diff --git a/sx/sx/pretext-client.sx b/sx/sx/pretext-client.sx
index 29e45891..168c5302 100644
--- a/sx/sx/pretext-client.sx
+++ b/sx/sx/pretext-client.sx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-;; Pretext island — full version with :ref (bug fix applied)
+;; Pretext island — effect as let binding
 (defisland
   ~pretext-demo/live
   ()
@@ -10,99 +10,97 @@
       (doc (host-global "document"))
       (canvas (host-call doc "createElement" "canvas"))
       (ctx (host-call canvas "getContext" "2d"))
-      (el-ref (signal nil)))
-    (effect
-      (fn
-        ()
-        (let
-          ((el (deref el-ref))
-            (w (deref mxw))
-            (sz (deref font-size))
-            (opt (deref use-optimal)))
-          (when
-            el
+      (el-ref (signal nil))
+      (_eff
+        (effect
+          (fn
+            ()
             (let
-              ((lh (* sz 1.5)))
-              (host-set!
-                ctx
-                "font"
-                (str sz "px 'Pretext Serif', DejaVu Serif, serif"))
-              (let
-                ((widths (map (fn (wd) (host-get (host-call ctx "measureText" wd) "width")) words))
-                  (spw (host-get (host-call ctx "measureText" " ") "width")))
+              ((el (deref el-ref))
+                (w (deref mxw))
+                (sz (deref font-size))
+                (opt (deref use-optimal)))
+              (when
+                el
+                (host-set!
+                  ctx
+                  "font"
+                  (str sz "px 'Pretext Serif', DejaVu Serif, serif"))
                 (let
-                  ((ranges (if opt (break-lines widths spw w) (break-lines-greedy widths spw w)))
-                    (lines
-                      (pretext-layout-lines
-                        words
-                        widths
-                        (if
-                          opt
-                          (break-lines widths spw w)
-                          (break-lines-greedy widths spw w))
-                        spw
-                        w
-                        lh)))
-                  (host-set! el "innerHTML" "")
+                  ((lh (* sz 1.5))
+                    (widths
+                      (map
+                        (fn
+                          (wd)
+                          (host-get (host-call ctx "measureText" wd) "width"))
+                        words))
+                    (spw
+                      (host-get (host-call ctx "measureText" " ") "width")))
                   (let
-                    ((info (host-call doc "createElement" "div")))
-                    (host-set! info "className" "px-4 pt-3 pb-1")
-                    (host-set!
-                      info
-                      "innerHTML"
-                      (str
-                        "<span class='text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-stone-400'>"
-                        (len lines)
-                        " lines — "
-                        w
-                        "px / "
-                        sz
-                        "px / "
-                        (if opt "optimal" "greedy")
-                        "</span>"))
-                    (host-call el "appendChild" info))
-                  (let
-                    ((container (host-call doc "createElement" "div")))
-                    (host-set!
-                      container
-                      "style"
-                      (str
-                        "position:relative;height:"
-                        (* (len lines) lh)
-                        "px;padding:12px 16px"))
+                    ((ranges (if opt (break-lines widths spw w) (break-lines-greedy widths spw w))))
                     (let
-                      render-lines
-                      ((li 0))
-                      (when
-                        (< li (len lines))
-                        (let
-                          ((line (nth lines li))
-                            (wds (get (nth lines li) :words)))
+                      ((lines (pretext-layout-lines words widths ranges spw w lh))
+                        (info (host-call doc "createElement" "div"))
+                        (container (host-call doc "createElement" "div")))
+                      (host-set! el "innerHTML" "")
+                      (host-set! info "className" "px-4 pt-3 pb-1")
+                      (host-set!
+                        info
+                        "innerHTML"
+                        (str
+                          "<span class='text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-stone-400'>"
+                          (len lines)
+                          " lines — "
+                          w
+                          "px / "
+                          sz
+                          "px / "
+                          (if opt "optimal" "greedy")
+                          "</span>"))
+                      (host-call el "appendChild" info)
+                      (host-set!
+                        container
+                        "style"
+                        (str
+                          "position:relative;height:"
+                          (+ (* (len lines) lh) 24)
+                          "px;padding:12px 16px"))
+                      (let
+                        rl
+                        ((li 0))
+                        (when
+                          (< li (len lines))
                           (let
-                            render-words
-                            ((wi 0))
-                            (when
-                              (< wi (len wds))
-                              (let
-                                ((pw (nth wds wi))
-                                  (span
-                                    (host-call doc "createElement" "span")))
-                                (host-set! span "textContent" (get pw :word))
-                                (host-set!
-                                  span
-                                  "style"
-                                  (str
-                                    "position:absolute;left:"
-                                    (+ (get pw :x) 16)
-                                    "px;top:"
-                                    (+ (get line :y) 12)
-                                    "px;font:"
-                                    sz
-                                    "px 'Pretext Serif',serif;white-space:nowrap"))
-                                (host-call container "appendChild" span)
-                                (render-words (+ wi 1))))))
-                        (render-lines (+ li 1))))
-                    (host-call el "appendChild" container)))))))))
+                            ((line (nth lines li))
+                              (wds (get (nth lines li) :words)))
+                            (let
+                              rw
+                              ((wi 0))
+                              (when
+                                (< wi (len wds))
+                                (let
+                                  ((pw (nth wds wi))
+                                    (span
+                                      (host-call doc "createElement" "span")))
+                                  (host-set!
+                                    span
+                                    "textContent"
+                                    (get pw :word))
+                                  (host-set!
+                                    span
+                                    "style"
+                                    (str
+                                      "position:absolute;left:"
+                                      (+ (get pw :x) 16)
+                                      "px;top:"
+                                      (+ (get line :y) 12)
+                                      "px;font:"
+                                      sz
+                                      "px 'Pretext Serif',serif;white-space:nowrap"))
+                                  (host-call container "appendChild" span)
+                                  (rw (+ wi 1))))))
+                          (rl (+ li 1))))
+                      (host-call el "appendChild" container))))))))))
     (div
       (~tw :tokens "space-y-4")
       (div
@@ -144,6 +142,6 @@
             :on-click (fn (e) (reset! use-optimal (not (deref use-optimal))))
             (if (deref use-optimal) "Knuth-Plass" "Greedy"))))
       (div
-        :class "rounded-lg border border-stone-200 bg-white overflow-hidden"
+        :class "rounded-lg border border-stone-200 bg-white"
         :ref (fn (el) (reset! el-ref el))
         ""))))
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