Dr. Arthur s taunt echoed unpleasantly in her neaa.

"I... I don t love you," she heard herself say , ,,

"It doesn t matter, Love will surely come "

"AI/right," she heard herself reply. Tll marry yog~

then, if that s what you want."

Adam s eyes widened. He gave a start, and then she

saw triumph spread quickly over his features. He

started to reach for her. "Under one condition,"

she said. "Under only one condition will I marry

you."

"I will marry you if you will buy me the William

deBord Circus and let me run it and do with it

whatever I please."

"What?" Adam threw his head back and emitted a

groat peal of laughter. "You, running a circus7 A

girl of seventeen with both legs in splints?"

"Yes." Carisa squared her jaw and stared at him

defiantly. ,Your Dr. Arthur told me there would be

ways for me to make money," she said in a low

voice. "I... I suppose I could find them. I ll do

what I have to. And one way or another, I ll buy

that show. "