Page 786 - of-human-bondage-

to force a change in their relations. He never even kissed her
now, and she wanted him to: she remembered how ardently
he had been used to press her lips. It gave her a curious feel-
ing to think of it. She often looked at his mouth.
One evening, at the beginning of February, Philip told
her that he was dining with Lawson, who was giving a party
in his studio to celebrate his birthday; and he would not
be in till late; Lawson had bought a couple of bottles of the
punch they favoured from the tavern in Beak Street, and
they proposed to have a merry evening. Mildred asked if
there were going to be women there, but Philip told her
there were not; only men had been invited; and they were
just going to sit and talk and smoke: Mildred did not think
it sounded very amusing; if she were a painter she would
have half a dozen models about. She went to bed, but could
not sleep, and presently an idea struck her; she got up and
fixed the catch on the wicket at the landing, so that Philip
could not get in. He came back about one, and she heard
him curse when he found that the wicket was closed. She
got out of bed and opened.
‘Why on earth did you shut yourself in? I’m sorry I’ve
dragged you out of bed.’
‘I left it open on purpose, I can’t think how it came to be
shut.’
‘Hurry up and get back to bed, or you’ll catch cold.’
He walked into the sitting-room and turned up the gas.
She followed him in. She went up to the fire.
‘I want to warm my feet a bit. They’re like ice.’
He sat down and began to take off his boots. His eyes