She explained that she had been visiting an uncle who
was ill； and that had kept her。 No； she hadn’t had any
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tea； but a slice of bread would do。 Some one handed up a
hot cake； which had been keeping warm in the fender；
she sat down by her mother’s side； Mrs。 Denham’s anxieties
seemed to relax； and every one began eating and
drinking； as if tea had begun over again。 Hester voluntarily
explained to Katharine that she was reading to pass
some examination； because she wanted more than anything
in the whole world to go to Newnham。
“Now； just let me hear you decline ‘amo’—I love；”
Johnnie demanded。
“No； Johnnie； no Greek at mealtimes；” said Joan； overhearing
him instantly。 “She’s up at all hours of the night
over her books； Miss Hilbery； and I’m sure that’s not the
way to pass examinations；” she went on； smiling at
Katharine； with the worried humorous smile of the elder
sister whose younger brothers and sisters have bee
almost like children of her own。
“Joan； you don’t really think that ‘amo’ is Greek？” Ralph
asked。
“Did I say Greek？ Well； never mind。 No dead languages at teatime。
My dear boy； don’t trouble to make me any toast—”
“Or if you do； surely there’s the toastingfork somewhere？”
said Mrs。 Denham； still cherishing the belief that the breadknife
could be spoilt。 “Do one of you ring and ask for one；”
she said； without any conviction that she would be obeyed。
“But is Ann ing to be with Uncle Joseph？” she continued。
“If so； surely they had better send Amy to us—” and
in the mysterious delight of learning further details of these
arrangements； and suggesting more sensible plans of her
own； which； from the aggrieved way in which she spoke；
she did not seem to expect any one to adopt； Mrs。 Denham
pletely forgot the presence of a welldressed visitor；
who had to be informed about the amenities of Highgate。
As soon as Joan had taken her seat； an argument had
sprung up on either side of Katharine； as to whether the
Salvation Army has any right to play hymns at street corners
on Sunday mornings； thereby making it impossible for
James to have his sleep out； and tampering with the rights
of individual liberty。
“You see； James likes to lie in bed and sleep like a
hog；” said Johnnie； explaining himself to Katharine；
whereupon James fired up and； making her his goal； also
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exclaimed：
“Because Sundays are my one chance in the week of
having my sleep out。 Johnnie messes with stinking chemicals
in the pantry—”
They appealed to her； and she forgot her cake and began
to laugh and talk and argue with sudden animation。
The large family seemed to her so warm and various that
she forgot to censure them for their taste in pottery。 But
the personal question between James and Johnnie merged
into some argument already； apparently； debated； so that
the parts had been distributed among the family； in which
Ralph took the lead； and Katharine found herself opposed
to him and the champion of Johnnie’s cause； who； it
appeared； always lost his head and got excited in argument
with Ralph。
“Yes； yes； that’s what I mean。 She’s got it right；” he
exclaimed； after Katharine had restated his case； and made
it more precise。 The debate was left almost solely to
Katharine and Ralph。 They looked into each other’s eyes
fixedly； like wrestlers trying to see what movement is
ing next； and while Ralph spoke； Katharine bit her
lower lip； and was always ready with her next point as
soon as he had done。 They were very well matched； and
held the opposite views。
But at the most exciting stage of the argument； for no
reason that Katharine could see； all chairs were pushed
back； and one after another the Denham family got up
and went out of the door； as if a bell had summoned
them。 She was not used to the clockwork regulations of a
large family。 She hesitated in what she was saying； and
rose。 Mrs。 Denham and Joan had drawn together and stood
by the fireplace； slightly raising their skirts above their
ankles； and discussing something which had an air of
being very serious and very private。 They appeared to
have forgotten her presence among them。 Ralph stood
holding the door open for her。
“Won’t you e up to my room？” he said。 And Katharine；
glancing back at Joan； who smiled at her in a preoccupied
way； followed Ralph upstairs。 She was thinking of
their argument； and when； after the long climb； he opened
his door； she began at once。
“The question is； then； at what point is it right for the
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individual to assert his will against the will of the State。”
For some time they continued the argument； and then
the intervals between one statement and the next became
longer and longer； and they spoke more speculatively
and less pugnaciously； and at last fell silent。
Katharine went over the argument in her mind； remembering
how； now and then； it had been set conspicuously
on the right course by some remark offered either by
James or by Johnnie。
“Your brothers are very clever；” she said。 “I suppose
you’re in the habit of arguing？”
“James and Johnnie will go on like that for hours；”
Ralph replied。 “So will Hester； if you start her upon Elizabethan
dramatists。”
“And the little girl with the pigtail？”
“Molly？ She’s only ten。 But they’re always arguing among
themselves。”
He was immensely pleased by Katharine’s praise of his
brothers and sisters。 He would have liked to go on telling
her about them； but he checked himself。
“I see that it must be difficult to leave them；” Katharine
continued。 His deep pride in his family was more evident
to him； at that moment； than ever before； and the idea of
living alone in a cottage was ridiculous。 All that brotherhood
and sisterhood； and a mon childhood in a mon
past mean； all the stability； the unambitious radeship；
and tacit understanding of family life at its
best； came to his mind； and he thought of them as a
pany； of which he was the leader； bound on a difficult；
dreary； but glorious voyage。 And it was Katharine
who had opened his eyes to this； he thought。
A little dry chirp from the corner of the room now roused
her attention。
“My tame rook；” he explained briefly。 “A cat had bitten
one of its legs。” She looked at the rook； and her eyes
went from one object to another。
“You sit here and read？” she said； her eyes resting upon
his books。 He said that he was in the habit of working
there at night。
“The great advantage of Highgate is the view over London。
At night the view from my window is splendid。” He
was extremely anxious that she should appreciate his view；
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and she rose to see what was to be seen。 It was already dark
enough for the turbulent haze to be yellow with the light of
street lamps； and she tried to determine the quarters of the
city beneath her。 The sight of her gazing from his window
gave him a peculiar satisfaction。 When she turned； at lengt