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arranged without her, but presently Mrs. Carey called him.
‘Philip, you’ve hurt Emily’s feelings. She’s gone to her
room and she’s crying.’
‘What about?’
‘Oh, something about a duffer’s set. Do go to her, and say
you didn’t mean to be unkind, there’s a good boy.’
‘All right.’
He knocked at Miss Wilkinson’s door, but receiving no
answer went in. He found her lying face downwards on her
bed, weeping. He touched her on the shoulder.
‘I say, what on earth’s the matter?’
‘Leave me alone. I never want to speak to you again.’
‘What have I done? I’m awfully sorry if I’ve hurt your
feelings. I didn’t mean to. I say, do get up.’
‘Oh, I’m so unhappy. How could you be cruel to me? You
know I hate that stupid game. I only play because I want to
play with you.’
She got up and walked towards the dressing-table, but
after a quick look in the glass sank into a chair. She made
her handkerchief into a ball and dabbed her eyes with it.
‘I’ve given you the greatest thing a woman can give a
man—oh, what a fool I was—and you have no gratitude.
You must be quite heartless. How could you be so cruel as
to torment me by flirting with those vulgar girls. We’ve only
got just over a week. Can’t you even give me that?’
Philip stood over her rather sulkily. He thought her be-
haviour childish. He was vexed with her for having shown
her ill-temper before strangers.
‘But you know I don’t care twopence about either of the