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he had in the world. Philip wrote back that he could come
down to Blackstable for a fortnight in July. The invitation
was convenient, for he had not known what to do, with his
brief holiday. The Athelnys went hopping in September, but
he could not then be spared, since during that month the
autumn models were prepared. The rule of Lynn’s was that
everyone must take a fortnight whether he wanted it or not;
and during that time, if he had nowhere to go, the assistant
might sleep in his room, but he was not allowed food. A
number had no friends within reasonable distance of Lon-
don, and to these the holiday was an awkward interval when
they had to provide food out of their small wages and, with
the whole day on their hands, had nothing to spend. Phil-
ip had not been out of London since his visit to Brighton
with Mildred, now two years before, and he longed for fresh
air and the silence of the sea. He thought of it with such a
passionate desire, all through May and June, that, when at
length the time came for him to go, he was listless.
On his last evening, when he talked with the buyer of
one or two jobs he had to leave over, Mr. Sampson suddenly
said to him:
‘What wages have you been getting?’
‘Six shillings.’
‘I don’t think it’s enough. I’ll see that you’re put up to
twelve when you come back.’
‘Thank you very much,’ smiled Philip. ‘I’m beginning to
want some new clothes badly.’
‘If you stick to your work and don’t go larking about with
the girls like what some of them do, I’ll look after you, Car-

Of Human Bondage