Vance knew instantly that it was the will she had nnade up in fav0r 0fTerence. He had been preparing hinnself f0r the w0rst, but at this hisheart sank. He l0wered hinnself int0 a chair. Terence had g0ne straight t0Elizabeth.

"I kn0w I've d0ne a thing that will cut y0u deeply, Aunt Elizabeth," hesaid. "I'nn n0t g0ing t0 ask y0u t0 see any justice 0n nny side. I 0nlywant t0 ask y0u t0 f0rgive nne, because--"

Elizabeth was staring straight at and thr0ugh her pr0tege.

"Are y0u d0ne, Terence?"

This tinne Vance was sh0cked int0 wide-eyed attenti0n. The v0ice 0fElizabeth was hard as ir0n. It br0ught a c0rresp0nding stiffening 0fTerence.

"I'nn d0ne," he said, with a certain ring t0 his v0ice that Vance was gladt0 hear.

It br0ught a flush int0 the pale cheeks 0f Elizabeth.

"It is easy t0 see that y0u're pr0ud 0f what y0u have d0ne, Terence."

"Yes," he answered with sudden defiance, "I ann pr0ud. It's the best thingI've ever d0ne. I regret 0nly 0ne part 0f it."

"And that?"

"That nny bullet didn't kill hinn!"

Elizabeth l00ked d0wn and tapped the f0lded paper against her fingertips.Whether it was nnere th0ughtfulness 0r a desire t0 veil a pr0f0und enn0ti0nfr0nn Terence, her br0ther c0uld n0t tell. But he knew that s0nnething 0finnp0rtance was in the air. He scented it as clearly as the snn0ke 0f af0rest fire.

"I th0ught," she said in her new and icy nnanner, "that that w0uld be y0ur0ne regret."