Page 806 - of-human-bondage-

of illness. He ended the letter with a little homily. He had
warned Philip time after time, and Philip had never paid
any attention to him; he could not honestly say he was sur-
prised; he had long expected that this would be the end of
Philip’s extravagance and want of balance. Philip grew hot
and cold when he read this. It had never occurred to him
that his uncle would refuse, and he burst into furious an-
ger; but this was succeeded by utter blankness: if his uncle
would not help him he could not go on at the hospital. Panic
seized him and, putting aside his pride, he wrote again to
the Vicar of Blackstable, placing the case before him more
urgently; but perhaps he did not explain himself properly
and his uncle did not realise in what desperate straits he
was, for he answered that he could not change his mind;
Philip was twenty-five and really ought to be earning his
living. When he died Philip would come into a little, but till
then he refused to give him a penny. Philip felt in the letter
the satisfaction of a man who for many years had disap-
proved of his courses and now saw himself justified.

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