Of Human Bondage Read Online Free PDF Page A

beef, roast, hashed, and minced, and
on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of mutton. On Sunday they ate one
of their own chickens. In the afternoon Philip did his lessons, He
was taught Latin and mathematics by his uncle who knew neither, and
French and the piano by his aunt. Of French she was ignorant, but
she knew the piano well enough to accompany the old-fashioned songs
she had sung for thirty years. Uncle William used to tell Philip
that when he was a curate his wife had known twelve songs by heart,
which she could sing at a moment's notice whenever she was asked.
She often sang still when there was a tea-party at the vicarage.
There were few people whom the Careys cared to ask there, and their
parties consisted always of the curate, Josiah Graves with his
sister, Dr. Wigram and his wife. After tea Miss Graves played one
or two of Mendelssohn's Songs without Words, and Mrs. Carey sang
When the Swallows Homeward Fly, or Trot, Trot, My Pony.
      But the Careys did not give tea-parties often; the
preparations upset them, and when their guests were gone they felt
themselves exhausted. They preferred to have tea by themselves, and
after tea they played backgammon. Mrs. Carey arranged that her
husband should win, because he did not like losing. They had cold
supper at eight. It was a scrappy meal because Mary Ann resented
getting anything ready after tea, and Mrs. Carey helped to clear
away. Mrs. Carey seldom ate more than bread and butter, with a
little stewed fruit to follow, but the Vicar had a slice of cold
meat. Immediately after supper Mrs. Carey rang the bell for
prayers, and then Philip went to bed. He rebelled against being
undressed by Mary Ann and after a while succeeded in establishing
his right to dress and undress himself. At nine o'clock Mary Ann
brought in the eggs and the plate. Mrs. Carey wrote the date on
each egg and put the number down in a book. She then took the
plate-basket on her arm and went upstairs. Mr. Carey continued to
read one of his old books, but as the clock struck ten he got up,
put out the lamps, and followed his wife to bed.
      When Philip arrived there was some difficulty in
deciding on which evening he should have his bath. It was never
easy to get plenty of hot water, since the kitchen boiler did not
work, and it was impossible for two persons to have a bath on the
same day. The only man who had a bathroom in Blackstable was Mr.
Wilson, and it was thought ostentatious of him. Mary Ann had her
bath in the kitchen on Monday night, because she liked to begin the
week clean. Uncle William could not have his on Saturday, because
he had a heavy day before him and he was always a little tired
after a bath, so he had it on Friday. Mrs. Carey had hers on
Thursday for the same reason. It looked as though Saturday were
naturally indicated for Philip, but Mary Ann said she couldn't keep
the fire up on Saturday night: what with all the cooking on Sunday,
having to make pastry and she didn't know what all, she did not
feel up to giving the boy his bath on Saturday night; and it was
quite clear that he could not bath himself. Mrs. Carey was shy
about bathing a boy, and of course the Vicar had his sermon. But
the Vicar insisted that Philip should be clean and sweet for the
lord's Day. Mary Ann said she would rather go than be put upon –
and after eighteen years she didn't expect to have more work given
her, and they might show some consideration – and Philip said he
didn't want anyone to bath him, but could very well bath himself.
This settled it. Mary Ann said she was quite sure he wouldn't bath
himself properly, and rather than he should go dirty – and not
because he was going into the presence of the Lord, but because she
couldn't abide a boy who wasn't properly washed – she'd work
herself to the bone even if it was Saturday night.

VII
      Sunday was a day crowded with incident. Mr. Carey
was accustomed to say that he was the only man in his parish who
worked seven days a week.
      The