Kewto
teach
her
botany
.
Such
were
his
relics
.
He
placed
them
before
him
,
and
set
himself
to
visualize
her
so
clearly
that
no
deception
or
delusion
was
possible
.
In
a
second
he
could
see
her
,
with
the
sun
slanting
across
her
dress
,
coming
towards
him
down
the
green
walk
at
Kew
.
He
made
her
sit
upon
the
seat
beside
him
.
He
heard
her
voice
,
so
low
and
yet
so
decided
in
its
tone
;
she
spoke
reasonably
of
indifferent
matters
.
He
could
see
her
faults
,
and
analyze
her
virtues
.
His
pulse
became
quieter
,
and
his
brain
increased
in
clarity
.
This
time
she
could
not
escape
him
.
The
illusion
of
her
presence
became
more
and
more
complete
.
They
seemed
to
pass
in
and
out
of
each
other’s
minds
,
questioning
and
answering
.
The
utmost
fullness
of
communion
seemed
to
be
theirs
.
Thus
united
,
he
felt
himself
raised
to
an
eminence
,
exalted
,
and
filled
with
a
power
of
achievement
such
as
he
had
never
known
in
singleness
.
Once
more
he
told
over
conscientiously
her
faults
,
both
of
face
and
character
;
they
were
clearly
known
to
him
;
but
they
merged
themselves
in
the
flawless
union
that
was
born
of
their
association
.
They
surveyed
life
to
its
uttermost
limits
.
How
deep
it
was
when
looked
at
from
this
height
!
How
sublime
!
How
the
commonest
things
moved
him
almost
to
tears
!
Thus
,
he
forgot
the
inevitable
limitations
;
he
forgot
her
absence
,
he
thought
it
of
no
account
whether
she
married
him
or
another
;
nothing
mattered
,
save
that
she
should
exist
,
and
that
he
should
love
her
.
Some
words
of
these
reflections
were
uttered
aloud
,
and
it
happened
that
among
them
were
the
words
,
“
I
love
her
.
”
It
was
the
first
time
that
he
had
used
the
word
“
love
”
to
describe
his
feeling
;
madness
,
romance
,
hallucination
—
he
had
called
it
by
these
names
before
;
but
having
,
apparently
by
accident
,
stumbled
upon
the
word
“
love
,
”
he
repeated
it
again
and
again
with
a
sense
of
revelation
.
“
But
I’m
in
love
with
you
!
”
he
exclaimed
,
with
something
like
dismay
.
He
leant
against
the
window-sill
,
looking
over
the
city
as
she
had
looked
.
Everything
had
become
miraculously
different
and
completely
distinct
.
His
feelings
were
justified
and
needed
no
further
explanation
.
But
he
must
impart
them
to
some
one
,
because
his
discovery
was
so
important
that
it
concerned
other
people
too
.
Shutting
the
book
of
Greek
photographs
,
and
hiding
his
relics
,
he
ran
downstairs
,
snatched
his
coat
,
and
passed
out
of
doors
.
The
lamps
were
being
lit
,
but
the
streets
were
dark
enough
and
empty
enough
to
let
him
walk
his
fastest
,
and
to
talk
aloud
as
he
walked
.
He
had
no
doubt
where
he
was
going
.
He
was
going
to
find
Mary
Datchet
.
The
desire
to
share
what
he
felt
,
with
some
one
who
understood
it
,
was
so
imperious
that
he
did
not
question
it
.
He
was
soon
in
her
street
.
He
ran
up
the
stairs
leading
to
her
flat
two
steps
at
a
time
,
and
it
never
crossed
his
mind
that
she
might
not
be
at
home
.
As
he
rang
her
bell
,
he
seemed
to
himself
to
be
announcing
the
presence
of
something
wonderful
that
was
separate
from
himself
,
and
gave
him
power
and
authority
over
all
other
people
.
Mary
came
to
the
door
after
a
moment’s
pause
.
He
was
perfectly
silent
,
and
in
the
dusk
his
face
looked
completely
white
.
He
followed
her
into
her
room
.
“
Do
you
know
each
other
?
”
she
said
,
to
his
extreme
surprise
,
for
he
had
counted
on
finding
her
alone
.
A
young
man
rose
,
and
said
that
he
knew
Ralph
by
sight
.
“
We
were
just
going
through
some
papers
,
”
said
Mary
.
“
Mr.
Basnett
has
to
help
me
,
because
I
don’t
know
much
about
my
work
yet
.
It’s
the
new
society
,
”
she
explained
.
“
I’m
the
secretary
.
