One evening, at the beginning of February, Philip told her that he was dining with Lawson, who was giving a party in his studio to celebrate his birthday; and he would not be in till late; Lawson had bought a couple of bottles of the punch they favoured from the tavern in Beak Street, and they proposed to have a merry evening.  Mildred asked if there were going to be women there, but Philip told her there were not; only men had been invited; and they were just going to sit and talk and smoke:  Mildred did not think it sounded very amusing; if she were a painter she would have half a dozen models about.  She went to bed, but could not sleep, and presently an idea struck her; she got up and fixed the catch on the wicket at the landing, so that Philip could not get in.  He came back about one, and she heard him curse when he found that the wicket was closed.  She got out of bed and opened.

“Why on earth did you shut yourself in?  I’m sorry I’ve dragged you out of bed.”

“I left it open on purpose, I can’t think how it came to be shut.”

“Hurry up and get back to bed, or you’ll catch cold.”

He walked into the sitting-room and turned up the gas.  She followed him in.  She went up to the fire.

“I want to warm my feet a bit.  They’re like ice.”

He sat down and began to take off his boots.  His eyes were shining and his cheeks were flushed.  She thought he had been drinking.

“Have you been enjoying yourself?” she asked, with a smile.

“Yes, I’ve had a ripping time.”

Philip was quite sober, but he had been talking and laughing, and he was excited still.  An evening of that sort reminded him of the old days in Paris.  He was in high spirits.  He took his pipe out of his pocket and filled it.

“Aren’t you going to bed?” she asked.

“Not yet, I’m not a bit sleepy.  Lawson was in great form.  He talked sixteen to the dozen from the moment I got there till the moment I left.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Heaven knows!  Of every subject under the sun.  You should have seen us all shouting at the tops of our voices and nobody listening.”

Philip laughed with pleasure at the recollection, and Mildred laughed too.  She was pretty sure he had drunk more than was good for him.  That was exactly what she had expected.  She knew men.

“Can I sit down?” she said.

Before he could answer she settled herself on his knees.

“If you’re not going to bed you’d better go and put on a dressing-gown.”

“Oh, I’m all right as I am.”  Then putting her arms round his neck, she placed her face against his and said:  “Why are you so horrid to me, Phil?”

He tried to get up, but she would not let him.

“I do love you, Philip,” she said.

“Don’t talk damned rot.”

“It isn’t, it’s true.  I can’t live without you.  I want you.”

He released himself from her arms.