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were shining and his cheeks were flushed. She thought he
had been drinking.
‘Have you been enjoying yourself?’ she asked, with a
smile.
‘Yes, I’ve had a ripping time.’
Philip was quite sober, but he had been talking and
laughing, and he was excited still. An evening of that sort
reminded him of the old days in Paris. He was in high spir-
its. He took his pipe out of his pocket and filled it.
‘Aren’t you going to bed?’ she asked.
‘Not yet, I’m not a bit sleepy. Lawson was in great form.
He talked sixteen to the dozen from the moment I got there
till the moment I left.’
‘What did you talk about?’
‘Heaven knows! Of every subject under the sun. You
should have seen us all shouting at the tops of our voices
and nobody listening.’
Philip laughed with pleasure at the recollection, and Mil-
dred laughed too. She was pretty sure he had drunk more
than was good for him. That was exactly what she had ex-
pected. She knew men.
‘Can I sit down?’ she said.
Before he could answer she settled herself on his knees.
‘If you’re not going to bed you’d better go and put on a
dressing-gown.’
‘Oh, I’m all right as I am.’ Then putting her arms round
his neck, she placed her face against his and said: ‘Why are
you so horrid to me, Phil?’
He tried to get up, but she would not let him.

Of Human Bondage