Chapter 2 Chapter two

a week later.Miss Watkin's house in Onslow Garden Street.Philip was sitting on the living room floor.He has no siblings and is used to playing alone for fun.The living room was filled with thick furniture, and each couch had three large cushions.There is also a cushion on each easy chair.Philip took all these cushions, and with the aid of some light and easily movable armchairs with carved and gilt backs, he painstakingly fashioned a cave.Hiding here he could hide from the Indians who lurked behind the curtains.Philip put his ear to the floor and listened to the buffalo galloping across the prairie.After a while, he heard the door open, and hurriedly held his breath for fear of being discovered; but a strong hand jerked the armchair away, and the cushions fell to the ground.

"You rascal, you're going to piss off Miss Watkin." "How are you, Emma?" he said. The nurse bent down and kissed him, then shook the cushions clean and put them back one by one. "It's time for me to go home, isn't it?" he asked. "Yes, I came here specially to fetch you." "You've got a new dress." This is eighteen eighty-five.She wore a black velvet gown with a bustle, narrow sleeves and narrow shoulders, and a skirt trimmed with three wide flounces; on her head was a black cap with a velvet band.She hesitated.She had thought that the child would definitely ask that question when they met, but in the end she didn't mention it at all. As a result, the answer she had prepared in advance could not be uttered.

"You don't want to ask your mother if she's well?" she finally had to say it herself. "Oh, I forgot. How is Mommy?" Emma was now confident. "Your mother is well and happy." "Oh, I'm so happy." "Your mother has gone, and you will never see her again." Philip did not understand her. "Why can't I see you anymore?" "Your mother is in heaven." Emma wept bitterly, and Philip, though not fully understanding what was going on, began to drink too.Emma was a tall, broad-boned woman with fair hair and thick features and big eyes.She was from Devon, and although she had been working as a servant in London for many years, she had never changed her accent.She was so moved by this cry that she couldn't help it; she hugged the child tightly in her arms.There was a faint pity in her heart: this poor child was deprived of his only love in the world, the kind of purely selfless love since ancient times.It was a bit chilling to see him having to be delivered into the hands of strangers.After a while, she gradually calmed down.

"Your Uncle William is expecting to see you," she said, "go and say good-bye to Miss Watkin, we're going home." "I don't want to say goodbye," he replied.Instinctively, he didn't want to be seen crying. "Okay, then go upstairs and get your hat." Philip took his hat and went downstairs, where Emma was waiting in the hall.Philip heard voices in the study behind the dining room.He stood still.He knew that Miss Watkin and her sister were talking to friends; and it seemed to him, a boy of nine, that if he broke in they might be sorry for him.

"I think I should go and say good-bye to Miss Watkin." "I thought I'd go and say it too," said Emma. "Then you go in and announce my coming," he said. Philip hopes to make the most of this opportunity.Emma knocked on the door and walked in.He heard her say: "Miss, Master Philip has come to bid you farewell." The conversation stopped abruptly; Philip limped in.Henrietta.Watkin was a stocky woman with a rosy face and dyed hair.Hair dyeing was quite controversial in those days, and Philip heard a lot of gossip in his own house when his godmother had dyed her hair.Miss Watkin lived with her sister.This elder sister is optimistic about her fate, and she plans to retire with peace of mind.Two ladies whom Philip did not know were visiting, and they looked at him curiously.

"My poor child," said Miss Watkin, opening her arms. She whimpered.Philip understood now why she hadn't lunched at home just now, and why she was dressed in black today.Miss Watkin whimpered and was speechless. "I must go home," said Philip at last. Philip slipped from Miss Watkin's arms; she came again to kiss the child.Then Philip went up to his godmother's sister, and said good-by to her too.One of the strange ladies asked Philip if he could let her kiss him, and Philip said yes with all seriousness.Although he couldn't help crying, he felt very excited about the sad scene caused by himself.He would be happy to stay here a little longer and let them have a good time on him, but feeling that they would like him to go away quickly, he pretended that Emma was waiting for him, and walked out of the study.Emma had gone to the basement to chat with her girlfriend, and Philip waited for her on the landing.He could hear Henrietta Watkin's voice.

"His mother was my best friend. It's hard to bear the thought of her going away." "You shouldn't have gone to the funeral, Henrietta," said her sister. "I know you'll be sorry to go." A female customer interfaced. "Poor little guy, it's scary to think about living so alone in this world. I saw him walking with a little limp!" "Yes, he was born with a misshapen foot. His mother was very sad because of that." At this time, Emma came back.They called a carriage, and Emma told the driver where they were going.