"As an individual, I shan't," retorted Lady Jim, calmly. She was getting over her rage now, as she foresaw a very different interview between herself and Jim before they retired for the night. "It is very good of you to have settled all this without consulting me. And now that you have done so, let us go to dinner." "But I----" "There's the gong," observed Leah, opening the door, "and I don't like cold soup." "You'll have to like lots of things now you didn't like before," said Jim, as they went down. "The selection doesn't include you, my good man, so don't be disappointed." Jim could have shaken her, and began to understand why the lower orders indulged in wife-beating. But as they were entering the drawing-room at this moment, he had to play the part of a devoted husband. Leah floated radiantly into the brilliantly lighted apartment, and Jim sought out the oldest and ugliest woman he could find. When he thought of his wife, beauty sickened him for the time being. Thus it came about that Miss Jaffray had the pleasure of shouting into his ear throughout a long and wearisome dinner. Whether it was the work of the fetish or of Lady Frith, Leah did not know, but she found herself seated at the table with Askew on her right hand. The young man looked flustered, and ill at ease. "I'm so sorry!" he began apologetically, and, as she thought, tactlessly. "That you're my neighbour?" she interrupted sweetly. "How unkind!" "No! But I never knew he was your husband." "Who? Mr. Berring?" "Don't make it harder for me," he entreated softly. "I've been calling myself names ever since we parted." "You should have left that to me, Mr. Askew." "There's nothing in it, you know," he stuttered, heedlessly. "Of course, she never married him." "I hope not, for the sake of morality," said Lady Jim, lightly, and thinking that the soup was worse than usual. "However, it doesn't matter. My husband is a modest man, and sometimes drops his title when travelling. I daresay, as Mr. Berring, he thought he was free to make love." "But he wasn't," protested Askew, with a glance towards the unconscious Jim, who apparently had not recognised him. "You should tell him so." "I intend to--in the smoking room." Lady Jim looked at him imperiously, and softened her voice to a very direct whisper. "Don't make trouble," she said, in a somewhat domineering tone; "that will do no good and much harm. And after all, married or unmarried, every man has a right to admire a pretty woman." "But not to make love to her," muttered the young man, with another vengeful glance. "I am no casuist," replied Leah, calmly; "and you should be pleased that things are as they are. You can now return to Lima, or Rosario, and marry the lady." "She wouldn't have me!" "Is she so much in love with Mr. Berring, then?" "Please don't, Lady James. I can't talk like this to you." She gave a light laugh. "It seems to me that you are talking; therefore I repeat my question."