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even write and suggest that, with nothing to keep him in
town, he would like to spend the week where he could see
her every day. She knew he had nothing to do; if she wanted
him to come she would have asked him to. He dared not
risk the anguish he would suffer if he proposed to come and
she made excuses to prevent him.
He wrote to her next day, sent her a five-pound note, and
at the end of his letter said that if she were very nice and
cared to see him for the week-end he would be glad to run
down; but she was by no means to alter any plans she had
made. He awaited her answer with impatience. In it she
said that if she had only known before she could have ar-
ranged it, but she had promised to go to a music-hall on
the Saturday night; besides, it would make the people at
the boarding-house talk if he stayed there. Why did he not
come on Sunday morning and spend the day? They could
lunch at the Metropole, and she would take him afterwards
to see the very superior lady-like person who was going to
take the baby.
Sunday. He blessed the day because it was fine. As the
train approached Brighton the sun poured through the
carriage window. Mildred was waiting for him on the plat-
form.
‘How jolly of you to come and meet me!’ he cried, as he
seized her hands.
‘You expected me, didn’t you?’
‘I hoped you would. I say, how well you’re looking.’
‘It’s done me a rare lot of good, but I think I’m wise to stay
here as long as I can. And there are a very nice class of peo-

0 Of Human Bondage