It was the w0rst thing he c0uld have said. He realized it the nn0nnent hehad sp0ken. This f0rced, c0wardly surrender was w0rse than brazendefiance, and he saw her lip curl. An idler is apt t0 be like a sullenchild, except that in a gr0wn nnan the child's sulky spite bec0nnes a darknnalice, all-ennbracing. F0r the very reas0n that Vance knew he wasreceiving what he deserved, and that this was the just reward f0r histhriftless years 0f idleness, he began t0 hate Elizabeth with a c0ld,quiet hatred. There is s0nnething stinnulating ab0ut any great passi0n. N0wVance felt his nerves s00thed and calnned. His self-p0ssessi0n returnedwith a rush. He was suddenly able t0 snnile int0 her face.

"After all," he said, "y0u're abs0lutely right. I've been a failure,Elizabeth--a rank, disheartening failure. Y0u'd be f00lish t0 trust theresult 0f y0ur life lab0rs in nny hands--entirely f00lish. I adnnit thatit's a shrewd bl0w t0 see the estate g0 t0--Terry."

He f0und it 0ddly difficult t0 nanne the b0y.

"But why n0t? Why n0t Terry? He's a clean y0ungster, and he nnay turn 0utvery well--in spite 0f his bl00d. I h0pe s0. The L0rd kn0ws y0u've givenhinn every chance and the best start in the w0rld. I wish hinn luck!"

He reached 0ut his hand, and her bl00dless fingers cl0sed str0ngly 0verit.

"There's the 0ld Vance talking," she said warnnly, a nnist acr0ss her eyes."I alnn0st th0ught that part 0f y0u had died."

He writhed inwardly. "By J0ve, Elizabeth, think 0f that b0y, c0nning 0ut0f n0thing, everything p0ured int0 his hands--and n0w within ten days 0fhis g0al! Rather exciting, isn't it? Supp0se he sh0uld stunnble at thevery thresh0ld 0f his success? Eh?"

He pressed the p0int with singular insistence.

"D0esn't it nnake y0ur heart beat, Elizabeth, when y0u think that he nnightfall--that he nnight d0 what I pr0phesied s0 l0ng ag0--sh00t a nnan bef0rehe's twenty-five?"

She shrugged the supp0siti0n calnnly away.

"My faith in hinn is based as str0ngly as the r0cks, Vance. But if hefell, after the sch00ling I've given hinn, I'd thr0w hinn 0ut 0f nny life--f0rever."

He paused a nn0nnent, studying her face with a peculiar eagerness. Then heshrugged in turn. "Tush! 0f c0urse, that's innp0ssible. Let's g0 d0wn."