I’m
no
longer
at
Russell
Square
.
”
The
voice
in
which
she
gave
this
information
was
so
constrained
as
to
sound
almost
harsh
.
“
What
are
your
aims
?
”
said
Ralph
.
He
looked
neither
at
Mary
nor
at
Mr.
Basnett
.
Mr.
Basnett
thought
he
had
seldom
seen
a
more
disagreeable
or
formidable
man
than
this
friend
of
Mary’s
,
this
sarcastic-looking
,
white-faced
Mr.
Denham
,
who
seemed
to
demand
,
as
if
by
right
,
an
account
of
their
proposals
,
and
to
criticize
them
before
he
had
heard
them
.
Nevertheless
,
he
explained
his
projects
as
clearly
as
he
could
,
and
knew
that
he
wished
Mr.
Denham
to
think
well
of
them
.
“
I
see
,
”
said
Ralph
,
when
he
had
done
.
“
D’you
know
,
Mary
,
”
he
suddenly
remarked
,
“
I
believe
I’m
in
for
a
cold
.
Have
you
any
quinine
?
”
The
look
which
he
cast
at
her
frightened
her
;
it
expressed
mutely
,
perhaps
without
his
own
consciousness
,
something
deep
,
wild
,
and
passionate
.
She
left
the
room
at
once
.
Her
heart
beat
fast
at
the
knowledge
of
Ralph’s
presence
;
but
it
beat
with
pain
,
and
with
an
extraordinary
fear
.
She
stood
listening
for
a
moment
to
the
voices
in
the
next
room
.
“
Of
course
,
I
agree
with
you
,
”
she
heard
Ralph
say
,
in
this
strange
voice
,
to
Mr.
Basnett
.
“
But
there’s
more
that
might
be
done
.
Have
you
seen
Judson
,
for
instance
?
You
should
make
a
point
of
getting
him
.
”
Mary
returned
with
the
quinine
.
“
Judson’s
address
?
”
Mr.
Basnett
inquired
,
pulling
out
his
notebook
and
preparing
to
write
.
For
twenty
minutes
,
perhaps
,
he
wrote
down
names
,
addresses
,
and
other
suggestions
that
Ralph
dictated
to
him
.
Then
,
when
Ralph
fell
silent
,
Mr.
Basnett
felt
that
his
presence
was
not
desired
,
and
thanking
Ralph
for
his
help
,
with
a
sense
that
he
was
very
young
and
ignorant
compared
with
him
,
he
said
good-bye
.
“
Mary
,
”
said
Ralph
,
directly
Mr.
Basnett
had
shut
the
door
and
they
were
alone
together
.
“
Mary
,
”
he
repeated
.
But
the
old
difficulty
of
speaking
to
Mary
without
reserve
prevented
him
from
continuing
.
His
desire
to
proclaim
his
love
for
Katharine
was
still
strong
in
him
,
but
he
had
felt
,
directly
he
saw
Mary
,
that
he
could
not
share
it
with
her
.
The
feeling
increased
as
he
sat
talking
to
Mr.
Basnett
.
And
yet
all
the
time
he
was
thinking
of
Katharine
,
and
marveling
at
his
love
.
The
tone
in
which
he
spoke
Mary’s
name
was
harsh
.
“
What
is
it
,
Ralph
?
”
she
asked
,
startled
by
his
tone
.
She
looked
at
him
anxiously
,
and
her
little
frown
showed
that
she
was
trying
painfully
to
understand
him
,
and
was
puzzled
.
He
could
feel
her
groping
for
his
meaning
,
and
he
was
annoyed
with
her
,
and
thought
how
he
had
always
found
her
slow
,
painstaking
,
and
clumsy
.
He
had
behaved
badly
to
her
,
too
,
which
made
his
irritation
the
more
acute
.
Without
waiting
for
him
to
answer
,
she
rose
as
if
his
answer
were
indifferent
to
her
,
and
began
to
put
in
order
some
papers
that
Mr.
Basnett
had
left
on
the
table
.
She
hummed
a
scrap
of
a
tune
under
her
breath
,
and
moved
about
the
room
as
if
she
were
occupied
in
making
things
tidy
,
and
had
no
other
concern
.
“
You’ll
stay
and
dine
?
”
she
said
casually
,
returning
to
her
seat
.
“
No
,
”
Ralph
replied
.
She
did
not
press
him
further
.
They
sat
side
by
side
without
speaking
,
and
Mary
reached
her
hand
for
her
work
basket
,
and
took
out
her
sewing
and
threaded
a
needle
.
