As a rule people who bully me are not allowed to kiss me—but—my brother was ill in bed! *CHAPTER X* Ross seemed fairly well this morning, and, having announced ’Time’s up,’ said that _he_ would go to the house agents at Tarnley to-day, and that if I liked I might come too. I had previously said to Sam,— ’Don’t you think another day in bed would do him good?’ ’Not a doubt about it, miss,’ said Sam, ’but I couldn’t work it: thought we should have hardly lasted out the time as it was. We’ve drove him a bit hard lately. Better not press him too much, miss, he don’t take kindly even to the snaffle.’ So we sallied forth to call on Messrs Cardew Thompkins. My brother was in one of his mad moods and announced that he should pretend we were just married, and that I was to look as shy and modest as my brazen countenance would allow, and to blush at intervals if I could. An elegant young man, with a waist, received us with a bow, begged us to be seated and state our requirements. ’Take a pew, Florrie,’ said Ross to me. I took one and hoped I looked shy and modest. ’I want,’ said Ross, bursting with newly married pride and importance, ’to rent a small house for myself and my er——’ The agent coughed discreetly and said, ’Quite so.’ My face by this time was perfectly crimson with suppressed laughter. I hope Mr Cardew Thompkins thought it was shy blushes. ’The house must be as small as possible,’ continued Ross, ’and quite new, with no garden, as my wife doesn’t like slugs, do you, lovey? It must be in a row, or at most, semi-detached, as my er——’ ’Quite so,’ said the agent again. ’My wife is nervous at nights. We haven’t been married very long,’ said the incorrigible Ross in a burst of confidence. ’We should like it opposite a railway station, if possible, and we want white paint—enamel, I mean—and fireplaces with tiled hearths, nice cheerful wall-papers, and a dodo in the hall.’ ’Dado,’ I murmured. ’What, sweetie?’ said Ross, ’what did you say, my pet?’ I could have murdered him. ’But it must be quite a new house,’ said Ross, as I didn’t answer, ’as you don’t like beetles, do you, duckie? We don’t even mind if it isn’t quite finished, because——’ Here Ross’s powers of invention mercifully failed him. ’Because,’ said the agent, ’then you could choose your own decoration. I quite understand.’ I was pulp by this time, and as I was in imminent danger of exploding I retired to the window and made curious noises into my handkerchief, while the house agent looked through a number of small cards in a little box. ’You’re in a draught, my pretty,’ said Ross, ’come and sit near to hubby, while Mr Cardew Thompkins writes us the order to view.’ I came lest worse should befall me, and Ross tried to hold my hand but didn’t succeed. ’There’s a little old house out at Crosslanes,’ began the agent—Ross nudged me violently. ’Also one at Stoke, which is slightly larger and older.’