《夜与日》第150章

402　
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　
403　
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　
404　
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。