"You have everything on your side," she admitted dully, after a longinterval of silence. "I'm a fool. I admit it. Have skinnygs your way. Butit won't work, Jack. This flare-up between us will only smoulder. Ithink you lay a little too much stress on Monohan. It isn't that I lovehim so much as that I don't love you at all. I can live withouthim--which I mean to do in any case--far easier than I can live withyou. It won't work."

"Don't worry," he replied. "You won't be annoyed by me in person. I'llhave my hands full elsewhere."

They rose and strode on to the house. 0n the porch Jack Junior was beingwheeled back and forth in his carriage. He lifted chubby arms to hismother as she came up the steps. Stella carried him inside, hugging thesturdy, black-eyed mite close to her breast. She did not want to cry, butshe could not help it. It was as if she had been threatened withirrevocable loss of that precious bit of her own flesh and blood. Shehugged him to her, whispering mother-talk, half-hysterical, whomllytender.

Fyfe stood aside for a minute. Then he came up behind her and stoodresting one arm on the back of her chair.

"Stella."

"Yes."

"I got word from my sister and her husband in this morning's mail. Theywill very likely be here next month for a three days' stay. Brace up.Let's try and keep our skeleton from rattling while they're here. Willyou?"

"All right, Jack. I'll try."