Echo or Return ? Please help...

I am trying to wrap my html (including the fckedtior) with a table.. See below:

But the editor keeps echoing outside the table...
Why wont it wrap with the data? Thanks for any help....

$data = "<table>";
$data .= "<tr><td>";

$data .= $editor = new FCKedtior("new");
$data .= $editor->BasePath = "my path to editor";
$data .= ....more fckedtior init code
$data .= $editor->Create();
$data .= "</td></tr>";
$data .= "</table>";

echo $data;