Page 348 - of-human-bondage-

He began to work, vaguely wondering why Fanny Price
made herself so disagreeable. He had come to the conclu-
sion that he thoroughly disliked her. Everyone did. People
were only civil to her at all from fear of the malice of her
tongue; for to their faces and behind their backs she said
abominable things. But Philip was feeling so happy that
he did not want even Miss Price to bear ill-feeling towards
him. He used the artifice which had often before succeeded
in banishing her ill-humour.
‘I say, I wish you’d come and look at my drawing. I’ve got
in an awful mess.’
‘Thank you very much, but I’ve got something better to
do with my time.’
Philip stared at her in surprise, for the one thing she
could be counted upon to do with alacrity was to give ad-
vice. She went on quickly in a low voice, savage with fury.
‘Now that Lawson’s gone you think you’ll put up with me.
Thank you very much. Go and find somebody else to help
you. I don’t want anybody else’s leavings.’
Lawson had the pedagogic instinct; whenever he found
anything out he was eager to impart it; and because he
taught with delight he talked with profit. Philip, without
thinking anything about it, had got into the habit of sit-
ting by his side; it never occurred to him that Fanny Price
was consumed with jealousy, and watched his acceptance of
someone else’s tuition with ever-increasing anger.
‘You were very glad to put up with me when you knew
nobody here,’ she said bitterly, ‘and as soon as you made
friends with other people you threw me aside, like an old