《夜与日》第160章

He　was　convinced　that　it　could　mean　nothing　to　another；　
although　somehow　to　him　it　conveyed　not　only　
Katharine　herself　but　all　those　states　of　mind　which　had　
clustered　round　her　since　he　first　saw　her　pouring　out　tea　
on　a　Sunday　afternoon。　It　represented　by　its　circumference　
of　smudges　surrounding　a　central　blot　all　that　encircling　
glow　which　for　him　surrounded；　inexplicably；　so　many　
of　the　objects　of　life；　softening　their　sharp　outline；　so　
that　he　could　see　certain　streets；　books；　and　situations　
wearing　a　halo　almost　perceptible　to　the　physical　eye。　
Did　she　smile？　Did　she　put　the　paper　down　wearily；　condemning　
it　not　only　for　its　inadequacy　but　for　its　falsity？　
Was　she　going　to　protest　once　more　that　he　only　loved　
the　vision　of　her？　But　it　did　not　occur　to　her　that　this　
diagram　had　anything　to　do　with　her。　She　said　simply；　
and　in　the　same　tone　of　reflection：　
“Yes；　the　world　looks　something　like　that　to　me　too。”　
He　received　her　assurance　with　profound　joy。　Quietly　
and　steadily　there　rose　up　behind　the　whole　aspect　of　
life　that　soft　edge　of　fire　which　gave　its　red　tint　to　the　
429　
Night　and　Day　
atmosphere　and　crowded　the　scene　with　shadows　so　deep　
and　dark　that　one　could　fancy　pushing　farther　into　their　
density　and　still　farther；　exploring　indefinitely。　Whether　
there　was　any　correspondence　between　the　two　prospects　
now　opening　before　them　they　shared　the　same　sense　of　
the　impending　future；　vast；　mysterious；　infinitely　stored　
with　undeveloped　shapes　which　each　would　unwrap　for　
the　other　to　behold；　but　for　the　present　the　prospect　of　
the　future　was　enough　to　fill　them　with　silent　adoration。　
At　any　rate；　their　further　attempts　to　municate　articulately　
were　interrupted　by　a　knock　on　the　door；　and　
the　entrance　of　a　maid　who；　with　a　due　sense　of　mystery；　
announced　that　a　lady　wished　to　see　Miss　Hilbery；　but　
refused　to　allow　her　name　to　be　given。　
When　Katharine　rose；　with　a　profound　sigh；　to　resume　
her　duties；　Ralph　went　with　her；　and　neither　of　them　formulated　
any　guess；　on　their　way　downstairs；　as　to　who　
this　anonymous　lady　might　prove　to　be。　Perhaps　the　fantastic　
notion　that　she　was　a　little　black　hunchback　provided　
with　a　steel　knife；　which　she　would　plunge　into　
Katharine’s　heart；　appeared　to　Ralph　more　probable　than　
another；　and　he　pushed　first　into　the　diningroom　to　avert　
the　blow。　Then　he　exclaimed　“Cassandra！”　with　such　heartiness　
at　the　sight　of　Cassandra　Otway　standing　by　the　
diningroom　table　that　she　put　her　finger　to　her　lips　and　
begged　him　to　be　quiet。　
“Nobody　must　know　I’m　here；”　she　explained　in　a　sepulchral　
whisper。　“I　missed　my　train。　I　have　been　wandering　
about　London　all　day。　I　can　bear　it　no　longer。　
Katharine；　what　am　I　to　do？”　
Katharine　pushed　forward　a　chair；　Ralph　hastily　found　
wine　and　poured　it　out　for　her。　If　not　actually　fainting；　
she　was　very　near　it。　
“William’s　upstairs；”　said　Ralph；　as　soon　as　she　appeared　
to　be　recovered。　“I’ll　go　and　ask　him　to　e　down　to　
you。”　His　own　happiness　had　given　him　a　confidence　that　
every　one　else　was　bound　to　be　happy　too。　But　Cassandra　
had　her　uncle’s　mands　and　anger　too　vividly　in　her　
mind　to　dare　any　such　defiance。　She　became　agitated　
and　said　that　she　must　leave　the　house　at　once。　She　was　
not　in　a　condition　to　go；　had　they　known　where　to　send　
her。　Katharine’s　mon　sense；　which　had　been　in　abey
430　
Virginia　Woolf　
ance　for　the　past　week　or　two；　still　failed　her；　and　she　
could　only　ask；　“But　where’s　your　luggage？”　in　the　vague　
belief　that　to　take　lodgings　depended　entirely　upon　a　
sufficiency　of　luggage。　Cassandra’s　reply；　“I’ve　lost　my　
luggage；”　in　no　way　helped　her　to　a　conclusion。　
“You’ve　lost　your　luggage；”　she　repeated。　Her　eyes　rested　
upon　Ralph；　with　an　expression　which　seemed　better　fitted　
to　acpany　a　profound　thanksgiving　for　his　existence　
or　some　vow　of　eternal　devotion　than　a　question　
about　luggage。　Cassandra　perceived　the　look；　and　saw　
that　it　was　returned；　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　She　faltered　
in　what　she　was　saying。　She　began　bravely　again　to　
discuss　the　question　of　lodging　when　Katharine；　who　
seemed　to　have　municated　silently　with　Ralph；　and　
obtained　his　permission；　took　her　ruby　ring　from　her　finger　
and　giving　it　to　Cassandra；　said：　“I　believe　it　will　fit　
you　without　any　alteration。”　
These　words　would　not　have　been　enough　to　convince　
Cassandra　of　what　she　very　much　wished　to　believe　had　
not　Ralph　taken　the　bare　hand　in　his　and　demanded：　
“Why　don’t　you　tell　us　you’re　glad？”　Cassandra　was　so　
glad　that　the　tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。　The　certainty　of　
Katharine’s　engagement　not　only　relieved　her　of　a　thousand　
vague　fears　and　selfreproaches；　but　entirely　
quenched　that　spirit　of　criticism　which　had　lately　impaired　
her　belief　in　Katharine。　Her　old　faith　came　back　to　
her。　She　seemed　to　behold　her　with　that　curious　intensity　
which　she　had　lost；　as　a　being　who　walks　just　beyond　our　
sphere；　so　that　life　in　their　presence　is　a　heightened　process；　
illuminating　not　only　ourselves　but　a　considerable　
stretch　of　the　surrounding　world。　Next　moment　she　contrasted　
her　own　lot　with　theirs　and　gave　back　the　ring。　
“I　won’t　take　that　unless　William　gives　it　me　himself；”　
she　said。　“Keep　it　for　me；　Katharine。”　
“I　assure　you　everything’s　perfectly　all　right；”　said　Ralph。　
“Let　me　tell　William—”　
He　was　about；　in　spite　of　Cassandra’s　protest；　to　reach　
the　door；　when　Mrs。　Hilbery；　either　warned　by　the　parlor
maid　or　conscious　with　her　usual　prescience　of　the　need　
for　her　intervention；　opened　the　door　and　smilingly　surveyed　
them。　
“My　dear　Cassandra！”　she　exclaimed。　“How　delightful　to　
431　
Night　and　Day　
see　you　back　again！　What　a　coincidence！”　she　observed；　
in　a　general　way。　“William　is　upstairs。　The　kettle　boils　
over。　Where’s　Katharine；　I　say？　I　go　to　look；　and　I　find　
Cassandra！”　She　seemed　to　have　proved　something　to　her　
own　satisfaction；　although　nobody　felt　certain　what　thing　
precisely　it　was。　
“I　find　Cassandra；”　she　repeated。　
“She　missed