Page 114 - of-human-bondage-

at the sudden intimacy, and Rose was asked what he saw
in Philip.
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ he answered. ‘He’s not half a bad chap
really.’
Soon they grew accustomed to the two walking into
chapel arm in arm or strolling round the precincts in con-
versation; wherever one was the other could be found also,
and, as though acknowledging his proprietorship, boys
who wanted Rose would leave messages with Carey. Philip
at first was reserved. He would not let himself yield entirely
to the proud joy that filled him; but presently his distrust
of the fates gave way before a wild happiness. He thought
Rose the most wonderful fellow he had ever seen. His books
now were insignificant; he could not bother about them
when there was something infinitely more important to oc-
cupy him. Rose’s friends used to come in to tea in the study
sometimes or sit about when there was nothing better to
do—Rose liked a crowd and the chance of a rag—and they
found that Philip was quite a decent fellow. Philip was hap-
py.
When the last day of term came he and Rose arranged by
which train they should come back, so that they might meet
at the station and have tea in the town before returning to
school. Philip went home with a heavy heart. He thought of
Rose all through the holidays, and his fancy was active with
the things they would do together next term. He was bored
at the vicarage, and when on the last day his uncle put him
the usual question in the usual facetious tone:
‘Well, are you glad to be going back to school?’

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