told you half； either。 I’m no longer engaged to William Rodney。 He is to marry Cassandra Otway。 It’s all arranged— all perfectly right… 。 And after he’d waited in the streets for hours and hours； William made me bring him in。 He was standing under the lamppost watching our windows。 He was perfectly white when he came into the room。 William left us alone； and we sat and talked。 It seems ages and ages ago； now。 Was it last night？ Have I been out long？ What’s the time？” She sprang forward to catch sight of a clock； as if the exact time had some important bearing on her case。 “Only halfpast eight！” she exclaimed。 “Then he may be there still。” She leant out of the window and told the cabman to drive faster。 “But if he’s not there； what shall I do？ Where could I find him？ The streets are so crowded。” “We shall find him；” Mary repeated。 Mary had no doubt but that somehow or other they would find him。 But suppose they did find him？ She began to think of Ralph with a sort of strangeness； in her effort to understand how he could be capable of satisfying this extraordinary desire。 Once more she thought herself back to her old view of him and could； with an effort； recall the haze which surrounded his figure； and the sense of confused； heightened exhilaration which lay all about his neighborhood； so that for months at a time she had never exactly heard his voice or seen his face—or so it now seemed to her。 The pain of her loss shot through her。 Nothing would ever make up—not success； or happiness； or oblivion。 But this pang was immediately followed by the assurance that now； at any rate； she knew the truth； and Katharine； she thought； stealing a look at her； did not know the truth； yes； Katharine was immensely to be pitied。 The cab； which had been caught in the traffic； was now liberated and sped on down Sloane Street。 Mary was con 392 Virginia Woolf scious of the tension with which Katharine marked its progress； as if her mind were fixed upon a point in front of them； and marked； second by second； their approach to it。 She said nothing； and in silence Mary began to fix her mind； in sympathy at first； and later in forgetfulness of her panion； upon a point in front of them。 She imagined a point distant as a low star upon the horizon of the dark。 There for her too； for them both； was the goal for which they were striving； and the end for the ardors of their spirits was the same： but where it was； or what it was； or why she felt convinced that they were united in search of it； as they drove swiftly down the streets of London side by side； she could not have said。 “At last；” Katharine breathed； as the cab drew up at the door。 She jumped out and scanned the pavement on either side。 Mary； meanwhile； rang the bell。 The door opened as Katharine assured herself that no one of the people within view had any likeness to Ralph。 On seeing her； the maid said at once： “Mr。 Denham called again； miss。 He has been waiting for you for some time。” Katharine vanished from Mary’s sight。 The door shut between them； and Mary walked slowly and thoughtfully up the street alone。 Katharine turned at once to the diningroom。 But with her fingers upon the handle； she held back。 Perhaps she realized that this was a moment which would never e again。 Perhaps； for a second； it seemed to her that no reality could equal the imagination she had formed。 Perhaps she was restrained by some vague fear or anticipation； which made her dread any exchange or interruption。 But if these doubts and fears or this supreme bliss restrained her； it was only for a moment。 In another second she had turned the handle and； biting her lip to control herself； she opened the door upon Ralph Denham。 An extraordinary clearness of sight seemed to possess her on beholding him。 So little； so single； so separate from all else he appeared； who had been the cause of these extreme agitations and aspirations。 She could have laughed in his face。 But； gaining upon this clearness of sight against her will； and to her dislike； was a flood of confusion； of relief； of certainty； of humility； of desire no 393 Night and Day longer to strive and to discriminate； yielding to which； she let herself sink within his arms and confessed her love。 CHAPTER XXXII Nobody asked Katharine any questions next day。 If cross examined she might have said that nobody spoke to her。 She worked a little； wrote a little； ordered the dinner； and sat； for longer than she knew； with her head on her hand piercing whatever lay before her； whether it was a letter or a dictionary； as if it were a film upon the deep prospects that revealed themselves to her kindling and brooding eyes。 She rose once； and going to the bookcase； took out her father’s Greek dictionary and spread the sacred pages of symbols and figures before her。 She smoothed the sheets with a mixture of affectionate amusement and hope。 Would other eyes look on them with her one day？ The thought； long intolerable； was now just bearable。 She was quite unaware of the anxiety with which her movements were watched and her expression scanned。 Cassandra was careful not to be caught looking at her； and their conversation was so prosaic that were it not for certain jolts and jerks between the sentences； as if the mind were kept with difficulty to the rails； Mrs。 Milvain 394 Virginia Woolf herself could have detected nothing of a suspicious nature in what she overheard。 William； when he came in late that afternoon and found Cassandra alone； had a very serious piece of news to impart。 He had just passed Katharine in the street and she had failed to recognize him。 “That doesn’t matter with me； of course； but suppose it happened with somebody else？ What would they think？ They would suspect something merely from her expression。 She looked—she looked”—he hesitated—”like some one walking in her sleep。” To Cassandra the significant thing was that Katharine had gone out wi