Thus encouraged, the child did talk, and Lady Jim listened with a bent head to original remarks about Time, the great consoler, and meetings on a golden shore, to part no more, and keeping the loved memory green, and bowing to the inevitable, and such-like official utterances, without which no funeral is complete. When Hilda stopped for want of breath and memory, Leah kissed her with the affection of one deeply moved, and observed that she was tired. And indeed she was--bored to death, in fact. So the Marchioness, pleased with her plagiarised eloquence, took leave tactfully and tearfully on the Duke's arm. Frith lingered. "Why don't you laugh?" he said dryly. "At Hilda in the pulpit? Why should I. She means well." "Huh! I allude to your demure listening. I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, and, after all, Jim was my brother. But are you really and truly sorry?" "In a way, if you _will_ press for an answer. One can't live five years with a man without missing him at the breakfast-table." "Hum! Though you and I pretend otherwise, to console my father, we know that Jim was no saint." "Am I?" she asked, shrugging. "Politeness forbids my answering that question." "I don't see what politeness has to do with this interview. Have you remained to make yourself disagreeable?" "On my honour, no. You're a clever woman, Leah, and as a scamp's wife you have conducted yourself admirably." "As I am now the scamp's widow, had that not better have been left unsaid?" Frith shrugged in his turn. "I suppose so, since we have agreed to call black white. But I waited to say that I'll help you in any way you wish." Leah was surprised, and touched. She and Frith had never been good friends. Apparently, he was not such a bad sort after all. But what was behind this offer? Her ineradicable suspicion of human nature made her doubt, though she spared him the question. "It is very good of you," said she, cordially, "but with the insurance money and this house, which your father says I can retain, I shall do very well. There is no need for you to open your purse, or your heart." The Marquis hunched his shoulders and let them drop. "Hum," he repeated, biting his forefinger; "you will be marrying again?" "What has that to do with you?" she flashed out, haughtily. "Well, you bear our family name," he reminded her, "and Demetrius----" Lady Jim felt qualmish. "Demetrius?" she echoed faintly. What could Frith possibly have to say about the prime mover in the plot? "The man is crazy about you," said he, frowning. "I can't help lunatics being at large," said Leah, reassured as to his meaning and at once on the defensive. "Have I encouraged him?" He hastened to protest. "Oh no. As I said before, your conduct as Jim's wife has been admirable--truly admirable. But I should not like to see you marry Demetrius." "Why should you think me willing to do so?" "I don't, since the man is a foreigner and poor and untitled."