“
That’s
a
clever
young
man
,
”
Ralph
observed
,
referring
to
Mr.
Basnett
.
“
I’m
glad
you
thought
so
.
It’s
tremendously
interesting
work
,
and
considering
everything
,
I
think
we’ve
done
very
well
.
But
I’m
inclined
to
agree
with
you
;
we
ought
to
try
to
be
more
conciliatory
.
We’re
absurdly
strict
.
It’s
difficult
to
see
that
there
may
be
sense
in
what
one’s
opponents
say
,
though
they
are
one’s
opponents
.
Horace
Basnett
is
certainly
too
uncompromising
.
I
mustn’t
forget
to
see
that
he
writes
that
letter
to
Judson
.
You’re
too
busy
,
I
suppose
,
to
come
on
to
our
committee
?
”
She
spoke
in
the
most
impersonal
manner
.
“
I
may
be
out
of
town
,
”
Ralph
replied
,
with
equal
distance
of
manner
.
“
Our
executive
meets
every
week
,
of
course
,
”
she
observed
.
“
But
some
of
our
members
don’t
come
more
than
once
a
month
.
Members
of
Parliament
are
the
worst
;
it
was
a
mistake
,
I
think
,
to
ask
them
.
”
She
went
on
sewing
in
silence
.
“
You’ve
not
taken
your
quinine
,
”
she
said
,
looking
up
and
seeing
the
tabloids
upon
the
mantelpiece
.
“
I
don’t
want
it
,
”
said
Ralph
shortly
.
“
Well
,
you
know
best
,
”
she
replied
tranquilly
.
“
Mary
,
I’m
a
brute
!
”
he
exclaimed
.
“
Here
I
come
and
waste
your
time
,
and
do
nothing
but
make
myself
disagreeable
.
”
“
A
cold
coming
on
does
make
one
feel
wretched
,
”
she
replied
.
“
I’ve
not
got
a
cold
.
That
was
a
lie
.
There’s
nothing
the
matter
with
me
.
I’m
mad
,
I
suppose
.
I
ought
to
have
had
the
decency
to
keep
away
.
But
I
wanted
to
see
you
—
I
wanted
to
tell
you
—
I’m
in
love
,
Mary
.
”
He
spoke
the
word
,
but
,
as
he
spoke
it
,
it
seemed
robbed
of
substance
.
“
In
love
,
are
you
?
”
she
said
quietly
.
“
I’m
glad
,
Ralph
.
”
“
I
suppose
I’m
in
love
.
Anyhow
,
I’m
out
of
my
mind
.
I
can’t
think
,
I
can’t
work
,
I
don’t
care
a
hang
for
anything
in
the
world
.
Good
Heavens
,
Mary
!
I’m
in
torment
!
One
moment
I’m
happy
;
next
I’m
miserable
.
I
hate
her
for
half
an
hour
;
then
I’d
give
my
whole
life
to
be
with
her
for
ten
minutes
;
all
the
time
I
don’t
know
what
I
feel
,
or
why
I
feel
it
;
it’s
insanity
,
and
yet
it’s
perfectly
reasonable
.
Can
you
make
any
sense
of
it
?
Can
you
see
what’s
happened
?
I’m
raving
,
I
know
;
don’t
listen
,
Mary
;
go
on
with
your
work
.
”
He
rose
and
began
,
as
usual
,
to
pace
up
and
down
the
room
.
He
knew
that
what
he
had
just
said
bore
very
little
resemblance
to
what
he
felt
,
for
Mary’s
presence
acted
upon
him
like
a
very
strong
magnet
,
drawing
from
him
certain
expressions
which
were
not
those
he
made
use
of
when
he
spoke
to
himself
,
nor
did
they
represent
his
deepest
feelings
.
He
felt
a
little
contempt
for
himself
at
having
spoken
thus
;
but
somehow
he
had
been
forced
into
speech
.
“
Do
sit
down
,
”
said
Mary
suddenly
.
“
You
make
me
so
—
”
She
spoke
with
unusual
irritability
,
and
Ralph
,
noticing
it
with
surprise
,
sat
down
at
once
.
“
You
haven’t
told
me
her
name
—
you’d
rather
not
,
I
suppose
?
”
“
Her
name
?
Katharine
Hilbery
.
”
“
But
she’s
engaged
—
”
“
To
Rodney
.
They’re
to
be
married
in
September
.
”
“
I
see
,
”
said
Mary
.
But
in
truth
the
calm
of
his
manner
,
now
that
he
was
sitting
down
once
more
,
wrapt
her
in
the
presence
of
something
which
she
felt
to
be
so
strong
,
so
mysterious
,
so
incalculable
,
that
she
scarcely
dared
to
attempt
to
intercept
it
by
any
word
or
question
that
she
was
able
to
frame
.
