Page 44 - of-human-bondage-

and his voluminous cloak. Mrs. Carey as usual went to the
door to see him off. Then she turned to Philip.
‘Never mind, Philip, you won’t be a naughty boy next
Sunday, will you, and then your uncle will take you to
church with him in the evening.’
She took off his hat and coat, and led him into the din-
ing-room.
‘Shall you and I read the service together, Philip, and we’ll
sing the hymns at the harmonium. Would you like that?’
Philip shook his head decidedly. Mrs. Carey was taken
aback. If he would not read the evening service with her she
did not know what to do with him.
‘Then what would you like to do until your uncle comes
back?’ she asked helplessly.
Philip broke his silence at last.
‘I want to be left alone,’ he said.
‘Philip, how can you say anything so unkind? Don’t you
know that your uncle and I only want your good? Don’t you
love me at all?’
‘I hate you. I wish you was dead.’
Mrs. Carey gasped. He said the words so savagely that it
gave her quite a start. She had nothing to say. She sat down
in her husband’s chair; and as she thought of her desire to
love the friendless, crippled boy and her eager wish that
he should love her—she was a barren woman and, even
though it was clearly God’s will that she should be childless,
she could scarcely bear to look at little children sometimes,
her heart ached so—the tears rose to her eyes and one by
one, slowly, rolled down her cheeks. Philip watched her in