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XCVI

he climax came two or three weeks later. Mildred was
Tdriven by Philip’s behaviour to a pitch of strange exas-
peration. There were many different emotions in her soul,
and she passed from mood to mood with facility. She spent
a great deal of time alone and brooded over her position.
She did not put all her feelings into words, she did not even
know what they were, but certain things stood out in her
mind, and she thought of them over and over again. She had
never understood Philip, nor had very much liked him; but
she was pleased to have him about her because she thought
he was a gentleman. She was impressed because his father
had been a doctor and his uncle was a clergyman. She de-
spised him a little because she had made such a fool of him,
and at the same time was never quite comfortable in his
presence; she could not let herself go, and she felt that he
was criticising her manners.
When she first came to live in the little rooms in Ken-
nington she was tired out and ashamed. She was glad to be
left alone. It was a comfort to think that there was no rent
to pay; she need not go out in all weathers, and she could lie
quietly in bed if she did not feel well. She had hated the life
she led. It was horrible to have to be affable and subservi-
ent; and even now when it crossed her mind she cried with
pity for herself as she thought of the roughness of men and