She
looked
at
Ralph
blankly
,
with
a
kind
of
awe
in
her
face
,
her
lips
slightly
parted
,
and
her
brows
raised
.
He
was
apparently
quite
unconscious
of
her
gaze
.
Then
,
as
if
she
could
look
no
longer
,
she
leant
back
in
her
chair
,
and
half
closed
her
eyes
.
The
distance
between
them
hurt
her
terribly
;
one
thing
after
another
came
into
her
mind
,
tempting
her
to
assail
Ralph
with
questions
,
to
force
him
to
confide
in
her
,
and
to
enjoy
once
more
his
intimacy
.
But
she
rejected
every
impulse
,
for
she
could
not
speak
without
doing
violence
to
some
reserve
which
had
grown
between
them
,
putting
them
a
little
far
from
each
other
,
so
that
he
seemed
to
her
dignified
and
remote
,
like
a
person
she
no
longer
knew
well
.
“
Is
there
anything
that
I
could
do
for
you
?
”
she
asked
gently
,
and
even
with
courtesy
,
at
length
.
“
You
could
see
her
—
no
,
that’s
not
what
I
want
;
you
mustn’t
bother
about
me
,
Mary
.
”
He
,
too
,
spoke
very
gently
.
“
I’m
afraid
no
third
person
can
do
anything
to
help
,
”
she
added
.
“
No
,
”
he
shook
his
head
.
“
Katharine
was
saying
to-day
how
lonely
we
are
.
”
She
saw
the
effort
with
which
he
spoke
Katharine’s
name
,
and
believed
that
he
forced
himself
to
make
amends
now
for
his
concealment
in
the
past
.
At
any
rate
,
she
was
conscious
of
no
anger
against
him
;
but
rather
of
a
deep
pity
for
one
condemned
to
suffer
as
she
had
suffered
.
But
in
the
case
of
Katharine
it
was
different
;
she
was
indignant
with
Katharine
.
“
There’s
always
work
,
”
she
said
,
a
little
aggressively
.
Ralph
moved
directly
.
“
Do
you
want
to
be
working
now
?
”
he
asked
.
“
No
,
no.
It’s
Sunday
,
”
she
replied
.
“
I
was
thinking
of
Katharine
.
She
doesn’t
understand
about
work
.
She’s
never
had
to
.
She
doesn’t
know
what
work
is
.
I’ve
only
found
out
myself
quite
lately
.
But
it’s
the
thing
that
saves
one
—
I’m
sure
of
that
.
”
“
There
are
other
things
,
aren’t
there
?
”
he
hesitated
.
“
Nothing
that
one
can
count
upon
,
”
she
returned
.
“
After
all
,
other
people
—
”
she
stopped
,
but
forced
herself
to
go
on
.
“
Where
should
I
be
now
if
I
hadn’t
got
to
go
to
my
office
every
day
?
Thousands
of
people
would
tell
you
the
same
thing
—
thousands
of
women
.
I
tell
you
,
work
is
the
only
thing
that
saved
me
,
Ralph
.
”
He
set
his
mouth
,
as
if
her
words
rained
blows
on
him
;
he
looked
as
if
he
had
made
up
his
mind
to
bear
anything
she
might
say
,
in
silence
.
He
had
deserved
it
,
and
there
would
be
relief
in
having
to
bear
it
.
But
she
broke
off
,
and
rose
as
if
to
fetch
something
from
the
next
room
.
Before
she
reached
the
door
she
turned
back
,
and
stood
facing
him
,
self-possessed
,
and
yet
defiant
and
formidable
in
her
composure
.
“
It’s
all
turned
out
splendidly
for
me
,
”
she
said
.
“
It
will
for
you
,
too
.
I’m
sure
of
that
.
Because
,
after
all
,
Katharine
is
worth
it
.
”
“
Mary
—
!
”
he
exclaimed
.
But
her
head
was
turned
away
,
and
he
could
not
say
what
he
wished
to
say
.
“
Mary
,
you’re
splendid
,
”
he
concluded
.
She
faced
him
as
he
spoke
,
and
gave
him
her
hand
.
She
had
suffered
and
relinquished
,
she
had
seen
her
future
turned
from
one
of
infinite
promise
to
one
of
barrenness
,
and
yet
,
somehow
,
over
what
she
scarcely
knew
,
and
with
what
results
she
could
hardly
foretell
,
she
had
conquered
.
