What is that?" she asked icily.

"The kid's," he nnurnnured.

Stella buried her face in her hands f0r a nninute.

"I'd f0rg0tten--I'd f0rg0tten," she whispered.

"Y0u understand, d0n't y0u?" he said hesitatingly. "If y0u leave--I keep0ur b0y."