"Yes, rather! But--" "But what?" Philip reddened. "I don't know," he said helplessly. But he knew well enough, and so did Peggy. "Then don't be a baby," she said severely. "It is not very nice of you, considering that I am only trying to make you comfortable and--" But Philip was already doing penance. "Peggy," he burst out,--he called her Peggy because she called him Philip: they had never returned to "Pegs" and "Phil," although she sometimes addressed him as "Theophilus,"--"I am a brute. Forgive me!" Peggy relented, and smiled. "No, you are not a brute," she said; "you are just a child. However, since you are an invalid, I forgive you. But you must not be sulky when people take trouble on your behalf. You are getting a big boy now, you know! Say 'thank you,' nicely!" "Thank you," said Philip obediently. "That is _much_ better," remarked Peggy approvingly. "But tell me, why don't you want to settle down in nice comfy rooms with Tim?" Philip hesitated, and his throat went dry. Was this his opening--at last? "I don't want to settle down--in that way," he said hoarsely. "Peggy, I--" "Shall I tell you why?" interposed Peggy. "Because you are far too much wrapped up in your work. You work too hard. You think of nothing but Oxford Street and--and carburettors, and things. I want you--I mean, you ought to go about more, and see people, and enjoy yourself, and have a lot of friends." "I don't want--" declared Philip rebelliously. "Think how interesting and amusing you could be, if you went about and met more people," continued Peggy. She got home that time. Philip winced. "I'm a dull dog, I know," he said. "No, you are not," said Peggy; "so don't be foolish." Then, softening again, for she had averted the danger, she continued gently:-- "All I meant was that it would do you good to have a little more leisure and distraction. 'All work and no play,' you know! Now, will you look about for nice rooms when you get well--for yourself and Tim?" "Yes--if you will help," replied Philip, with great valour. "Of course I will," said Peggy heartily; "but not if you are going to be cross with me." Philip assured her that she need never again have any fears upon that score. And he was as good as his word. CHAPTER XXIII MAINLY COMMERCIAL AS soon as Philip's bodily mechanism would permit, flat-hunting expeditions were organised, and eventually resulted in the leasing of an _appartement_ near Albert Gate. The rooms stood high up, overlooking the Park, and were described by the agent and Timothy as "a lovely little bachelor suite," and "a self-contained monkey-house" respectively.