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place.
‘You’ve been a long time,’ he said.
‘I’m sorry. Why didn’t you start dinner?’
‘Because I chose to wait. Have you been all this while at
Mrs. Fletcher’s?’
‘No, I’m afraid I haven’t. I stopped to look at the sunset
on my way back, and I didn’t think of the time.’
Doctor South did not reply, and the servant brought in
some grilled sprats. Philip ate them with an excellent appe-
tite. Suddenly Doctor South shot a question at him.
‘Why did you look at the sunset?’
Philip answered with his mouth full.
‘Because I was happy.’
Doctor South gave him an odd look, and the shadow of
a smile flickered across his old, tired face. They ate the rest
of the dinner in silence; but when the maid had given them
the port and left the room, the old man leaned back and
fixed his sharp eyes on Philip.
‘It stung you up a bit when I spoke of your game leg,
young fellow?’ he said.
‘People always do, directly or indirectly, when they get
angry with me.’
‘I suppose they know it’s your weak point.’
Philip faced him and looked at him steadily.
‘Are you very glad to have discovered it?’
The doctor did not answer, but he gave a chuckle of bit-
ter mirth. They sat for a while staring at one another. Then
Doctor South surprised Philip extremely.
‘Why don’t you stay here and I’ll get rid of that damned

Of Human Bondage