Page 602 - of-human-bondage-

I paid for you to go to Brighton, and I’m paying for the keep
of your baby, I’m paying for your clothes, I’m paying for ev-
ery stitch you’ve got on now.’
‘If you was a gentleman you wouldn’t throw what you’ve
done for me in my face.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, shut up. What d’you suppose
I care if I’m a gentleman or not? If I were a gentleman I
shouldn’t waste my time with a vulgar slut like you. I don’t
care a damn if you like me or not. I’m sick of being made a
blasted fool of. You’re jolly well coming to Paris with me on
Saturday or you can take the consequences.’
Her cheeks were red with anger, and when she answered
her voice had the hard commonness which she concealed
generally by a genteel enunciation.
‘I never liked you, not from the beginning, but you forced
yourself on me, I always hated it when you kissed me. I
wouldn’t let you touch me now not if I was starving.’
Philip tried to swallow the food on his plate, but the
muscles of his throat refused to act. He gulped down some-
thing to drink and lit a cigarette. He was trembling in every
part. He did not speak. He waited for her to move, but she
sat in silence, staring at the white tablecloth. If they had
been alone he would have flung his arms round her and
kissed her passionately; he fancied the throwing back of
her long white throat as he pressed upon her mouth with
his lips. They passed an hour without speaking, and at last
Philip thought the waiter began to stare at them curiously.
He called for the bill.
‘Shall we go?’ he said then, in an even tone.

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