“I’ve been enjoying myself thoroughly,” said Griffiths.  “I don’t know about Mildred.”

She gave a little laugh of happy complacency.  There was a vulgar sound in the ring of it that horrified Philip.  He suggested that they should go.

“Come on,” said Griffiths, “we’ll both drive you home.”

Philip suspected that she had suggested that arrangement so that she might not be left alone with him.  In the cab he did not take her hand nor did she offer it, and he knew all the time that she was holding Griffiths’.  His chief thought was that it was all so horribly vulgar.  As they drove along he asked himself what plans they had made to meet without his knowledge, he cursed himself for having left them alone, he had actually gone out of his way to enable them to arrange things.

“Let’s keep the cab,” said Philip, when they reached the house in which Mildred was lodging.  “I’m too tired to walk home.”

On the way back Griffiths talked gaily and seemed indifferent to the fact that Philip answered in monosyllables.  Philip felt he must notice that something was the matter.  Philip’s silence at last grew too significant to struggle against, and Griffiths, suddenly nervous, ceased talking.  Philip wanted to say something, but he was so shy he could hardly bring himself to, and yet the time was passing and the opportunity would be lost.  It was best to get at the truth at once.  He forced himself to speak.

“Are you in love with Mildred?” he asked suddenly.

“I?” Griffiths laughed.  “Is that what you’ve been so funny about this evening?  Of course not, my dear old man.”

He tried to slip his hand through Philip’s arm, but Philip drew himself away.  He knew Griffiths was lying.  He could not bring himself to force Griffiths to tell him that he had not been holding the girl’s hand.  He suddenly felt very weak and broken.

“It doesn’t matter to you, Harry,” he said.  “You’ve got so many women—­don’t take her away from me.  It means my whole life.  I’ve been so awfully wretched.”

His voice broke, and he could not prevent the sob that was torn from him.  He was horribly ashamed of himself.

“My dear old boy, you know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.  I’m far too fond of you for that.  I was only playing the fool.  If I’d known you were going to take it like that I’d have been more careful.”

“Is that true?” asked Philip.

“I don’t care a twopenny damn for her.  I give you my word of honour.”

Philip gave a sigh of relief.  The cab stopped at their door.

LXXV

Next day Philip was in a good temper.  He was very anxious not to bore Mildred with too much of his society, and so had arranged that he should not see her till dinner-time.  She was ready when he fetched her, and he chaffed her for her unwonted punctuality.  She was wearing a new dress he had given her.  He remarked on its smartness.