Page 613 - of-human-bondage-

ry won’t come, so we shan’t want money for that.’
Philip’s heart gave a great thud against his ribs, and he let
the door handle go. The door swung to.
‘Why not?’
‘He says we couldn’t, not on your money.’
A devil seized Philip, a devil of self-torture which was
always lurking within him, and, though with all his soul he
wished that Griffiths and Mildred should not go away to-
gether, he could not help himself; he set himself to persuade
Griffiths through her.
‘I don’t see why not, if I’m willing,’ he said.
‘That’s what I told him.’
‘I should have thought if he really wanted to go he
wouldn’t hesitate.’
‘Oh, it’s not that, he wants to all right. He’d go at once if
he had the money.’
‘If he’s squeamish about it I’ll give YOU the money.’
‘I said you’d lend it if he liked, and we’d pay it back as
soon as we could.’
‘It’s rather a change for you going on your knees to get a
man to take you away for a week-end.’
‘It is rather, isn’t it?’ she said, with a shameless little laugh.
It sent a cold shudder down Philip’s spine.
‘What are you going to do then?’ he asked.
‘Nothing. He’s going home tomorrow. He must.’
That would be Philip’s salvation. With Griffiths out of
the way he could get Mildred back. She knew no one in Lon-
don, she would be thrown on to his society, and when they
were alone together he could soon make her forget this in-

1 Of Human Bondage