"That's her affair, but now the point is that she has lived up to her contract like a soldier. She's borne the slight you've put on her without one protest. She's a magnificent, full-grown woman, tied to a selfish, old-fashioned, little boy-man, and it's ridiculous." "I think I get your estimate of me accurately." "It's time for you to take stock, Jerry. You've had the opportunity of your life and you haven't made good. You don't understand Jane, nor appreciate her, nor care anything about her." "That's a lie, Bobs; I love her better than anything in the world!" Jerry's voice rang out in the big, still room like a rifle shot. Bobs stared at him, and his eyes blazed back at her. She rose and went over to him and held out her hand. "I beg your pardon, old man; I had no idea you cared." He wrung her hand for a second, and turned away from her. "I wish you could help me a little to understand her," he said huskily. "With all my heart, Jerry," she answered. She took his arm and led him over to the couch, where they sat down side by side. "I know we started out wrong. Everything you say about the way I married her is true. I guess you know as well as any one what a selfish brute I've always been." "The thing is, how can you get Jane back?" Bobs broke in quickly. "I haven't a chance in the world, Bobs! I know what kind of a chap Christiansen is. What hold have I got on her?" "Little Jerry." "Oh, but that isn't fair," he said in the very words Christiansen had used. "We're dealing with facts now--not philosophy. Jane loves that baby better than anything in the world; that is the only thing you've got to work on." "How can I work on that?" "You've got to win her love, Jerry." "But what is there for her to love in me?" "You've got to make something." "But, Bobs, she's deciding it now. It's too late for me! I've lost my chance. I tell you if she walked out of here, with the Bald One, and went away to marry him, I don't think I could bear it! Just as Jerry Jr. and I were getting to like each other! I gave him his bath the night before he went away, Bobs, and he liked it." Two big tears ran down Jerry's nose and dropped off into his lap, but he paid no attention to them. "Maybe she'll give you time, Jerry. I think she ought to have this chance to be alone and decide, but she may not decide to do anything right away." "Bobs, you know Jane will do it right off, the minute she decides, whatever it is. I know it, too. No, I guess you're right; I've had my chance and I've missed it. I'll pay for it the rest of my life, I know that." "I'm sorry, old man; we all get it sooner or later," she said. "Oh, Bobs, I understand now. Forgive me," he said brokenly, turning to her. Billy Biggs came in with a "scuse me." He came to Jerry and offered him an envelope. "For you, Mr. Paxton," he said. Jerry tore it open, read it, gave it to Bobs. "Good God!" he said, and started off upstairs, as fast as he could run.