backs of old envelopes to prove something。 She suspected
that Katharine was absentminded； but it was impossible
to tell。 There were moments when she felt so young and
inexperienced that she almost wished herself back with
the silkworms at Stogdon House； and not embarked upon
this bewildering intrigue。
These moments； however； were only the necessary
shadow or chill which proved the substance of her bliss；
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and did not damage the radiance which seemed to rest
equally upon the whole party。 The fresh air of spring； the
sky washed of clouds and already shedding warmth from
its blue； seemed the reply vouchsafed by nature to the
mood of her chosen spirits。 These chosen spirits were to
be found also among the deer； dumbly basking； and among
the fish； set still in midstream； for they were mute sharers
in a benignant state not needing any exposition by the
tongue。 No words that Cassandra could e by expressed
the stillness； the brightness； the air of expectancy which
lay upon the orderly beauty of the grass walks and gravel
paths down which they went walking four abreast that
Sunday afternoon。 Silently the shadows of the trees lay
across the broad sunshine； silence wrapt her heart in its
folds。 The quivering stillness of the butterfly on the half
opened flower； the silent grazing of the deer in the sun；
were the sights her eye rested upon and received as the
images of her own nature laid open to happiness and
trembling in its ecstasy。
But the afternoon wore on； and it became time to leave
the gardens。 As they drove from Waterloo to Chelsea；
Katharine began to have some punction about her
father； which； together with the opening of offices and
the need of working in them on Monday； made it difficult
to plan another festival for the following day。 Mr。 Hilbery
had taken their absence； so far； with paternal benevolence；
but they could not trespass upon it indefinitely。
Indeed； had they known it； he was already suffering from
their absence； and longing for their return。
He had no dislike of solitude； and Sunday； in particular；
was pleasantly adapted for letterwriting； paying calls；
or a visit to his club。 He was leaving the house on some
such suitable expedition towards teatime when he found
himself stopped on his own doorstep by his sister； Mrs。
Milvain。 She should； on hearing that no one was at home；
have withdrawn submissively； but instead she accepted
his halfhearted invitation to e in； and he found himself
in the melancholy position of being forced to order
tea for her and sit in the drawingroom while she drank
it。 She speedily made it plain that she was only thus
exacting because she had e on a matter of business。
He was by no means exhilarated at the news。
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Night and Day
“Katharine is out this afternoon；” he remarked。 “Why
not e round later and discuss it with her—with us
both； eh？”
“My dear Trevor； I have particular reasons for wishing
to talk to you alone… 。 Where is Katharine？”
“She’s out with her young man； naturally。 Cassandra
plays the part of chaperone very usefully。 A charming
young woman that—a great favorite of mine。” He turned
his stone between his fingers； and conceived different
methods of leading Celia away from her obsession； which；
he supposed； must have reference to the domestic affairs
of Cyril as usual。
“With Cassandra；” Mrs。 Milvain repeated significantly。
“With Cassandra。”
“Yes； with Cassandra；” Mr。 Hilbery agreed urbanely；
pleased at the diversion。 “I think they said they were
going to Hampton Court； and I rather believe they were
taking a protege of mine； Ralph Denham； a very clever
fellow； too； to amuse Cassandra。 I thought the arrangement
very suitable。” He was prepared to dwell at some
length upon this safe topic； and trusted that Katharine
would e in before he had done with it。
“Hampton Court always seems to me an ideal spot for
engaged couples。 There’s the Maze； there’s a nice place
for having tea—I forget what they call it—and then； if
the young man knows his business he contrives to take
his lady upon the river。 Full of possibilities—full。 Cake；
Celia？” Mr。 Hilbery continued。 “I respect my dinner too
much； but that can’t possibly apply to you。 You’ve never
observed that feast； so far as I can remember。”
Her brother’s affability did not deceive Mrs。 Milvain； it
slightly saddened her； she well knew the cause of it。 Blind
and infatuated as usual！
“Who is this Mr。 Denham？” she asked。
“Ralph Denham？” said Mr。 Hilbery； in relief that her
mind had taken this turn。 “A very interesting young man。
I’ve a great belief in him。 He’s an authority upon our
mediaeval institutions； and if he weren’t forced to earn
his living he would write a book that very much wants
writing—”
“He is not well off； then？” Mrs。 Milvain interposed。
“Hasn’t a penny； I’m afraid； and a family more or less
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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 R