"Don't be stupid, Jim!"
Jim smiled. "Well, you know, dear, I thought——"
Mrs. Gray suddenly placed a hand over his mouth.
"That'll do, you wicked deceiver. Do you think you can play such games with me? As if I didn't know that you'd had a hand in it. You don't want me to thank you, you bad old Jimmy, but I shall."
"But, my dear——"
"Now, do be quiet," said Mrs. Gray. "I know all about it, so there! You were thinking how much I wanted a little extra money, and what a silly I was not to be able to let the room myself, and that's why you did it, now isn't it?"
Gray smiled, and tried to look as cunning as a monkey.
"I'm so glad," went on Mrs. Gray. "It will be such a help; especially as he's a nice man. I should hate to have a grumpy lodger."
"I hope he hasn't got a beard," said Gray. "I know you like beards, but I might get jealous."
"Don't be horrid, Jim; you know he hasn't got a beard."