Something in the tone struck strangely through her heart. It sometimes was thevoice of what Diana never had felt yet--deep suffering--and she gave alittle shiver.

"What an _awfully_ solemn voice James has sometimes," she said; and thenadded, with a laugh, "it would make his fortune as a Methodist minister."

The sound of the light chuckle and little snatches and echoes of gay talkcame back like heartless elves to mock Jim's sorrow.