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She flared up.
‘You won’t come because you don’t want to. I don’t know
what you’ve been doing the last few days, you’ve been quite
different.’
He looked at his watch.
‘I’m afraid I’ll have to be going,’ he said.
‘You won’t come tomorrow?’
‘No.’
‘In that case you needn’t trouble to come again,’ she cried,
losing her temper for good.
‘That’s just as you like,’ he answered.
‘Don’t let me detain you any longer,’ she added ironical-
ly.
He shrugged his shoulders and walked out. He was re-
lieved that it had gone no worse. There had been no tears.
As he walked along he congratulated himself on getting
out of the affair so easily. He went into Victoria Street and
bought a few flowers to take in to Mildred.
The little dinner was a great success. Philip had sent in
a small pot of caviare, which he knew she was very fond of,
and the landlady brought them up some cutlets with veg-
etables and a sweet. Philip had ordered Burgundy, which
was her favourite wine. With the curtains drawn, a bright
fire, and one of Mildred’s shades on the lamp, the room was
cosy.
‘It’s really just like home,’ smiled Philip.
‘I might be worse off, mightn’t I?’ she answered.
When they finished, Philip drew two arm-chairs in front
of the fire, and they sat down. He smoked his pipe comfort-

Of Human Bondage