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She stopped crying and looked at him.
‘D’you mean to say that you could take me back after all
that’s happened?’
Philip flushed a little in embarrassment at what he had
to say.
‘I don’t want you to mistake me. I’m just giving you a
room which doesn’t cost me anything and your food. I don’t
expect anything more from you than that you should do ex-
actly the same as the woman I have in does. Except for that I
don’t want anything from you at all. I daresay you can cook
well enough for that.’
She sprang to her feet and was about to come towards
him.
‘You are good to me, Philip.’
‘No, please stop where you are,’ he said hurriedly, putting
out his hand as though to push her away.
He did not know why it was, but he could not bear the
thought that she should touch him.
‘I don’t want to be anything more than a friend to you.’
‘You are good to me,’ she repeated. ‘You are good to me.’
‘Does that mean you’ll come?’
‘Oh, yes, I’d do anything to get away from this. You’ll
never regret what you’ve done, Philip, never. When can I
come, Philip?’
‘You’d better come tomorrow.’
Suddenly she burst into tears again.
‘What on earth are you crying for now?’ he smiled.
‘I’m so grateful to you. I don’t know how I can ever make
it up to you?’

Of Human Bondage