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XXXII

hilip was surprised when he saw his uncle and aunt. He
Phad never noticed before that they were quite old people.
The Vicar received him with his usual, not unamiable indif-
ference. He was a little stouter, a little balder, a little grayer.
Philip saw how insignificant he was. His face was weak and
self-indulgent. Aunt Louisa took him in her arms and kissed
him; and tears of happiness flowed down her cheeks. Philip
was touched and embarrassed; he had not known with what
a hungry love she cared for him.
‘Oh, the time has seemed long since you’ve been away,
Philip,’ she cried.
She stroked his hands and looked into his face with glad
eyes.
‘You’ve grown. You’re quite a man now.’
There was a very small moustache on his upper lip. He
had bought a razor and now and then with infinite care
shaved the down off his smooth chin.
‘We’ve been so lonely without you.’ And then shyly, with
a little break in her voice, she asked: ‘You are glad to come
back to your home, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, rather.’
She was so thin that she seemed almost transparent,
the arms she put round his neck were frail bones that re-
minded you of chicken bones, and her faded face was oh! so

0 Of Human Bondage