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of his pain. But it was no more than recollection. When he
looked at her he knew that he no longer loved her. He was
very sorry for her, but he was glad to be free. Watching her
gravely, he asked himself why he had been so besotted with
passion for her.
‘You’re a gentleman in every sense of the word,’ she said.
‘You’re the only one I’ve ever met.’ She paused for a min-
ute and then flushed. ‘I hate asking you, Philip, but can you
spare me anything?’
‘It’s lucky I’ve got some money on me. I’m afraid I’ve only
got two pounds.’
He gave her the sovereigns.
‘I’ll pay you back, Philip.’
‘Oh, that’s all right,’ he smiled. ‘You needn’t worry.’
He had said nothing that he wanted to say. They had
talked as if the whole thing were natural; and it looked as
though she would go now, back to the horror of her life, and
he would be able to do nothing to prevent it. She had got up
to take the money, and they were both standing.
‘Am I keeping you?’ she asked. ‘I suppose you want to be
getting home.’
‘No, I’m in no hurry,’ he answered.
‘I’m glad to have a chance of sitting down.’
Those words, with all they implied, tore his heart, and
it was dreadfully painful to see the weary way in which
she sank back into the chair. The silence lasted so long that
Philip in his embarrassment lit a cigarette.
‘It’s very good of you not to have said anything disagree-
able to me, Philip. I thought you might say I didn’t know

0 Of Human Bondage