"No," cried Leah, almost fiercely; "such a thing can never be, thank God."
Lionel stared. "Why 'thank God'?"
"Oh--er--I hardly know; of course, I should hate to be pestered with children. The nursery is an obsolete institution here, and will remain so, unless"--she hesitated--"unless Jim marries again."
"Duchess!"
"Why not Leah?"
"If it will please you. But why talk of Jim's marrying again, when you are in the best of health and spirits?"
She shrugged indifferently. "One never knows, I might go first."
"I sincerely trust not."
"Does that imply that you wish me to be a real widow, after posing as a sham one?"
"Of course not; but you talk so strangely."