Page 571 - of-human-bondage-

her, but she refused: she had her living to earn, and it would
be more easy to do this if she had not also to look after a
baby. Her plan was to get back into one of the shops of the
company for which she had worked before, and the child
could be put with some decent woman in the country.
‘I can find someone who’ll look after it well for seven and
sixpence a week. It’ll be better for the baby and better for
me.’
It seemed callous to Philip, but when he tried to reason
with her she pretended to think he was concerned with the
expense.
‘You needn’t worry about that,’ she said. ‘I shan’t ask
YOU to pay for it.’
‘You know I don’t care how much I pay.’
At the bottom of her heart was the hope that the child
would be still-born. She did no more than hint it, but Philip
saw that the thought was there. He was shocked at first; and
then, reasoning with himself, he was obliged to confess that
for all concerned such an event was to be desired.
‘It’s all very fine to say this and that,’ Mildred remarked
querulously, ‘but it’s jolly difficult for a girl to earn her liv-
ing by herself; it doesn’t make it any easier when she’s got a
baby.’
‘Fortunately you’ve got me to fall back on,’ smiled Philip,
taking her hand.
‘You’ve been good to me, Philip.’
‘Oh, what rot!’
‘You can’t say I didn’t offer anything in return for what
you’ve done.’

0 Of Human Bondage