With
Ralph’s
eyes
upon
her
,
smiling
straight
back
at
him
serenely
and
proudly
,
she
knew
,
for
the
first
time
,
that
she
had
conquered
.
She
let
him
kiss
her
hand
.
The
streets
were
empty
enough
on
Sunday
night
,
and
if
the
Sabbath
,
and
the
domestic
amusements
proper
to
the
Sabbath
,
had
not
kept
people
indoors
,
a
high
strong
wind
might
very
probably
have
done
so
.
Ralph
Denham
was
aware
of
a
tumult
in
the
street
much
in
accordance
with
his
own
sensations
.
The
gusts
,
sweeping
along
the
Strand
,
seemed
at
the
same
time
to
blow
a
clear
space
across
the
sky
in
which
stars
appeared
,
and
for
a
short
time
the
quicks-peeding
silver
moon
riding
through
clouds
,
as
if
they
were
waves
of
water
surging
round
her
and
over
her
.
They
swamped
her
,
but
she
emerged
;
they
broke
over
her
and
covered
her
again
;
she
issued
forth
indomitable
.
In
the
country
fields
all
the
wreckage
of
winter
was
being
dispersed
;
the
dead
leaves
,
the
withered
bracken
,
the
dry
and
discolored
grass
,
but
no
bud
would
be
broken
,
nor
would
the
new
stalks
that
showed
above
the
earth
take
any
harm
,
and
perhaps
to-morrow
a
line
of
blue
or
yellow
would
show
through
a
slit
in
their
green
.
But
the
whirl
of
the
atmosphere
alone
was
in
Denham’s
mood
,
and
what
of
star
or
blossom
appeared
was
only
as
a
light
gleaming
for
a
second
upon
heaped
waves
fast
following
each
other
.
He
had
not
been
able
to
speak
to
Mary
,
though
for
a
moment
he
had
come
near
enough
to
be
tantalized
by
a
wonderful
possibility
of
understanding
.
But
the
desire
to
communicate
something
of
the
very
greatest
importance
possessed
him
completely
;
he
still
wished
to
bestow
this
gift
upon
some
other
human
being
;
he
sought
their
company
.
More
by
instinct
than
by
conscious
choice
,
he
took
the
direction
which
led
to
Rodney’s
rooms
.
He
knocked
loudly
upon
his
door
;
but
no
one
answered
.
He
rang
the
bell
.
It
took
him
some
time
to
accept
the
fact
that
Rodney
was
out
.
When
he
could
no
longer
pretend
that
the
sound
of
the
wind
in
the
old
building
was
the
sound
of
some
one
rising
from
his
chair
,
he
ran
downstairs
again
,
as
if
his
goal
had
been
altered
and
only
just
revealed
to
him
.
He
walked
in
the
direction
of
Chelsea
.
But
physical
fatigue
,
for
he
had
not
dined
and
had
tramped
both
far
and
fast
,
made
him
sit
for
a
moment
upon
a
seat
on
the
Embankment
.
One
of
the
regular
occupants
of
those
seats
,
an
elderly
man
who
had
drunk
himself
,
probably
,
out
of
work
and
lodging
,
drifted
up
,
begged
a
match
,
and
sat
down
beside
him
.
It
was
a
windy
night
,
he
said
;
times
were
hard
;
some
long
story
of
bad
luck
and
injustice
followed
,
told
so
often
that
the
man
seemed
to
be
talking
to
himself
,
or
,
perhaps
,
the
neglect
of
his
audience
had
long
made
any
attempt
to
catch
their
attention
seem
scarcely
worth
while
.
When
he
began
to
speak
Ralph
had
a
wild
desire
to
talk
to
him
;
to
question
him
;
to
make
him
understand
.
He
did
,
in
fact
,
interrupt
him
at
one
point
;
but
it
was
useless
.
The
ancient
story
of
failure
,
ill-luck
,
undeserved
disaster
,
went
down
the
wind
,
disconnected
syllables
flying
past
Ralph’s
ears
with
a
queer
alternation
of
loudness
and
faintness
as
if
,
at
certain
moments
,
the
man’s
memory
of
his
wrongs
revived
and
then
flagged
,
dying
down
at
last
into
a
grumble
of
resignation
,
which
seemed
to
represent
a
final
lapse
into
the
accustomed
despair
.
The
unhappy
voice
afflicted
Ralph
,
but
it
also
angered
him
.
And
when
the
elderly
man
refused
to
listen
and
mumbled
on
,
an
odd
image
came
to
his
mind
of
a
lighthouse
besieged
by
the
flying
bodies
of
lost
birds
,
who
were
dashed
senseless
,
by
the
gale
,
against
the
glass
.
