senseless against the glass； one of the flying bodies of
which the air was full。 But he and Katharine were alone
together； aloft； splendid； and luminous with a twofold
radiance。 He pitied the unstable creature beside him； he
felt a desire to protect him； exposed without the knowledge
which made his own way so direct。 They were united
as the adventurous are united； though one reaches the
goal and the other perishes by the way。
“You couldn’t laugh at some one you cared for。”
This sentence； apparently addressed to no other human
being； reached Denham’s ears。 The wind seemed to muffle
it and fly away with it directly。 Had Rodney spoken those
words？
“You love her。” Was that his own voice； which seemed
to sound in the air several yards in front of him？
“I’ve suffered tortures； Denham； tortures！”
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“Yes； yes； I know that。”
“She’s laughed at me。”
“Never—to me。”
The wind blew a space between the words—blew them
so far away that they seemed unspoken。
“How I’ve loved her！”
This was certainly spoken by the man at Denham’s side。
The voice had all the marks of Rodney’s character； and
recalled； with； strange vividness； his personal appearance。
Denham could see him against the blank buildings
and towers of the horizon。 He saw him dignified； exalted；
and tragic； as he might have appeared thinking of
Katharine alone in his rooms at night。
“I am in love with Katharine myself。 That is why I am
here tonight。”
Ralph spoke distinctly and deliberately； as if Rodney’s
confession had made this statement necessary。
Rodney exclaimed something inarticulate。
“Ah； I’ve always known it；” he cried； “I’ve known it
from the first。 You’ll marry her！”
The cry had a note of despair in it。 Again the wind
intercepted their words。 They said no more。 At length
they drew up beneath a lamppost； simultaneously。
“My God； Denham； what fools we both are！” Rodney
exclaimed。 They looked at each other； queerly； in the light
of the lamp。 Fools！ They seemed to confess to each other
the extreme depths of their folly。 For the moment； under
the lamppost； they seemed to be aware of some mon
knowledge which did away with the possibility of
rivalry； and made them feel more sympathy for each other
than for any one else in the world。 Giving simultaneously
a little nod； as if in confirmation of this understanding；
they parted without speaking again。
347
Night and Day
CHAPTER XXIX
Between twelve and one that Sunday night Katharine lay
in bed； not asleep； but in that twilight region where a
detached and humorous view of our own lot is possible；
or if we must be serious； our seriousness is tempered by
the swift one of slumber and oblivion。 She saw the
forms of Ralph； William； Cassandra； and herself； as if they
were all equally unsubstantial； and； in putting off reality；
had gained a kind of dignity which rested upon each
impartially。 Thus rid of any unfortable warmth of partisanship
or load of obligation； she was dropping off to
sleep when a light tap sounded upon her door。 A moment
later Cassandra stood beside her； holding a candle and
speaking in the low tones proper to the time of night。
“Are you awake； Katharine？”
“Yes； I’m awake。 What is it？”
She roused herself； sat up； and asked what in Heaven’s
name Cassandra was doing？
“I couldn’t sleep； and I thought I’d e and speak to
you—only for a moment； though。 I’m going home to
morrow。”
“Home？ Why； what has happened？”
“Something happened today which makes it impossible
for me to stay here。”
Cassandra spoke formally； almost solemnly； the announcement
was clearly prepared and marked a crisis of
the utmost gravity。 She continued what seemed to be
part of a set speech。
“I have decided to tell you the whole truth； Katharine。
William allowed himself to behave in a way which made
me extremely unfortable today。”
Katharine seemed to waken pletely； and at once to
be in control of herself。
“At the Zoo？” she asked。
“No； on the way home。 When we had tea。”
As if foreseeing that the interview might be long； and
the night chilly； Katharine advised Cassandra to wrap herself
in a quilt。 Cassandra did so with unbroken solemnity。
“There’s a train at eleven；” she said。 “I shall tell Aunt
Maggie that I have to go suddenly… 。 I shall make Violet’s
visit an excuse。 But； after thinking it over； I don’t see
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Virginia Woolf
how I can go without telling you the truth。”
She was careful to abstain from looking in Katharine’s
direction。 There was a slight pause。
“But I don’t see the least reason why you should go；”
said Katharine eventually。 Her voice sounded so astonishingly
equable that Cassandra glanced at her。 It was
impossible to suppose that she was either indignant or
surprised； she seemed； on the contrary； sitting up in bed；
with her arms clasped round her knees and a little frown
on her brow； to be thinking closely upon a matter of
indifference to her。
“Because I can’t allow any man to behave to me in that
way；” Cassandra replied； and she added； “particularly when
I know that he is engaged to some one else。”
“But you like him； don’t you？” Katharine inquired。
“That’s got nothing to do with it；” Cassandra exclaimed
indignantly。 “I consider his conduct； under the circumstances；
most disgraceful。”
This was the last of the sentences of her premeditated
speech； and having spoken it she was left unprovided
with any more to say in that particular style。 When
Katharine remarked：
“I should say it had everything to do with it；” Cassandra’s
selfpossession deserted her。
“I don’t understand you in the least； Katharine。 How
can you behave as you behave？ Ever since I came here
I’ve been amazed by you！”
“You’ve enjoyed yourself； haven’t you？” Katharine asked。
“Yes； I have；” Cassandra admitted。
“Anyhow； my behavior hasn’t spoiled your visit。”
“No；” Cassandra allowed once more。 She was pletely
at a loss。 In her forecast of the interview she had taken it
for granted that Katharine； after an outburst of incredulity；
would agree that Cassandra must return home as
soon as possible。 But Katharine； on the contrary； accepted
her statement at once； seemed neither shocked nor surprised；
and merely looked rather more thoughtful than
usual。 From being a mature woman charged with an important
mission； Cassandra shrunk to the stature of an
inexperienced child。
“Do you think I’ve been very foolish about it？” she
asked。
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Night and Day
Katharine made no answer； but still sat deliberating silently；
and a certain feeling of alarm took possession of
Cassandra。 Perhaps her words had struck far deeper than
she had thought； into depths beyond her reach； as so much
of Katharine was beyond her reach。 She thought suddenly
that she had been playing with very dangerous tools。
Looking at her at length； Katharine asked slowly； as if
she found the question very diffic