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VIII

hilip had led always the solitary life of an only child,
Pand his loneliness at the vicarage was no greater than
it had been when his mother lived. He made friends with
Mary Ann. She was a chubby little person of thirty-five, the
daughter of a fisherman, and had come to the vicarage at
eighteen; it was her first place and she had no intention of
leaving it; but she held a possible marriage as a rod over
the timid heads of her master and mistress. Her father and
mother lived in a little house off Harbour Street, and she
went to see them on her evenings out. Her stories of the sea
touched Philip’s imagination, and the narrow alleys round
the harbour grew rich with the romance which his young
fancy lent them. One evening he asked whether he might
go home with her; but his aunt was afraid that he might
catch something, and his uncle said that evil communica-
tions corrupted good manners. He disliked the fisher folk,
who were rough, uncouth, and went to chapel. But Philip
was more comfortable in the kitchen than in the dining-
room, and, whenever he could, he took his toys and played
there. His aunt was not sorry. She did not like disorder, and
though she recognised that boys must be expected to be un-
tidy she preferred that he should make a mess in the kitchen.
If he fidgeted his uncle was apt to grow restless and say it
was high time he went to school. Mrs. Carey thought Philip

Of Human Bondage