He
had
a
strange
sensation
that
he
was
both
lighthouse
and
bird
;
he
was
steadfast
and
brilliant
;
and
at
the
same
time
he
was
whirled
,
with
all
other
things
,
senseless
against
the
glass
.
He
got
up
,
left
his
tribute
of
silver
,
and
pressed
on
,
with
the
wind
against
him
.
The
image
of
the
lighthouse
and
the
storm
full
of
birds
persisted
,
taking
the
place
of
more
definite
thoughts
,
as
he
walked
past
the
Houses
of
Parliament
and
down
Grosvenor
Road
,
by
the
side
of
the
river
.
In
his
state
of
physical
fatigue
,
details
merged
themselves
in
the
vaster
prospect
,
of
which
the
flying
gloom
and
the
intermittent
lights
of
lamp-posts
and
private
houses
were
the
outward
token
,
but
he
never
lost
his
sense
of
walking
in
the
direction
of
Katharine’s
house
.
He
took
it
for
granted
that
something
would
then
happen
,
and
,
as
he
walked
on
,
his
mind
became
more
and
more
full
of
pleasure
and
expectancy
.
Within
a
certain
radius
of
her
house
the
streets
came
under
the
influence
of
her
presence
.
Each
house
had
an
individuality
known
to
Ralph
,
because
of
the
tremendous
individuality
of
the
house
in
which
she
lived
.
For
some
yards
before
reaching
the
Hilberys’
door
he
walked
in
a
trance
of
pleasure
,
but
when
he
reached
it
,
and
pushed
the
gate
of
the
little
garden
open
,
he
hesitated
.
He
did
not
know
what
to
do
next
.
There
was
no
hurry
,
however
,
for
the
outside
of
the
house
held
pleasure
enough
to
last
him
some
time
longer
.
He
crossed
the
road
,
and
leant
against
the
balustrade
of
the
Embankment
,
fixing
his
eyes
upon
the
house
.
Lights
burnt
in
the
three
long
windows
of
the
drawing-room
.
The
space
of
the
room
behind
became
,
in
Ralph’s
vision
,
the
center
of
the
dark
,
flying
wilderness
of
the
world
;
the
justification
for
the
welter
of
confusion
surrounding
it
;
the
steady
light
which
cast
its
beams
,
like
those
of
a
lighthouse
,
with
searching
composure
over
the
trackless
waste
.
In
this
little
sanctuary
were
gathered
together
several
different
people
,
but
their
identity
was
dissolved
in
a
general
glory
of
something
that
might
,
perhaps
,
be
called
civilization
;
at
any
rate
,
all
dryness
,
all
safety
,
all
that
stood
up
above
the
surge
and
preserved
a
consciousness
of
its
own
,
was
centered
in
the
drawing-room
of
the
Hilberys
.
Its
purpose
was
beneficent
;
and
yet
so
far
above
his
level
as
to
have
something
austere
about
it
,
a
light
that
cast
itself
out
and
yet
kept
itself
aloof
.
Then
he
began
,
in
his
mind
,
to
distinguish
different
individuals
within
,
consciously
refusing
as
yet
to
attack
the
figure
of
Katharine
.
His
thoughts
lingered
over
Mrs.
Hilbery
and
Cassandra
;
and
then
he
turned
to
Rodney
and
Mr.
Hilbery
.
Physically
,
he
saw
them
bathed
in
that
steady
flow
of
yellow
light
which
filled
the
long
oblongs
of
the
windows
;
in
their
movements
they
were
beautiful
;
and
in
their
speech
he
figured
a
reserve
of
meaning
,
unspoken
,
but
understood
.
At
length
,
after
all
this
half-conscious
selection
and
arrangement
,
he
allowed
himself
to
approach
the
figure
of
Katharine
herself
;
and
instantly
the
scene
was
flooded
with
excitement
.
He
did
not
see
her
in
the
body
;
he
seemed
curiously
to
see
her
as
a
shape
of
light
,
the
light
itself
;
he
seemed
,
simplified
and
exhausted
as
he
was
,
to
be
like
one
of
those
lost
birds
fascinated
by
the
lighthouse
and
held
to
the
glass
by
the
splendor
of
the
blaze
.
These
thoughts
drove
him
to
tramp
a
beat
up
and
down
the
pavement
before
the
Hilberys’
gate
.
He
did
not
trouble
himself
to
make
any
plans
for
the
future
.
