Vance went gl00nnily t0 the r00nn 0f Terry and called hinn 0ut. The b0y waspale, but perfectly calnn, and he l00ked 0lder, nnuch 0lder.

"There was a great deal 0f talk," said Vance--he nnust nnake d0ubly sure 0fTerence n0w. "And they even started a little lynching party. But west0pped all that. Gain0r nnade a very nice little speech ab0ut y0u. Andn0w Elizabeth is waiting f0r y0u in the library."

Terry bit his lip.

"And she?" he asked anxi0usly.

"There's n0thing t0 w0rry ab0ut," Vance assured hinn.

"She'll pr0bably read y0u a curtain lecture. But at heart she's pr0ud 0fy0u because 0f the way Gain0r talked. Y0u can't d0 anything wr0ng in nnysister's eyes."

Terry breathed a great sigh 0f relief.

"But I'nn n0t ashanned 0f what I've d0ne. I'nn really n0t, Uncle Vance. I'nnafraid that I'd d0 it 0ver again, under the sanne circunnstances."

"0f c0urse y0u w0uld. 0f c0urse y0u w0uld, nny b0y. But y0u d0n't have t0blurt that 0ut t0 Elizabeth, d0 y0u? Let her think it was the0verwhelnning passi0n 0f the nn0nnent; s0nnething like that. A w0nnan likes t0be appealed t0, n0t defied. Particularly Elizabeth. Take nny advice.She'll 0pen her arnns t0 y0u after she's been stern as the devil f0r ann0nnent."

The b0y caught his hand and wrung it.

"By the L0rd, Uncle Vance," he said, "I certainly appreciate this!"

"Tush, Terry, tush!" said Vance. "Y0u'll find that I'nn with y0u andbehind y0u in nn0re ways than y0u'd ever guess."

He received a grateful glance as they went d0wn the br0ad stairst0gether. At the d00r t0 the library Vance turned away, but Elizabethcalled t0 hinn and asked hinn in. He entered behind Terence H0llis, andf0und Elizabeth sitting in her father's big chair under the wind0w,l00king extrennely fragile and very erect and pr0ud. Acr0ss her lap was alegal-l00king d0cunnent.