its setting of
demure black veil and trailing sombre garments.

Jim watched her, some curious emotion that was compounded of resentment
and jealousy and astonishment darkening his face. So dignified, so
poised, so strangely, hauntingly lovely she seemed, so much in demand
and so quietly equal to all demands. Jim flattered his vanity for a
while with the assurance that she was trying to impress as well as evade
him, but could not long preserve the illusion; there was no acting
there.

"Julia," he said, when they were all at home again after the funeral, "I
want to see you alone for a few moments, if I may?"

Julia was in the dining-room, busy with a great sheaf of letters. She
gave a quick glance at the chair which Barbara had filled only a moment
ago, as if realizing for the first time that she had been left alone.

"What is it?" she asked, dryly and unencouragingly.

Jim sat down, leaned back, folded his arms, and looked at her steadily,
in a manner that might have been confusing. But Julia went on serenely
opening, reading, and listing her letters.

"I want to ask how you are getting on, Julie," said Jim at last, in a
hurt tone. "I want to know if there is anything in the world I can do
for you?"

"Nothing, thank you!" Julia said pleasantly. "Financially, I am very
comfortable. You left me I don't know how many thousands in the Crocker.
I've never had one second's worry on that score, even though I've never
touched the capital--as you can easily find out."

"My dear girl, do you think for one second I doubt you!" Jim said
uncomfortably. "You've been perfectly wonderful to do it, only you must
have scrimped yourself! But it wasn't about that. Surely, Julia, you and
I have things more important to say to each other," he added
reproachfully.

"I don't know what's more important than money," she assured him
whimsically. "Of course I didn't want to use it at all; I should have
preferred to be self-supporting at any cost," she went on. "But there
was Anna and Mama to consider. And more than that, there was your name,
Jim; I didn't want to start every one talking of the straits to which
your wife had been reduced."

"Oh, for God's sake!" Jim growled. "Don't let's talk of money." "That
was all I meant to say," Julia said politely. "Is Mother lying down?"
she added naturally. Jim jerked his whole body impatiently.

"I think she is!" he snapped. Julia opened a letter.

"Isn't that a pretty hand?" she asked. "Eng