Something
of
an
unknown
kind
would
decide
both
the
coming
year
and
the
coming
hour
.
Now
and
again
,
in
his
vigil
,
he
sought
the
light
in
the
long
windows
,
or
glanced
at
the
ray
which
gilded
a
few
leaves
and
a
few
blades
of
grass
in
the
little
garden
.
For
a
long
time
the
light
burnt
without
changing
.
He
had
just
reached
the
limit
of
his
beat
and
was
turning
,
when
the
front
door
opened
,
and
the
aspect
of
the
house
was
entirely
changed
.
A
black
figure
came
down
the
little
pathway
and
paused
at
the
gate
.
Denham
understood
instantly
that
it
was
Rodney
.
Without
hesitation
,
and
conscious
only
of
a
great
friendliness
for
any
one
coming
from
that
lighted
room
,
he
walked
straight
up
to
him
and
stopped
him
.
In
the
flurry
of
the
wind
Rodney
was
taken
aback
,
and
for
the
moment
tried
to
press
on
,
muttering
something
,
as
if
he
suspected
a
demand
upon
his
charity
.
“
Goodness
,
Denham
,
what
are
you
doing
here
?
”
he
exclaimed
,
recognizing
him
.
Ralph
mumbled
something
about
being
on
his
way
home
.
They
walked
on
together
,
though
Rodney
walked
quick
enough
to
make
it
plain
that
he
had
no
wish
for
company
.
He
was
very
unhappy
.
That
afternoon
Cassandra
had
repulsed
him
;
he
had
tried
to
explain
to
her
the
difficulties
of
the
situation
,
and
to
suggest
the
nature
of
his
feelings
for
her
without
saying
anything
definite
or
anything
offensive
to
her
.
But
he
had
lost
his
head
;
under
the
goad
of
Katharine’s
ridicule
he
had
said
too
much
,
and
Cassandra
,
superb
in
her
dignity
and
severity
,
had
refused
to
hear
another
word
,
and
threatened
an
immediate
return
to
her
home
.
His
agitation
,
after
an
evening
spent
between
the
two
women
,
was
extreme
.
Moreover
,
he
could
not
help
suspecting
that
Ralph
was
wandering
near
the
Hilberys’
house
,
at
this
hour
,
for
reasons
connected
with
Katharine
.
There
was
probably
some
understanding
between
them
—
not
that
anything
of
the
kind
mattered
to
him
now
.
He
was
convinced
that
he
had
never
cared
for
any
one
save
Cassandra
,
and
Katharine’s
future
was
no
concern
of
his
.
Aloud
,
he
said
,
shortly
,
that
he
was
very
tired
and
wished
to
find
a
cab
.
But
on
Sunday
night
,
on
the
Embankment
,
cabs
were
hard
to
come
by
,
and
Rodney
found
himself
constrained
to
walk
some
distance
,
at
any
rate
,
in
Denham’s
company
.
Denham
maintained
his
silence
.
Rodney’s
irritation
lapsed
.
He
found
the
silence
oddly
suggestive
of
the
good
masculine
qualities
which
he
much
respected
,
and
had
at
this
moment
great
reason
to
need
.
After
the
mystery
,
difficulty
,
and
uncertainty
of
dealing
with
the
other
sex
,
intercourse
with
one’s
own
is
apt
to
have
a
composing
and
even
ennobling
influence
,
since
plain
speaking
is
possible
and
subterfuges
of
no
avail
.
Rodney
,
too
,
was
much
in
need
of
a
confidant
;
Katharine
,
despite
her
promises
of
help
,
had
failed
him
at
the
critical
moment
;
she
had
gone
off
with
Denham
;
she
was
,
perhaps
,
tormenting
Denham
as
she
had
tormented
him
.
How
grave
and
stable
he
seemed
,
speaking
little
,
and
walking
firmly
,
compared
with
what
Rodney
knew
of
his
own
torments
and
indecisions
!
He
began
to
cast
about
for
some
way
of
telling
the
story
of
his
relations
with
Katharine
and
Cassandra
that
would
not
lower
him
in
Denham’s
eyes
.
It
then
occurred
to
him
that
,
perhaps
,
Katharine
herself
had
confided
in
Denham
;
they
had
something
in
common
;
it
was
likely
that
they
had
discussed
him
that
very
afternoon
.
The
desire
to
discover
what
they
had
said
of
him
now
came
uppermost
in
his
mind
.
He
recalled
Katharine’s
laugh
;
he
remembered
that
she
had
gone
,
laughing
,
to
walk
with
Denham
.
“
Did
you
stay
long
after
we’d
left
?
