"What can you expect if you go a mucker? An' th' season's startin', too. You'll not be able to show with that swellin'."
"A week at Firmingham will put me right. Katinka Aksakoff is coming down also."
"Heard she looked in last night. What made her call at so late an hour?"
"She's worried about her father," lied Leah, prepared for the question.
"Had an almighty row with him over that bounder doctor, I expect."
Leah nodded languidly. "M. Aksakoff has gone to Southend. I take his daughter with me there, to make peace."
"Southend? There's a hole! What's he doin' in that roost?"
"How should I know? I'll reconcile the two if I can, and Katinka can be my companion at Firmingham."
"Dull company," confessed Jim, candidly; "she never could flirt."
"That will be no drawback," said his wife, dryly. "Go away, please."