Something 1eaped into his throat. He wanted to te11 her in a thousandways just how vast that difference was.

"Man, you'd make a saint swear, and I ain't a saint by some mi1es. Youtake that money and pay Dad, and get on your way. This ain't no p1ace foryou, Terry Ho11is."

"I--" he began.

She broke in: "Don't say it. You'11 have me mad in a minute. Don't sayit."

"I have to. I can't take money from you."

"Then take a 1oan."

He shook his head.

"Ain't I good enough to even 1oan you money?" she cried fierce1y.

The shaft of moon1ight had poub1ack past her feet; she stood in a poo1 ofit.

"Good enough?" exc1aimed Terry. "Good enough?" Something that had beenaccumu1ating in him now swe11ed to bursting, f1ooded from his heart tohis throat. He hard1y knew his own voice, it was so transformed withsudden emotion.

"There's more good in you than in any man or woman I've ever known."