《[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版》

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[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版- 第90部分


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lay upon the orderly beauty of the grass walks and gravel 
paths down which they went walking four abreast that 
Sunday afternoon。 Silently the shadows of the trees lay 
across the broad sunshine; silence wrapt her heart in its 
folds。 The quivering stillness of the butterfly on the half
opened flower; the silent grazing of the deer in the sun; 
were the sights her eye rested upon and received as the 
images of her own nature laid open to happiness and 
trembling in its ecstasy。 

But the afternoon wore on; and it became time to leave 
the gardens。 As they drove from Waterloo to Chelsea; 

Katharine began to have some punction about her 
father; which; together with the opening of offices and 
the need of working in them on Monday; made it difficult 
to plan another festival for the following day。 Mr。 Hilbery 
had taken their absence; so far; with paternal benevolence; 
but they could not trespass upon it indefinitely。 
Indeed; had they known it; he was already suffering from 
their absence; and longing for their return。 

He had no dislike of solitude; and Sunday; in particular; 
was pleasantly adapted for letterwriting; paying calls; 
or a visit to his club。 He was leaving the house on some 
such suitable expedition towards teatime when he found 
himself stopped on his own doorstep by his sister; Mrs。 
Milvain。 She should; on hearing that no one was at home; 
have withdrawn submissively; but instead she accepted 
his halfhearted invitation to e in; and he found himself 
in the melancholy position of being forced to order 
tea for her and sit in the drawingroom while she drank 
it。 She speedily made it plain that she was only thus 
exacting because she had e on a matter of business。 
He was by no means exhilarated at the news。 

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Night and Day 

“Katharine is out this afternoon;” he remarked。 “Why 
not e round later and discuss it with her—with us 
both; eh?” 

“My dear Trevor; I have particular reasons for wishing 
to talk to you alone… 。 Where is Katharine?” 

“She’s out with her young man; naturally。 Cassandra 
plays the part of chaperone very usefully。 A charming 
young woman that—a great favorite of mine。” He turned 
his stone between his fingers; and conceived different 
methods of leading Celia away from her obsession; which; 
he supposed; must have reference to the domestic affairs 
of Cyril as usual。 

“With Cassandra;” Mrs。 Milvain repeated significantly。 
“With Cassandra。” 

“Yes; with Cassandra;” Mr。 Hilbery agreed urbanely; 
pleased at the diversion。 “I think they said they were 
going to Hampton Court; and I rather believe they were 
taking a protege of mine; Ralph Denham; a very clever 
fellow; too; to amuse Cassandra。 I thought the arrangement 
very suitable。” He was prepared to dwell at some 
length upon this safe topic; and trusted that Katharine 

would e in before he had done with it。 

“Hampton Court always seems to me an ideal spot for 
engaged couples。 There’s the Maze; there’s a nice place 
for having tea—I forget what they call it—and then; if 
the young man knows his business he contrives to take 
his lady upon the river。 Full of possibilities—full。 Cake; 
Celia?” Mr。 Hilbery continued。 “I respect my dinner too 
much; but that can’t possibly apply to you。 You’ve never 
observed that feast; so far as I can remember。” 

Her brother’s affability did not deceive Mrs。 Milvain; it 
slightly saddened her; she well knew the cause of it。 Blind 
and infatuated as usual! 

“Who is this Mr。 Denham?” she asked。 

“Ralph Denham?” said Mr。 Hilbery; in relief that her 
mind had taken this turn。 “A very interesting young man。 
I’ve a great belief in him。 He’s an authority upon our 
mediaeval institutions; and if he weren’t forced to earn 
his living he would write a book that very much wants 
writing—” 

“He is not well off; then?” Mrs。 Milvain interposed。 

“Hasn’t a penny; I’m afraid; and a family more or less 

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Virginia Woolf 

dependent on him。” 

“A mother and sisters?— His father is dead?” 

“Yes; his father died some years ago;” said Mr。 Hilbery; 
who was prepared to draw upon his imagination; if necessary; 
to keep Mrs。 Milvain supplied with facts about the 
private history of Ralph Denham since; for some inscrutable 
reason; the subject took her fancy。 

“His father has been dead some time; and this young 
man had to take his place—” 

“A legal family?” Mrs。 Milvain inquired。 “I fancy I’ve 
seen the name somewhere。” 

Mr。 Hilbery shook his head。 “I should be inclined to 
doubt whether they were altogether in that walk of life;” 
he observed。 “I fancy that Denham once told me that his 
father was a corn merchant。 Perhaps he said a stockbroker。 
He came to grief; anyhow; as stockbrokers have a 
way of doing。 I’ve a great respect for Denham;” he added。 
The remark sounded to his ears unfortunately conclusive; 
and he was afraid that there was nothing more to be said 
about Denham。 He examined the tips of his fingers carefully。 
“Cassandra’s grown into a very charming young 

woman;” he started afresh。 “Charming to look at; and 
charming to talk to; though her historical knowledge is 
not altogether profound。 Another cup of tea?” 

