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It is a very deplorable
business; but----"
Arthur looked up. All the life and expression
had gone out of his face; it was like a waxen
mask.
"D-don't you think," he said softly, with a curious
stammering hesitation on the words, "th-that--all
this--is--v-very--funny?"
"FUNNY?" James pushed his chair away from
the table, and sat staring at him, too much petrified
for anger. "Funny! Arthur, are you mad?"
Arthur suddenly threw back his head, and burst
into a frantic fit of laughing.
"Arthur!" exclaimed the shipowner, rising with
dignity, "I am amazed at your levity!"
There was no answer but peal after peal of
laughter, so loud and boisterous that even James
began to doubt whether there was not something
more the matter here than levity.
"Just like a hysterical woman," he muttered,
turning, with a contemptuous shrug of his shoulders,
to tramp impatiently up and down the room.
"Really, Arthur, you're worse than Julia; there,
stop laughing! I can't wait about here all night.


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