Page 460 - of-human-bondage-

man, who had anglicised his name, and he had lived many
years in England. Philip had heard him speak, and, though
his English was fluent and natural, it had not quite the in-
tonation of the native. Philip knew that he was flirting with
Mildred, and he was horribly jealous of him; but he took
comfort in the coldness of her temperament, which other-
wise distressed him; and, thinking her incapable of passion,
he looked upon his rival as no better off than himself. But
his heart sank now, for his first thought was that Miller’s
sudden appearance might interfere with the jaunt which he
had so looked forward to. He entered, sick with apprehen-
sion. The waitress came up to him, took his order for tea,
and presently brought it.
‘I’m awfully, sorry’ she said, with an expression on her
face of real distress. ‘I shan’t be able to come tonight after
all.’
‘Why?’ said Philip.
‘Don’t look so stern about it,’ she laughed. ‘It’s not my
fault. My aunt was taken ill last night, and it’s the girl’s night
out so I must go and sit with her. She can’t be left alone, can
she?’
‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll see you home instead.’
‘But you’ve got the tickets. It would be a pity to waste
them.’
He took them out of his pocket and deliberately tore
them up.
‘What are you doing that for?’
‘You don’t suppose I want to go and see a rotten musical
comedy by myself, do you? I only took seats there for your