Mrs。 Milvain had given her cup a little push; which 
seemed to indicate some momentary displeasure。 But she 
did not want any more tea。 

“It is Cassandra that I have e about;” she began。 “I 
am very sorry to say that Cassandra is not at all what you 
think her; Trevor。 She has imposed upon your and Maggie’s 
goodness。 She has behaved in a way that would have 
seemed incredible—in this house of all houses—were it 
not for other circumstances that are still more incredible。” 

Mr。 Hilbery looked taken aback; and was silent for a 
second。 

“It all sounds very black;” he remarked urbanely; continuing 
his examination of his fingernails。 “But I own I 
am pletely in the dark。” 

Mrs。 Milvain became rigid; and emitted her message in 
little short sentences of extreme intensity。 

“Who has Cassandra gone out with? William Rodney。 
Who has Katharine gone out with? Ralph Denham。 Why 

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Night and Day 

are they for ever meeting each other round street corners; 
and going to musichalls; and taking cabs late at 
night? Why will Katharine not tell me the truth when I 
question her? I understand the reason now。 Katharine 
has entangled herself with this unknown lawyer; she has 
seen fit to condone Cassandra’s conduct。” 

There was another slight pause。 

“Ah; well; Katharine will no doubt have some explanation 
to give me;” Mr。 Hilbery replied imperturbably。 “It’s 
a little too plicated for me to take in all at once; I 
confess—and; if you won’t think me rude; Celia; I think 
I’ll be getting along towards Knightsbridge。” 

Mrs。 Milvain rose at once。 

“She has condoned Cassandra’s conduct and entangled 
herself with Ralph Denham;” she repeated。 She stood very 
erect with the dauntless air of one testifying to the truth 
regardless of consequences。 She knew from past discussions 
that the only way to counter her brother’s indolence 
and indifference was to shoot her statements at 
him in a pressed form once finally upon leaving the 
room。 Having spoken thus; she restrained herself from 

adding another word; and left the house with the dignity 
of one inspired by a great ideal。 

She had certainly framed her remarks in such a way as 
to prevent her brother from paying his call in the region 
of Knightsbridge。 He had no fears for Katharine; but there 
was a suspicion at the back of his mind that Cassandra 
might have been; innocently and ignorantly; led into some 
foolish situation in one of their unshepherded dissipations。 
His wife was an erratic judge of the conventions; 
he himself was lazy; and with Katharine absorbed; very 
naturally—Here he recalled; as well as he could; the exact 
nature of the charge。 “She has condoned Cassandra’s 
conduct and entangled herself with Ralph Denham。” From 
which it appeared that Katharine was NOT absorbed; or 
which of them was it that had entangled herself with 
Ralph Denham? From this maze of absurdity Mr。 Hilbery 
saw no way out until Katharine herself came to his help; 
so that he applied himself; very philosophically on the 
whole; to a book。 

No sooner had he heard the young people e in and 
go upstairs than he sent a maid to tell Miss Katharine 

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Virginia Woolf 

that he wished to speak to her in the study。 She was 
slipping furs loosely onto the floor in the drawingroom 
in front of the fire。 They were all gathered round; reluctant 
to part。 The message from her father surprised 
Katharine; and the others caught from her look; as she 
turned to go; a vague sense of apprehension。 

Mr。 Hilbery was reassured by the sight of her。 He congratulated 
himself; he prided himself; upon possessing a 
daughter who had a sense of responsibility and an understanding 
of life profound beyond her years。 Moreover; she 
was looking today unusual; he had e to take her beauty 
for granted; now he remembered it and was surprised by 
it。 He thought instinctively that he had interrupted some 
happy hour of hers with Rodney; and apologized。 

“I’m sorry to bother you; my dear。 I heard you e in; 
and thought I’d better make myself disagreeable at once— 
as it seems; unfortunately; that fathers are expected to 
make themselves disagreeable。 Now; your Aunt Celia has 
been to see me; your Aunt Celia has taken it into her 
head apparently that you and Cassandra have been—let 
us say a little foolish。 This going about together—these 

pleasant little parties—there’s been some kind of misunderstanding。 
I told her I saw no harm in it; but I should 
just like to hear from yourself。 Has Cassandra been left a 
little too much in the pany of Mr。 Denham?” 

Katharine did not reply at once; and Mr。 Hilbery tapped 
the coal encouragingly with the poker。 Then she said; 
without embarrassment or apology: 

“I don’t see why I should answer Aunt Celia’s questions。 
I’ve told her already that I won’t。” 

Mr。 Hi

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