“We shall get a very different colour into them when we’ve been down here a few days,” he said, smiling.

They arrived at the boarding-house and dismissed the cab.  An untidy maid opened the door and, when Philip asked if they had rooms, said she would inquire.  She fetched her mistress.  A middle-aged woman, stout and business-like, came downstairs, gave them the scrutinising glance of her profession, and asked what accommodation they required.

“Two single rooms, and if you’ve got such a thing we’d rather like a cot in one of them.”

“I’m afraid I haven’t got that.  I’ve got one nice large double room, and I could let you have a cot.”

“I don’t think that would do,” said Philip.

“I could give you another room next week.  Brighton’s very full just now, and people have to take what they can get.”

“If it were only for a few days, Philip, I think we might be able to manage,” said Mildred.

“I think two rooms would be more convenient.  Can you recommend any other place where they take boarders?”

“I can, but I don’t suppose they’d have room any more than I have.”

“Perhaps you wouldn’t mind giving me the address.”

The house the stout woman suggested was in the next street, and they walked towards it.  Philip could walk quite well, though he had to lean on a stick, and he was rather weak.  Mildred carried the baby.  They went for a little in silence, and then he saw she was crying.  It annoyed him, and he took no notice, but she forced his attention.

“Lend me a hanky, will you?  I can’t get at mine with baby,” she said in a voice strangled with sobs, turning her head away from him.

He gave her his handkerchief, but said nothing.  She dried her eyes, and as he did not speak, went on.

“I might be poisonous.”

“Please don’t make a scene in the street,” he said.

“It’ll look so funny insisting on separate rooms like that.  What’ll they think of us?”

“If they knew the circumstances I imagine they’d think us surprisingly moral,” said Philip.

She gave him a sidelong glance.

“You’re not going to give it away that we’re not married?” she asked quickly.

“No.”

“Why won’t you live with me as if we were married then?”

“My dear, I can’t explain.  I don’t want to humiliate you, but I simply can’t.  I daresay it’s very silly and unreasonable, but it’s stronger than I am.  I loved you so much that now...” he broke off.  “After all, there’s no accounting for that sort of thing.”

“A fat lot you must have loved me!” she exclaimed.

The boarding-house to which they had been directed was kept by a bustling maiden lady, with shrewd eyes and voluble speech.  They could have one double room for twenty-five shillings a week each, and five shillings extra for the baby, or they could have two single rooms for a pound a week more.