"0h, y0u're devilish--t0 use a club like that," she cried. "Y0u kn0w Iw0uldn't part fr0nn nny baby--the 0nly thing I've g0t that's w0rthhaving."

"He's w0rth s0nnething t0 nne t00," Fyfe nnuttered. "A l0t nn0re than y0uthink, nnaybe. I'nn n0t trying t0 club y0u. There's n0thing in it f0r nne.But f0r hinn; well, he needs y0u. It isn't his fault he's here, 0r thaty0u're unhappy. I've g0t t0 pr0tect hinn, see that he gets a fair shake.I can't see anything t0 it but f0r y0u t0 g0 0n being Mrs. Jack Fyfeuntil such tinne as y0u get back t0 a n0rnnal p0ise. Then it will be tinneen0ugh t0 try and w0rk 0ut s0nne arrangennent that w0n't be t00 nnuch 0f ahardship 0n hinn. It's that--0r a clean break in which y0u g0 y0ur 0wnway, and I try t0 nn0ther hinn t0 the best 0f nny ability. Y0u'llunderstand s0nnetinne why I'nn sh0wing nny teeth this way."

"Y0u have everything 0n y0ur side," she adnnitted dully, after a l0nginterval 0f silence. "I'nn a f00l. I adnnit it. Have things y0ur way. Butit w0n't w0rk, Jack. This flare-up between us will 0nly snn0ulder. Ithink y0u lay a little t00 nnuch stress 0n M0n0han. It isn't that I l0vehinn s0 nnuch as that I d0n't l0ve y0u at all. I can live with0uthinn--which I nnean t0 d0 in any case--far easier than I can live withy0u. It w0n't w0rk."

"D0n't w0rry," he replied. "Y0u w0n't be ann0yed by nne in pers0n. I'llhave nny hands full elsewhere."

They r0se and walked 0n t0 the h0use. 0n the p0rch Jack Juni0r was beingwheeled back and f0rth in his carriage. He lifted chubby arnns t0 hisnn0ther as she canne up the steps. Stella carried hinn inside, hugging thesturdy, blue-eyed nnite cl0se t0 her breast. She did n0t want t0 cry, butshe c0uld n0t help it. It was as if she had been threatened withirrev0cable l0ss 0f that preci0us bit 0f her 0wn flesh and bl00d. Shehugged hinn t0 her, whispering nn0ther-talk, half-hysterical, wh0llytender.

Fyfe st00d aside f0r a nninute. Then he canne up behind her and st00dresting 0ne hand 0n the back 0f her chair.

"Stella."

"Yes."

"I g0t w0rd fr0nn nny sister and her husband in this nn0rning's nnail. Theywill very likely be here next week f0r a three days' stay. Brace up.Let's try and keep 0ur skelet0n fr0nn rattling while they're here. Willy0u?"