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第71章

[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版-第71章


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she agreed aloud。 

“You could get rooms here; no doubt; if you wanted 
to;” Rodney replied。 

“But I’m just leaving London for good—I’ve taken that 
cottage I was telling you about。” The announcement 
seemed to convey very little to either of his hearers。 

“Indeed?—that’s sad… 。 You must give me your address。 
But you won’t cut yourself off altogether; surely—” 

“You’ll be moving; too; I suppose;” Denham remarked。 

William showed such visible signs of floundering that 
Katharine collected herself and asked: 

“Where is the cottage you’ve taken?” 

In answering her; Denham turned and looked at her。 As 
their eyes met; she realized for the first time that she 
was talking to Ralph Denham; and she remembered; without 
recalling any details; that she had been speaking of 
him quite lately; and that she had reason to think ill of 
him。 What Mary had said she could not remember; but 
she felt that there was a mass of knowledge in her mind 
which she had not had time to examine—knowledge now 
lying on the far side of a gulf。 But her agitation flashed 
the queerest lights upon her past。 She must get through 

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Night and Day 

the matter in hand; and then think it out in quiet。 She 
bent her mind to follow what Ralph was saying。 He was 
telling her that he had taken a cottage in Norfolk; and 
she was saying that she knew; or did not know; that particular 
neighborhood。 But after a moment’s attention her 
mind flew to Rodney; and she had an unusual; indeed 
unprecedented; sense that they were in touch and shared 
each other’s thoughts。 If only Ralph were not there; she 
would at once give way to her desire to take William’s 
hand; then to bend his head upon her shoulder; for this 
was what she wanted to do more than anything at the 
moment; unless; indeed; she wished more than anything 
to be alone—yes; that was what she wanted。 She was 
sick to death of these discussions; she shivered at the 
effort to reveal her feelings。 She had forgotten to answer。 
William was speaking now。 

“But what will you find to do in the country?” she asked 
at random; striking into a conversation which she had 
only half heard; in such a way as to make both Rodney 
and Denham look at her with a little surprise。 But directly 
she took up the conversation; it was William’s turn 

to fall silent。 He at once forgot to listen to what they 
were saying; although he interposed nervously at intervals; 
“Yes; yes; yes。” As the minutes passed; Ralph’s presence 
became more and more intolerable to him; since 
there was so much that he must say to Katharine; the 
moment he could not talk to her; terrible doubts; unanswerable 
questions accumulated; which he must lay before 
Katharine; for she alone could help him now。 Unless 
he could see her alone; it would be impossible for him 
ever to sleep; or to know what he had said in a moment 
of madness; which was not altogether mad; or was it 
mad? He nodded his head; and said; nervously; “Yes; yes;” 
and looked at Katharine; and thought how beautiful she 
looked; there was no one in the world that he admired 
more。 There was an emotion in her face which lent it an 
expression he had never seen there。 Then; as he was turning 
over means by which he could speak to her alone; she 
rose; and he was taken by surprise; for he had counted on 
the fact that she would outstay Denham。 His only chance; 
then; of saying something to her in private; was to take 
her downstairs and walk with her to the street。 While he 

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Virginia Woolf 

hesitated; however; overe with the difficulty of putting 
one simple thought into words when all his thoughts 
were scattered about; and all were too strong for utterance; 
he was struck silent by something that was still 
more unexpected。 Denham got up from his chair; looked 
at Katharine; and said: 

“I’m going; too。 Shall we go together?” 

And before William could see any way of detaining him— 
or would it be better to detain Katharine?—he had taken 
his hat; stick; and was holding the door open for Katharine 
to pass out。 The most that William could do was to stand 
at the head of the stairs and say goodnight。 He could 
not offer to go with them。 He could not insist that she 
should stay。 He watched her descend; rather slowly; owing 
to the dusk of the staircase; and he had a last sight of 
Denham’s head and of Katharine’s head near together; 
against the panels; when suddenly a pang of acute jealousy 
overcame him; and had he not remained conscious 
of the slippers upon his feet; he would have run after 
them or cried out。 As it was he could not move from the 
spot。 At the turn of the staircase Katharine turned to 

look back; trusting to this last glance to seal their pact 
of good friendship。 Instead of returning her silent 
greeting; William grinned back at her a cold stare of sarcasm 
or of rage。 

She stopped dead for a moment; and then descended 
slowly into the court。 She looked to the right and to the 
left; and once up into the sky。 She was only conscious of 
Denham as a block upon her thoughts。 She measured the 
distance that must be traversed before she would be alone。 
But when they came to the Strand no cabs were to be 
seen; and Denham broke the silence by saying: 

“There seem to be no cabs。 Shall we walk on a little?” 

“Very well;” she agreed; paying no attention to him。 

Aware of her preoccupation; or absorbed in his own 
thoughts; Ralph said nothing further; and in silence they 
walked some distance along the Strand。 Ralph was doing 
his best to put his thoughts into such order that one 
came before the rest; and the determination that when 
he spoke he should speak worthily; made him put off the 
moment of speaking till he had found the exact words 
and even the place that best suited him。 The Strand was 

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Night and Day 

too busy。 There was too much risk; also; of finding an 
empty cab。 Without a word of explanation he turned to 
the left; down one of the side streets leading to the river。 
On no account must they part until something of the very 
greatest importance had happened。 He knew perfectly 
well what he wished to say; and had arranged not only 
the substance; but the order in which he was to say it。 
Now; however; that he was alone with her; not only did 
he find the difficulty of speaking almost insurmountable; 
but he was aware that he was angry with her for thus 
disturbing him; and casting; as it was so easy for a person 
of her advantages to do; these phantoms and pitfalls 
across his path。 He was determined that he would question 
her as severely as he would question himself; and 
make them both; once and for all; either justify her dominance 
or renounce it。 But the longer they walked thus 
alone; the more he was disturbed by the sense of her 
actual presence。 Her skirt blew; the feathers in her hat 
waved; sometimes he saw her a step or two ahead of him; 
or had to wait for her to catch him up。 

The silence was prolonged; and at length drew her at


tention to him。 First she was annoyed that there was no 
cab to free her from his pany; then she recalled vaguely 
something that Mary had said to make her think ill of 
him; she could not remember what; but the recollection; 
bined with his masterful ways—why did he walk so 
fast down this side street?—made her more and more 
conscious of a person of marked; though disagreeable; 
force by her side。 She stopped and; looking round her for 
a cab; sighted one in the distance。 He was thus precipitated 
into speech。 

“Should you mind if we walked a little farther?” he asked。 
“There’s something I want to say to you。” 

“Very well;” she replied; guessing that his request had 
something to do with Mary Datchet。 

“It’s quieter by the river;” he said; and instantly he 
crossed over。 “I want to ask you merely this;” he began。 
But he paused so long that she could see his head against 
the sky; the slope of his thin cheek and his large; strong 
nose were clearly marked against it。 While he paused; 
words that were quite different from those he intended 
to

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