CHAPTER VIII
Lady Elizabeth watched Jim with curiosity. The voice from the drawing-room grew louder:
"Tout casse, tout passé—"
deeper grew Jim's voice as he softly sang the refrain. Quite abruptly Lady Elizabeth began:
"She's a fine woman, Jim."
As she spoke, Jim caught sight of Diana crossing to the piano in smiling approbation as the song ceased, and answered:
"Diana?"
"Diana! Nonsense!" Again she watched Jim's face, but its grave serenity gave no sign. "I mean Mrs. Hobart Chichester Chichester Jones. She's quite the type that men admire, is she not?"
"That's the most offensive thing that one woman can say about another," Jim laughingly replied, as he turned from watching the group in the music-room—"isn't it, Auntie?"
"Not at all." Lady Elizabeth fidgeted; he was making it exceedingly difficult, she thought, as he leaned over her, his laughing eyes teasing her. "The sensible view of things never appeals to you, Jim; so I have hesitated to remind you that Sadie Jones is exceedingly rich."