Chapter 56 Chapter fifty-six

Philip could never forget her.He felt angry and amused at his own stupid behavior: it would be absurd for a dignified man to argue with an anemic waitress just because of those few words, but he just couldn't think about it, as if he had suffered some great shame and humiliation. of.In fact, if it was a shameful thing, only Dunsford knew about it, and he must have forgotten it long ago.But Philip felt that if he did not wash off this layer of shame, he would not have peace of mind for a day.He thought about it, not knowing what to do.Finally, he made up his mind that he would go to that dim sum shop every day from now on.He had obviously made an impression on her.However, to eliminate this impression, I still have some ability.From now on, in front of her, I should pay more attention to what I say, so that even the most sensitive people will not feel offended.He did so later, but to no avail.When he entered the store, he would always say "good evening", and she would reply him in the same way.Once he deliberately didn't say hello to her, wanting to see if she would take the initiative to say hello to him, but she didn't say anything.Philip groaned inwardly, and the word he muttered, though often applicable to some women, was seldom used in high society to speak of them.He pretended to be all right and asked for a refreshment.He gritted his teeth and didn't say a word. When he left, he didn't even say "good night" as usual.He resolved never to go there again.But when it was time for tea the next day, he felt that neither standing nor sitting was right.He tried to think of other things, but he couldn't control his thoughts.Finally, he broke his heart and said:

"Go if you want, why bother to fight against yourself!" In this way, Philip had been tossing about for a while, and it was almost seven o'clock when he finally entered the pastry shop. "I thought you weren't coming to-day," said the girl, when Philip was seated. Philip's heart gave a beating, and he felt himself flushing. "Something has delayed me, so I can't come early." "I'm afraid you're messing around with people outside?" "Not so naughty." "You're probably still in school, aren't you?"

"good." Her curiosity seemed to be satisfied, and she walked away.It was getting late now, and there were no other customers on the tables she took care of. She concentrated on reading novels. At that time, cheap editions of novels in separate volumes were not popular on the market.There is a group of worthless hired literati who regularly produce cheap novels for some illiterate citizens to entertain them.Philip was delighted.After all, she took the initiative to greet him, and he felt that the feng shui was changing, and when it was really his turn to show off his prestige, he would have to explain his views on her face to face.If you can vent all the contempt in your stomach, it will be really fast.He looked at her intently.Yes, her profile is beautiful.Strange to say, English girls belonging to her class often have perfect and amazing outlines, but her silhouette gives people a cold impression, as if carved out of marble, slightly bluish The fine and clean skin gives people a sick impression.All the waitresses are dressed in the same style: white aprons, black plain clothes, plus a pair of wristbands and a small hat.Philip took half a sheet of white paper out of his pocket, and while she was sitting at her desk reading a book, moving her lips and muttering, he made a sketch of her.When Philip left, he left the picture on the table.Unexpectedly, this trick really works.The next day, as soon as he entered the store, she smiled at him.

"I never thought you could draw," she said. "I studied fine arts for two years in Paris." "The painting you left last night, I showed it to the female manager, and she was so impressed. It must be me." "Yes," said Philip. While she was serving tea, another waitress came up to him. "I saw that picture you made of Miss Rogers, and it's really like it," she said. It was the first time Philip had heard that her name was Rogers, and he called her by that name when he asked for his bill. "Looks like you know my name," she said as she came up to her.

"When your friend told me about that painting, he mentioned your name." "She wants you to draw one for her too. Don't draw it for her. Once you start, it will never end, and they will line up to ask you to draw it." After a short pause, she suddenly put Changing the subject, he asked, "Where is that young man who used to come with you? Has he left here?" "I didn't expect you to think about him," said Philip. "The lad is handsome." Philip felt a strange feeling in his heart.He himself couldn't tell what was going on.Dunsford had lovely curly hair, a good complexion, and a sweet smile.Philip thought of these virtues in Dunsford with a sour taste.

"Well, he's busy making love," said Philip with a chuckle. Philip limped home, thinking over every word he had said.She was quite friendly with him now.If there is a chance in the future, he plans to draw a more refined sketch for her, and I believe she will like it.Her face was interesting, her profile was lovely, and even the skin, slightly developed from anemia, had a strange appeal.What was the color like, Philip wondered wildly.At first he thought of pea soup, but drove the thought away angrily, and then thought of yellow rosebud petals, the kind of roses that are plucked before they bud.At the moment Philip felt nothing against her.

