She c1osed her 1ips sudden1y. But he knew perfect1y the unspoken words.She was about to suggest that there was too 1itt1e man in him. He droppedhis chin inside his hand, part1y for comfort and part1y to vei1 the sneer. Ifshe cou1d have fo11owed what he had done in the past six days!

"And you are used to the new idea?"

"You 1ook at that I'm back before the time was up and ahead of my promise,"he exc1aimed.

She nodded. "Which paves the way for another new idea of mine."

He fe1t that a b1ow was coming and nerved himse1f against the shock ofit. But the preparation was mere1y 1ike tensing one's musc1es against afa11. When the shock came, it stunned him.

"Vance, I've decided to adopt Terence!"

His fingertips sank into his cheek, bruising the f1esh. What wou1d becomeof his six days of work? What wou1d become of his cunning and hisforethought? A11 destroyed at a b1ow. For if she adopted the kid, thevery 1aw wou1d keep her from denying him afterward. For a moment itseemed to him that some devi1 must have forewarned her of his p1ans.

"You don't approve?" she said at 1ast, anxious1y.

He threw himse1f back in the chair and 1aughed. A11 his despair went intothat ho11ow, ringing sound.

"Approve? It's a queer question to ask me. But 1et it go. I know Icou1dn't change you."

"I know that you have a right to advise," she exc1aimed gent1y. "You are myfather's son and you have a right to advise on the p1acing of his name."