Page 266 - of-human-bondage-

life. His intention had been to kill the day somehow in the
streets and then dine at a restaurant, but he could not face
again the sight of cheerful people, talking, laughing, and
making merry; so he went back to Waterloo, and on his way
through the Westminster Bridge Road bought some ham
and a couple of mince pies and went back to Barnes. He ate
his food in his lonely little room and spent the evening with
a book. His depression was almost intolerable.
When he was back at the office it made him very sore to
listen to Watson’s account of the short holiday. They had
had some jolly girls staying with them, and after dinner
they had cleared out the drawing-room and had a dance.
‘I didn’t get to bed till three and I don’t know how I got
there then. By George, I was squiffy.’
At last Philip asked desperately:
‘How does one get to know people in London?’
Watson looked at him with surprise and with a slightly
contemptuous amusement.
‘Oh, I don’t know, one just knows them. If you go to
dances you soon get to know as many people as you can
do with.’
Philip hated Watson, and yet he would have given any-
thing to change places with him. The old feeling that he had
had at school came back to him, and he tried to throw him-
self into the other’s skin, imagining what life would be if he
were Watson.