in Portland Place；” he replied。 “I don’t know whether you
and Denham would care to join us。”
“I’ll ask him；” she replied； turning her head to look for
him。 But he and Cassandra were absorbed in the ayeaye
once more。
William and Katharine watched them for a moment； and
each looked curiously at the object of the other’s preference。
But resting his eye upon Cassandra； to whose elegance
the dressmakers had now done justice； William
said sharply：
“If you e； I hope you won’t do your best to make
me ridiculous。”
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Night and Day
“If that’s what you’re afraid of I certainly shan’t e；”
Katharine replied。
They were professedly looking into the enormous central
cage of monkeys； and being thoroughly annoyed by
William； she pared him to a wretched misanthropical
ape； huddled in a scrap of old shawl at the end of a pole；
darting peevish glances of suspicion and distrust at his
panions。 Her tolerance was deserting her。 The events
of the past week had worn it thin。 She was in one of
those moods； perhaps not unmon with either sex；
when the other bees very clearly distinguished； and
of contemptible baseness； so that the necessity of association
is degrading； and the tie； which at such moments
is always extremely close； drags like a halter round the
neck。 William’s exacting demands and his jealousy had
pulled her down into some horrible swamp of her nature
where the primeval struggle between man and woman
still rages。
“You seem to delight in hurting me；” William persisted。
“Why did you say that just now about my behavior to
animals？” As he spoke he rattled his stick against the
bars of the cage； which gave his words an acpaniment
peculiarly exasperating to Katharine’s nerves。
“Because it’s true。 You never see what any one feels；”
she said。 “You think of no one but yourself。”
“That is not true；” said William。 By his determined rattling
he had now collected the animated attention of
some halfdozen apes。 Either to propitiate them； or to
show his consideration for their feelings； he proceeded
to offer them the apple which he held。
The sight； unfortunately； was so ically apt in its
illustration of the picture in her mind； the ruse was so
transparent； that Katharine was seized with laughter。 She
laughed uncontrollably。 William flushed red。 No display
of anger could have hurt his feelings more profoundly。 It
was not only that she was laughing at him； the detachment
of the sound was horrible。
“I don’t know what you’re laughing at；” he muttered；
and； turning； found that the other couple had rejoined
them。 As if the matter had been privately agreed upon；
the couples separated once more； Katharine and Denham
passing out of the house without more than a perfunc
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Virginia Woolf
tory glance round them。 Denham obeyed what seemed to
be Katharine’s wish in thus making haste。 Some change
had e over her。 He connected it with her laughter；
and her few words in private with Rodney； he felt that
she had bee unfriendly to him。 She talked； but her
remarks were indifferent； and when he spoke her attention
seemed to wander。 This change of mood was at first
extremely disagreeable to him； but soon he found it salutary。
The pale drizzling atmosphere of the day affected
him； also。 The charm； the insidious magic in which he
had luxuriated； were suddenly gone； his feeling had bee
one of friendly respect； and to his great pleasure
he found himself thinking spontaneously of the relief of
finding himself alone in his room that night。 In his surprise
at the suddenness of the change； and at the extent
of his freedom； he bethought him of a daring plan； by
which the ghost of Katharine could be more effectually
exorcised than by mere abstinence。 He would ask her to
e home with him to tea。 He would force her through
the mill of family life； he would place her in a light unsparing
and revealing。 His family would find nothing to
admire in her； and she； he felt certain； would despise
them all； and this； too； would help him。 He felt himself
being more and more merciless towards her。 By such
courageous measures any one； he thought； could end the
absurd passions which were the cause of so much pain
and waste。 He could foresee a time when his experiences；
his discovery； and his triumph were made available for
younger brothers who found themselves in the same predicament。
He looked at his watch； and remarked that the
gardens would soon be closed。
“Anyhow；” he added； “I think we’ve seen enough for
one afternoon。 Where have the others got to？” He looked
over his shoulder； and； seeing no trace of them； remarked
at once：
“We’d better be independent of them。 The best plan
will be for you to e back to tea with me。”
“Why shouldn’t you e with me？” she asked。
“Because we’re next door to Highgate here；” he replied
promptly。
She assented； having very little notion whether Highgate
was next door to Regent’s Park or not。 She was only glad
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Night and Day
to put off her return to the family teatable in Chelsea for
an hour or two。 They proceeded with dogged determination
through the winding roads of Regent’s Park； and the
Sundaystricken streets of the neighborhood； in the direction
of the Tube station。 Ignorant of the way； she resigned
herself entirely to him； and found his silence a
convenient cover beneath which to continue her anger
with Rodney。
When they stepped out of the train into the still grayer
gloom of Highgate； she wondered； for the first time； where
he was taking her。 Had he a family； or did he live alone in
rooms？ On the whole she was inclined to believe that he
was the only son of an aged； and possibly invalid； mother。
She sketched lightly； upon the blank vista down which
they walked； the little white house and the tremulous old
lady rising from behind her teatable to greet her with
faltering words about “my son’s friends；” and was on the
point of asking Ralph to tell her what she might expect；
when he jerked open one of the infinite number of identical
wooden doors； and led her up a tiled path to a porch
in the Alpine style of architecture。 As they listened to
the shaking of the bell in the basement； she could summon
no vision to replace the one so rudely destroyed。
“I must warn you to expect a family party；” said Ralph。
“They’re mostly in on Sundays。 We can go to my room
afterwards。”
“Have you many brothers and sisters？” she asked； without
concealing her dismay。
“Six or seven；” he replied grimly； as the door opened。
While Ralph took off his coat； she had time to notice
the ferns and photographs and draperies； and to hear a
hum； or rather a babble； of voices talking each other
down； from the sound of them。 The rigidity of extreme
shyness came over her。 She kept as far behind Denham as
she could； and walked stiffly after him into a room blazing
with unshaded lights； which fell upon a number of
people； of different ages； sitting round a large dining
room table untidily strewn with fo