“I never liked you, not from the beginning,
but you forced yourself on me, I always hated it when
you kissed me. I wouldn’t let you touch
me now not if I was starving.”
Philip tried to swallow the food on his plate, but
the muscles of his throat refused to act. He
gulped down something to drink and lit a cigarette.
He was trembling in every part. He did not speak.
He waited for her to move, but she sat in silence,
staring at the white tablecloth. If they had
been alone he would have flung his arms round her and
kissed her passionately; he fancied the throwing back
of her long white throat as he pressed upon her mouth
with his lips. They passed an hour without speaking,
and at last Philip thought the waiter began to stare
at them curiously. He called for the bill.
“Shall we go?” he said then, in an even
tone.
She did not reply, but gathered together her bag and
her gloves. She put on her coat.
“When are you seeing Griffiths again?”
“Tomorrow,” she answered indifferently.
“You’d better talk it over with him.”
She opened her bag mechanically and saw a piece of
paper in it. She took it out.
“Here’s the bill for this dress,”
she said hesitatingly.
“What of it?”
“I promised I’d give her the money tomorrow.”
“Did you?”
“Does that mean you won’t pay for it after
having told me I could get it?”
“It does.”
“I’ll ask Harry,” she said, flushing
quickly.
“He’ll be glad to help you. He owes
me seven pounds at the moment, and he pawned his microscope
last week, because he was so broke.”
“You needn’t think you can frighten me
by that. I’m quite capable of earning my
own living.”
“It’s the best thing you can do.
I don’t propose to give you a farthing more.”
She thought of her rent due on Saturday and the baby’s
keep, but did not say anything. They left the
restaurant, and in the street Philip asked her:
“Shall I call a cab for you? I’m
going to take a little stroll.”
“I haven’t got any money. I had to
pay a bill this afternoon.”
“It won’t hurt you to walk. If you
want to see me tomorrow I shall be in about tea-time.”
He took off his hat and sauntered away. He looked
round in a moment and saw that she was standing helplessly
where he had left her, looking at the traffic.
He went back and with a laugh pressed a coin into her
hand.
“Here’s two bob for you to get home with.”
Before she could speak he hurried away.
