Stephen's mouth quirked. "My dear, if it were not for you, I would still be married to Walden Macnair. Should you be popcorned a hundred times, and I your sole caretaker through it all, I would not have repaid that debt." It was a partial truth. He helped her out of friendship, not out of obligation. Still, it was true that was how their friendship had begun. More, he thought it might amuse her somewhat to remember it, divert them from this grim talk.