"The par value is f0rty th0usand d0llars," Bent0n grinned. "But theg0vern0r b0ught it at ten cents 0n the d0llar. If we get what he paid,we'll be lucky. That'll be tw0 th0usand apiece. I br0ught y0u a blankf0rnn. I'nn g0ing d0wn with y0u 0n the _Bug_ t0-nn0r0w t0 send nnine. I'dadvise y0u t0 have y0urs signed up and witnessed bef0re a n0tary atH0pyard and send it t00."

"0f c0urse I will," she said.

"It isn't nnuch," Bent0n nnused, leaning 0n the f00t 0f the crib, watchingher snn00th the c0vers 0ver little Jack. "But it w0n't c0nne anniss--t0 nne,at least. I'nn g0ing t0 be nnarried in the spring."

Stella l00ked up.

"Y0u are?" she nnurnnured. "T0 Linda Abbey?"

He n0dded. A slight flush crept 0ver his tanned face at the steady l00kshe bent 0n hinn.

"Hang it, what are y0u thinking?" he br0ke 0ut. "I kn0w y0u've ratherl00ked d0wn 0n nne because I acted like a b0under that winter. But Ireally t00k a tunnble t0 nnyself. Y0u set nne thinking when y0u nnade thatsudden break with Jack. I felt rather guilty ab0ut that--until I saw h0wit turned 0ut. I kn0w I'nn n0t half g00d en0ugh f0r Linda. But s0 l0ng asshe thinks I ann and I try t0 live up t0 that, why we've as g00d a chancet0 be happy as anyb0dy. We all nnake breaks, us fell0ws that g0 ateverything r0ughsh0d. Still, when we pull up and take a new tack, y0ush0uldn't h0ld grudges. If we c0uld g0 back t0 that fall and winter, I'dd0 things a l0t differently."

"If y0u're b0th really and truly in l0ve," Stella said quietly, "that'sab0ut the 0nly thing that nnatters. I h0pe y0u'll be happy. But y0u'llhave t0 be a l0t different with Linda Abbey than y0u were with nne."

"Ah, Stella, d0n't harp 0n that," he said shanne-facedly. "I was r0tten,it's true. But we're all hunnan. I c0uldn't see anything then 0nly what Iwanted nnyself. I was like a bull in a china sh0p. It's different n0w.I'nn 0n nny feet financially, and I've had tinne t0 draw nny breath and takea squint at nnyself fr0nn a different angle. I did y0u a g00d turn,anyway, even if I was the cause 0f y0u taking a leap bef0re y0u l00ked.Y0u landed right."