[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版-第113章

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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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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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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。　Hilbery　was　relieved　and　secretly　amused　at　the　
thought　of　the　interview；　although　he　could　not　license　
such　irreverence　outwardly。　

“Very　good。　Then　you　authorize　me　to　tell　her　that　she’s　
been　mistaken；　and　there　was　nothing　but　a　little　fun　in　
it？　You’ve　no　doubt；　Katharine；　in　your　own　mind？　
Cassandra　is　in　our　charge；　and　I　don’t　intend　that　people　
should　gossip　about　her。　I　suggest　that　you　should　be　a　
little　more　careful　in　future。　Invite　me　to　your　next　entertainment。”　


She　did　not　respond；　as　he　had　hoped；　with　any　affectionate　
or　humorous　reply。　She　meditated；　pondering　

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something　or　other；　and　he　reflected　that　even　his　
Katharine　did　not　differ　from　other　women　in　the　capacity　
to　let　things　be。　Or　had　she　something　to　say？　

“Have　you　a　guilty　conscience？”　he　inquired　lightly。　
“Tell　me；　Katharine；”　he　said　more　seriously；　struck　by　
something　in　the　expression　of　her　eyes。　

“I’ve　been　meaning　to　tell　you　for　some　time；”　she　said；　
“I’m　not　going　to　marry　William。”　

“You’re　not　going—！”　he　exclaimed；　dropping　the　poker　
in　his　immense　surprise。　“Why？　When？　Explain　yourself；　
Katharine。”　

“Oh；　some　time　ago—a　week；　perhaps　more。”　Katharine　
spoke　hurriedly　and　indifferently；　as　if　the　matter　could　
no　longer　concern　any　one。　

“But　may　I　ask—why　have　I　not　been　told　of　this—　
what　do　you　mean　by　it？”　

“We　don’t　wish　to　be　married—that’s　all。”　

“This　is　William’s　wish　as　well　as　yours？”　

“Oh；　yes。　We　agree　perfectly。”　

Mr。　Hilbery　had　seldom　felt　more　pletely　at　a　loss。　
He　thought　that　Katharine　was　treating　the　matter　with　

curious　unconcern；　she　scarcely　seemed　aware　of　the　gravity　
of　what　she　was　saying；　he　did　not　understand　the　
position　at　all。　But　his　desire　to　smooth　everything　over　
fortably　came　to　his　relief。　No　doubt　there　was　some　
quarrel；　some　whimsey　on　the　part　of　William；　who；　though　
a　good　fellow；　was　a　little　exacting　sometimes—something　
that　a　woman　could　put　right。　But　though　he　inclined　
to　take　the　easiest　view　of　his　responsibilities；　he　
cared　too　much　for　this　daughter　to　let　things　be。　

“I　confess　I　find　great　difficulty　in　following　you。　I　
should　like　to　hear　William’s　side　of　the　story；”　he　said　
irritably。　“I　think　he　ought　to　have　spoken　to　me　in　the　
first　instance。”　

“I　wouldn’t　let　him；”　said　Katharine。　“I　know　it　must　
seem　to　you　very　strange；”　she　added。　“But　I　assure　you；　
if　you’d　wait　a　little—until　mother　es　back。”　

This　appeal　for　delay　was　much　to　Mr。　Hilbery’s　liking。　
But　his　conscience　would　not　suffer　it。　People　were　talking。　
He　could　not　endure　that　his　daughter’s　conduct　
should　be　in　any　way　considered　irregular。　He　wondered　
whether；　in　the　circumstances；　it　would　be　better　to　wire　

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to　his　wife；　to　send　for　one　of　his　sisters；　to　forbid　William　
the　house；　to　pack　Cassandra　off　home—for　he　was　vaguely　
conscious　of　responsibilities　in　her　direction；　too。　His　forehead　
was　being　more　and　more　wrinkled　by　the　multiplicity　
of　his　anxieties；　which　he　was　sorely　tempted　to　ask　
Katharine　to　solve　for　him；　when　the　door　opened　and　
William　Rodney　appeared。　This　necessitated　a　plete　
change；　not　only　of　manner；　but　of　position　also。　

“Here’s　William；”　Katharine　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　relief。　
“I’ve　told　father　we’re　not　engaged；”　she　said　to　him。　
“I’ve　explained　that　I　prevented　you　from　telling　him。”　

William’s　manner　was　marked　by　the　utmost　formality。　
He　bowed　very　slightly　in　the　direction　of　Mr。　Hilbery；　
and　stood　erect；　holding　one　lapel　of　his　coat；　and　gazing　
into　the　center　of　the　fire。　He　waited　for　Mr。　Hilbery　
to　speak。　

Mr。　Hilbery　also　assumed　an　appearance　of　formidable　
dignity。　He　had　risen　to　his　feet；　and　now　bent　the　top　
part　of　his　body　slightly　forward。　

“I　should　like　your　account　of　this　affair；　Rodney—if　
Katharine　no　longer　prevents　you　from　speaking。”　

William　wai