“I was just thinking we ought to be going if
we are going,” she answered.
“Come on then.”
Philip waited impatiently for the end of the performance.
He had made up his mind exactly what to do, and when
they got into the cab he passed his arm, as though
almost by accident, round her waist. But he drew
it back quickly with a little cry. He had pricked
himself. She laughed.
“There, that comes of putting your arm where
it’s got no business to be,” she said.
“I always know when men try and put their arm
round my waist. That pin always catches them.”
“I’ll be more careful.”
He put his arm round again. She made no objection.
“I’m so comfortable,” he sighed
blissfully.
“So long as you’re happy,” she retorted.
They drove down St. James’ Street into the Park,
and Philip quickly kissed her. He was strangely
afraid of her, and it required all his courage.
She turned her lips to him without speaking.
She neither seemed to mind nor to like it.
“If you only knew how long I’ve wanted
to do that,” he murmured.
He tried to kiss her again, but she turned her head
away.
“Once is enough,” she said.
On the chance of kissing her a second time he travelled
down to Herne Hill with her, and at the end of the
road in which she lived he asked her:
“Won’t you give me another kiss?”
She looked at him indifferently and then glanced up
the road to see that no one was in sight.
“I don’t mind.”
He seized her in his arms and kissed her passionately,
but she pushed him away.
“Mind my hat, silly. You are clumsy,”
she said.
He saw her then every day. He began going to
lunch at the shop, but Mildred stopped him: she
said it made the girls talk; so he had to content
himself with tea; but he always waited about to walk
with her to the station; and once or twice a week
they dined together. He gave her little presents,
a gold bangle, gloves, handkerchiefs, and the like.
He was spending more than he could afford, but he
could not help it: it was only when he gave her
anything that she showed any affection. She knew
the price of everything, and her gratitude was in
exact proportion with the value of his gift.
He did not care. He was too happy when she volunteered
to kiss him to mind by what means he got her demonstrativeness.
He discovered that she found Sundays at home tedious,
so he went down to Herne Hill in the morning, met
her at the end of the road, and went to church with
her.
“I always like to go to church once,”
she said. “It looks well, doesn’t
it?”