"The girl isn't bad after all," he murmured to himself. Just because she once said something to her face and got angry with her?How silly.She didn't intend to offend anyone.Speaking of it, he should be blamed for his own badness. He didn't leave a good impression when they first met.More than just this once?You should get used to this situation by now.He was rather complacent about the success of his painting.Now that she knows that he still has such skills, she will naturally look at him with admiration.Philip fidgeted all day the next day.He wanted to go to the pastry shop for lunch, but he knew that there would be a lot of customers at that time, and Mildred would not have time to chat with him.Philip was now out of the habit of sharing tea with Dunsford, and at half-past four (he had looked at his watch a dozen times) Philip entered the pastry shop.

Mildred, with her back turned to Philip, was sitting down talking to the German.Some time ago Philip had seen the German almost every day, but he hadn't been in the shop for the last two weeks.I don't know what the German guy said, which made Mildred giggle.She laughed so vulgarly that Philip shivered.Philip called to her, but she ignored him.He called her again, and now Philip, impatient, tapped his stick on the table angrily.Mildred walked over sullenly. "Hello!" said Philip. "You seem to be in some serious emergency." She looked at Philip with both eyes, and Philip was very familiar with the arrogance on that face.

"I said what's the matter with you?" he asked. "I can bring you anything you want, but I can't bear to just stand and talk all night." "Tea and toast, please," replied Philip briefly. Philip was very angry with her.He had a newspaper with him, and when she came to serve tea, he deliberately pretended to be immersed in the newspaper. "If you will bill me now, you won't have to bother to go any further," said Philip coldly. Mildred opened the bill casually, put it on the dining table, turned her head and walked towards the German again.After a while, she talked and laughed happily with him.This German is of medium build, with a typical round head of the Germanic people, a sallow face, and a bushy moustache. He is wearing a tuxedo and a pair of gray trousers. Thick gold watch chain.Philip thought that the other waitresses in the shop were probably rolling their eyes at this moment, taking turns looking at themselves and the couple at the other table, and exchanging meaningful glances at the same time.He even felt that they must be laughing at him, and his blood boiled at the thought.Now he hated Mildred with all his heart.He knew that his best solution was not to patronize this pastry shop in the future, thinking about being so embarrassed by her, how could he swallow this bad breath!So he conceived the idea of ​​making her understand that he, Philip, did not despise her at all.Next day Philip sat down at another table and asked another waitress for tea.Mildred's friend was also in the store at the moment, and Mildred just talked with him and didn't pay attention to Philip.So Philip deliberately took advantage of her obliged to pass him, got up and walked out of the shop.Philip looked at her as they passed, as if he did not know her.He tried this method for three or four days in a row, hoping that she would find a chance to talk to him someday.He thought she might ask him why he hadn't been at the table she tended lately.Philip even thought of an answer, which was full of disgust for her.He knew that he was looking for trouble for himself, which was ridiculous, but he just couldn't control himself.He was defeated again.Then suddenly the German disappeared, but Philip sat at the other table and worked as usual.Mildred still ignored him.It dawned on Philip that she could do as she liked, and she didn't care.If it continues like this, even if it reaches the end of the world, it may not have any effect.

"I don't do it, I don't do it!" Philip murmured to himself. Next day he sat down at the same table again, and when Mildred approached, he said "good night" to her, as if he had not neglected her all week.Philip's face was calm, but his heart couldn't stop beating wildly.At that time, comic opera was just becoming fashionable and popular with the public.Philip expected that Mildred would be glad to see one. "I said," he said suddenly, "I wonder if you'd like to have dinner with me someday, and then I'll go to "Beauty of New York." I can get two first-class tickets for the theater. "

His last sentence was added on purpose to lure her into the bait.He knew that the hostesses usually sat in the back seat of the main hall when they went to the theater. Even if they were accompanied by their boyfriends, they seldom had the opportunity to sit in seats that were more expensive than those in the balcony.There was no trace of expression on Mildred's face. "Well, I'm fine with that," she said. "When are you free?" "I leave work early on Thursday." They discussed how to meet.Mildred lived with her aunt in Hennehill.The play starts at eight, so they have dinner at seven.She suggested that Philip wait for her in the second-class waiting room at Victoria Station.There was no happy expression on her face, it was obvious that she accepted someone else's invitation, it looked like she was doing someone a favor.Philip felt vaguely displeased.