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pleased to see him, and Philip chaffed him as he put a clean
dressing on the wound. Philip was a favourite with the pa-
tients; he treated them good-humouredly; and he had gentle,
sensitive hands which did not hurt them: some of the dress-
ers were a little rough and happy-go-lucky in their methods.
He lunched with his friends in the club-room, a frugal meal
consisting of a scone and butter, with a cup of cocoa, and
they talked of the war. Several men were going out, but the
authorities were particular and refused everyone who had
not had a hospital appointment. Someone suggested that,
if the war went on, in a while they would be glad to take
anyone who was qualified; but the general opinion was that
it would be over in a month. Now that Roberts was there
things would get all right in no time. This was Macalister’s
opinion too, and he had told Philip that they must watch
their chance and buy just before peace was declared. There
would be a boom then, and they might all make a bit of
money. Philip had left with Macalister instructions to buy
him stock whenever the opportunity presented itself. His
appetite had been whetted by the thirty pounds he had
made in the summer, and he wanted now to make a couple
of hundred.
He finished his day’s work and got on a tram to go back
to Kennington. He wondered how Mildred would behave
that evening. It was a nuisance to think that she would
probably be surly and refuse to answer his questions. It was
a warm evening for the time of year, and even in those gray
streets of South London there was the languor of February;
nature is restless then after the long winter months, grow-

Of Human Bondage