" Shade laughed, an exasperated, mirthless laugh.

Often, during the last few days, he had told himself, with a kind of mirthless chuckle, that he was not going to be "caught"; but when, at last, he had made up his mind that Bubbles would make him, if not an ideal, then a very suitable, wife, it seemed strange indeed that she was not eager to "nail him."

" She broke into a low-pitched, mirthless laughter.