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‘I thought I’d rather wait up for you in case you wanted
anything.’
She looked at him, and the shadow of a smile played
upon her thin pale lips. Philip was not sure whether he un-
derstood or not. He was slightly embarrassed, but assumed
a cheerful, matter-of-fact air.
‘It’s very nice of you, but it’s very naughty also. Run off to
bed as fast as you can, or you won’t be able to get up tomor-
row morning.’
‘I don’t feel like going to bed.’
‘Nonsense,’ he said coldly.
She got up, a little sulkily, and went into her room. He
smiled when he heard her lock the door loudly.
The next few days passed without incident. Mildred
settled down in her new surroundings. When Philip hur-
ried off after breakfast she had the whole morning to do
the housework. They ate very simply, but she liked to take a
long time to buy the few things they needed; she could not
be bothered to cook anything for her dinner, but made her-
self some cocoa and ate bread and butter; then she took the
baby out in the gocart, and when she came in spent the rest
of the afternoon in idleness. She was tired out, and it suited
her to do so little. She made friends with Philip’s forbid-
ding landlady over the rent, which he left with Mildred to
pay, and within a week was able to tell him more about his
neighbours than he had learned in a year.
‘She’s a very nice woman,’ said Mildred. ‘Quite the lady. I
told her we was married.’
‘D’you think that was necessary?’

Of Human Bondage