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of her life. If she minded that Philip left her sometimes by
herself in the evening she never mentioned it. Occasionally
he took her to a music hall. He carried out his intention that
the only tie between them should be the domestic service
she did in return for board and lodging. She had made up
her mind that it was no use trying to get work that sum-
mer, and with Philip’s approval determined to stay where
she was till the autumn. She thought it would be easy to get
something to do then.
‘As far as I’m concerned you can stay on here when you’ve
got a job if it’s convenient. The room’s there, and the woman
who did for me before can come in to look after the baby.’
He grew very much attached to Mildred’s child. He had
a naturally affectionate disposition, which had had little op-
portunity to display itself. Mildred was not unkind to the
little girl. She looked after her very well and once when she
had a bad cold proved herself a devoted nurse; but the child
bored her, and she spoke to her sharply when she bothered;
she was fond of her, but had not the maternal passion which
might have induced her to forget herself. Mildred had no
demonstrativeness, and she found the manifestations of
affection ridiculous. When Philip sat with the baby on his
knees, playing with it and kissing it, she laughed at him.
‘You couldn’t make more fuss of her if you was her father,’
she said. ‘You’re perfectly silly with the child.’
Philip flushed, for he hated to be laughed at. It was ab-
surd to be so devoted to another man’s baby, and he was a
little ashamed of the overflowing of his heart. But the child,
feeling Philip’s attachment, would put her face against his

Of Human Bondage