《夜与日》第149章

lawyer。　Upon　this；　the　third　day　of　junketing；　it　was　tiresome　
to　have　to　restrain　oneself　even　from　such　innocent　
excursions　of　fancy。　She　dared　not　question　William；　he　was　
inscrutable；　he　never　seemed　even　to　follow　the　other　couple　
with　curiosity　when　they　separated；　as　they　frequently　did；　
to　name　a　plant；　or　examine　a　fresco。　Cassandra　was　constantly　
studying　their　backs。　She　noticed　how　sometimes　
the　impulse　to　move　came　from　Katharine；　and　sometimes　
from　Ralph；　how；　sometimes；　they　walked　slow；　as　if　in　profound　
intercourse；　and　sometimes　fast；　as　if　in　passionate。　
When　they　came　together　again　nothing　could　be　more　unconcerned　
than　their　manner。　
“We　have　been　wondering　whether　they　ever　catch　a　
fish　…”　or；　“We　must　leave　time　to　visit　the　Maze。”　Then；　
to　puzzle　her　further；　William　and　Ralph　filled　in　all　interstices　
of　mealtimes　or　railway　journeys　with　perfectly　
goodtempered　arguments；　or　they　discussed　politics；　or　
they　told　stories；　or　they　did　sums　together　upon　the　
backs　of　old　envelopes　to　prove　something。　She　suspected　
that　Katharine　was　absentminded；　but　it　was　impossible　
to　tell。　There　were　moments　when　she　felt　so　young　and　
inexperienced　that　she　almost　wished　herself　back　with　
the　silkworms　at　Stogdon　House；　and　not　embarked　upon　
this　bewildering　intrigue。　
These　moments；　however；　were　only　the　necessary　
shadow　or　chill　which　proved　the　substance　of　her　bliss；　
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and　did　not　damage　the　radiance　which　seemed　to　rest　
equally　upon　the　whole　party。　The　fresh　air　of　spring；　the　
sky　washed　of　clouds　and　already　shedding　warmth　from　
its　blue；　seemed　the　reply　vouchsafed　by　nature　to　the　
mood　of　her　chosen　spirits。　These　chosen　spirits　were　to　
be　found　also　among　the　deer；　dumbly　basking；　and　among　
the　fish；　set　still　in　midstream；　for　they　were　mute　sharers　
in　a　benignant　state　not　needing　any　exposition　by　the　
tongue。　No　words　that　Cassandra　could　e　by　expressed　
the　stillness；　the　brightness；　the　air　of　expectancy　which　
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。　
401　
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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dependent　on　him。”　
“A　mother　and　sisters？—　His　father　is　dead？”　
“Yes；