Page 538 - of-human-bondage-

LXIX

ne afternoon, when he went back to his rooms from
Othe hospital to wash and tidy himself before going to
tea as usual with Norah, as he let himself in with his latch-
key, his landlady opened the door for him.
‘There’s a lady waiting to see you,’ she said.
‘Me?’ exclaimed Philip.
He was surprised. It would only be Norah, and he had no
idea what had brought her.
‘I shouldn’t ‘ave let her in, only she’s been three times,
and she seemed that upset at not finding you, so I told her
she could wait.’
He pushed past the explaining landlady and burst into
the room. His heart turned sick. It was Mildred. She was sit-
ting down, but got up hurriedly as he came in. She did not
move towards him nor speak. He was so surprised that he
did not know what he was saying.
‘What the hell d’you want?’ he asked.
She did not answer, but began to cry. She did not put her
hands to her eyes, but kept them hanging by the side of her
body. She looked like a housemaid applying for a situation.
There was a dreadful humility in her bearing. Philip did not
know what feelings came over him. He had a sudden im-
pulse to turn round and escape from the room.
‘I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,’ he said at last.