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He threw the word at the assistants as though it were the
bitterest term of reproach.
‘Don’t you know that if you put an electric blue in the
window it’ll kill all the other blues?’
He looked round the department ferociously, and his eye
fell upon Philip.
‘You’ll dress the window next Friday, Carey. let’s see what
you can make of it.’
He went into his office, muttering angrily. Philip’s heart
sank. When Friday morning came he went into the window
with a sickening sense of shame. His cheeks were burn-
ing. It was horrible to display himself to the passers-by, and
though he told himself it was foolish to give way to such a
feeling he turned his back to the street. There was not much
chance that any of the students at the hospital would pass
along Oxford Street at that hour, and he knew hardly any-
one else in London; but as Philip worked, with a huge lump
in his throat, he fancied that on turning round he would
catch the eye of some man he knew. He made all the haste
he could. By the simple observation that all reds went to-
gether, and by spacing the costumes more than was usual,
Philip got a very good effect; and when the buyer went into
the street to look at the result he was obviously pleased.
‘I knew I shouldn’t go far wrong in putting you on the
window. The fact is, you and me are gentlemen, mind you
I wouldn’t say this in the department, but you and me are
gentlemen, and that always tells. It’s no good your telling
me it doesn’t tell, because I know it does tell.’
Philip was put on the job regularly, but he could not

Of Human Bondage