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 would keep talking about something flannel. I grew quite hot when she made me assure her in a stage whisper that I had them on.

I always do hate these occasions. People get so excited, and seem to lose all self-control in a sort of kissing, handshaking scrimmage. I feel like Bob, who says he's so awfully afraid of being kissed by somebody by mistake in the general confusion of the moment. Bob always says he hates kissing, but he insisted on saluting me heartily on both cheeks now. 'Just to make old Hendley jealous,' he whispered, as he gave me the second with quite unnecessary emphasis. Bob has such ridiculous ideas, though I did once know a husband who was jealous of his wife being kissed by her brother. But I have an idea that some brothers-in-law must be real irritating. I feel sure my husband, if I ever have one, will find Bob so.

'You are sure you haven't forgotten the meat lozenges and the chlorodyne and the quinine?' he asked as he released me. That was purely to annoy me. He knew that I had only taken them under protest when Aunt Agatha had finally declared that she wouldn't sleep at nights with me so far away unless she knew that I was provided with them and several other things.

Lord Hendley looked at me for a moment without speaking as we shook hands.

Then, I don't know how it was, I did just the stupidest thing possible. I had known for some time that he couldn't come with us to India as he had suddenly announced his intention of doing that