Page 747 - of-human-bondage-

‘I’d like to go out for a bit. Couldn’t we take a ride on the
top of a tram?’
‘If you like.’
‘I’ll just go and put on my hat,’ she said joyfully.
The night made it almost impossible to stay indoors. The
baby was asleep and could be safely left; Mildred said she
had always left it alone at night when she went out; it nev-
er woke. She was in high spirits when she came back with
her hat on. She had taken the opportunity to put on a little
rouge. Philip thought it was excitement which had brought
a faint colour to her pale cheeks; he was touched by her
child-like delight, and reproached himself for the auster-
ity with which he had treated her. She laughed when she got
out into the air. The first tram they saw was going towards
Westminster Bridge and they got on it. Philip smoked his
pipe, and they looked at the crowded street. The shops were
open, gaily lit, and people were doing their shopping for the
next day. They passed a music-hall called the Canterbury
and Mildred cried out:
‘Oh, Philip, do let’s go there. I haven’t been to a music-
hall for months.’
‘We can’t afford stalls, you know.’
‘Oh, I don’t mind, I shall be quite happy in the gallery.’
They got down and walked back a hundred yards till they
came to the doors. They got capital seats for sixpence each,
high up but not in the gallery, and the night was so fine that
there was plenty of room. Mildred’s eyes glistened. She en-
joyed herself thoroughly. There was a simple-mindedness in
her which touched Philip. She was a puzzle to him. Certain

Of Human Bondage