“Oh, there’s only a man and his wife living here.  He’s out all day, and I never see her except on Saturday to pay my rent.  They keep entirely to themselves.  I’ve not spoken two words to either of them since I came.”

Mildred went into the bedroom to undo her things and put them away.  Philip tried to read, but his spirits were too high:  he leaned back in his chair, smoking a cigarette, and with smiling eyes looked at the sleeping child.  He felt very happy.  He was quite sure that he was not at all in love with Mildred.  He was surprised that the old feeling had left him so completely; he discerned in himself a faint physical repulsion from her; and he thought that if he touched her it would give him goose-flesh.  He could not understand himself.  Presently, knocking at the door, she came in again.

“I say, you needn’t knock,” he said.  “Have you made the tour of the mansion?”

“It’s the smallest kitchen I’ve ever seen.”

“You’ll find it large enough to cook our sumptuous repasts,” he retorted lightly.

“I see there’s nothing in.  I’d better go out and get something.”

“Yes, but I venture to remind you that we must be devilish economical.”

“What shall I get for supper?”

“You’d better get what you think you can cook,” laughed Philip.

He gave her some money and she went out.  She came in half an hour later and put her purchases on the table.  She was out of breath from climbing the stairs.

“I say, you are anaemic,” said Philip.  “I’ll have to dose you with Blaud’s Pills.”

“It took me some time to find the shops.  I bought some liver.  That’s tasty, isn’t it?  And you can’t eat much of it, so it’s more economical than butcher’s meat.”

There was a gas stove in the kitchen, and when she had put the liver on, Mildred came into the sitting-room to lay the cloth.

“Why are you only laying one place?” asked Philip.  “Aren’t you going to eat anything?”

Mildred flushed.

“I thought you mightn’t like me to have my meals with you.”

“Why on earth not?”

“Well, I’m only a servant, aren’t I?”

“Don’t be an ass.  How can you be so silly?”

He smiled, but her humility gave him a curious twist in his heart.  Poor thing!  He remembered what she had been when first he knew her.  He hesitated for an instant.

“Don’t think I’m conferring any benefit on you,” he said.  “It’s simply a business arrangement, I’m giving you board and lodging in return for your work.  You don’t owe me anything.  And there’s nothing humiliating to you in it.”