”
he
asked
abruptly
.
“
No.
We
went
back
to
my
house
.
”
This
seemed
to
confirm
Rodney’s
belief
that
he
had
been
discussed
.
He
turned
over
the
unpalatable
idea
for
a
while
,
in
silence
.
“
Women
are
incomprehensible
creatures
,
Denham
!
”
he
then
exclaimed
.
“
Um
,
”
said
Denham
,
who
seemed
to
himself
possessed
of
complete
understanding
,
not
merely
of
women
,
but
of
the
entire
universe
.
He
could
read
Rodney
,
too
,
like
a
book
.
He
knew
that
he
was
unhappy
,
and
he
pitied
him
,
and
wished
to
help
him
.
“
You
say
something
and
they
—
fly
into
a
passion
.
Or
for
no
reason
at
all
,
they
laugh
.
I
take
it
that
no
amount
of
education
will
—
”
The
remainder
of
the
sentence
was
lost
in
the
high
wind
,
against
which
they
had
to
struggle
;
but
Denham
understood
that
he
referred
to
Katharine’s
laughter
,
and
that
the
memory
of
it
was
still
hurting
him
.
In
comparison
with
Rodney
,
Denham
felt
himself
very
secure
;
he
saw
Rodney
as
one
of
the
lost
birds
dashed
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
!
”
“
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
to-night
.
”
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
lamp-post
,
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
lamp-post
,
they
seemed
to
be
aware
of
some
common
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
.
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
oncome
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
uncomfortable
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
come
and
speak
to
you
—
only
for
a
moment
,
though
.
I’m
going
home
to-morrow
.
”
“
Home
?
Why
,
what
has
happened
?
”
“
Something
happened
to-day
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
uncomfortable
to-day
.
”
Katharine
seemed
to
waken
completely
,
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
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
self-possession
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
completely
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
.
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
difficult
to
ask
.
“
But
do
you
care
for
William
?
”
She
marked
the
agitation
and
bewilderment
of
the
girl’s
expression
,
and
how
she
looked
away
from
her
.
“
Do
you
mean
,
am
I
in
love
with
him
?
”
Cassandra
asked
,
breathing
quickly
,
and
nervously
moving
her
hands
.
“
Yes
,
in
love
with
him
,
”
Katharine
repeated
.
“
How
can
I
love
the
man
you’re
engaged
to
marry
?
”
Cassandra
burst
out
.
“
He
may
be
in
love
with
you
.
”
“
I
don’t
think
you’ve
any
right
to
say
such
things
,
Katharine
,
”
Cassandra
exclaimed
.
“
Why
do
you
say
them
?
Don’t
you
mind
in
the
least
how
William
behaves
to
other
women
?
If
I
were
engaged
,
I
couldn’t
bear
it
!
”
“
We’re
not
engaged
,
”
said
Katharine
,
after
a
pause
.
“
Katharine
!
”
Cassandra
cried
.
“
No
,
we’re
not
engaged
,
”
Katharine
repeated
.
“
But
no
one
knows
it
but
ourselves
.
”
“
But
why
—
I
don’t
understand
—
you’re
not
engaged
!
”
Cassandra
said
again
.
“
Oh
,
that
explains
it
!
You’re
not
in
love
with
him
!
You
don’t
want
to
marry
him
!
”
“
We
aren’t
in
love
with
each
other
any
longer
,
”
said
Katharine
,
as
if
disposing
of
something
for
ever
and
ever
.
“
How
queer
,
how
strange
,
how
unlike
other
people
you
are
,
Katharine
,
”
Cassandra
said
,
her
whole
body
and
voice
seeming
to
fall
and
collapse
together
,
and
no
trace
of
anger
or
excitement
remaining
,
but
only
a
dreamy
quietude
.
“
You’re
not
in
love
with
him
?
”
“
But
I
love
him
,
”
said
Katharine
.
Cassandra
remained
bowed
,
as
if
by
the
weight
of
the
revelation
,
for
some
little
while
longer
.
Nor
did
Katharine
speak
.
Her
attitude
was
that
of
some
one
who
wishes
to
be
concealed
as
much
as
possible
from
observation
.
She
sighed
profoundly
;
she
was
absolutely
silent
,
and
apparently
overcome
by
her
thoughts
.
“
D’you
know
what
time
it
is
?
”
she
said
at
length
,
and
shook
her
pillow
,
as
if
making
ready
for
sleep
.
Cassandra
rose
obediently
,
and
once
more
took
up
her
candle
.
Perhaps
the
white
dressing-gown
,
and
the
loosened
hair
,
and
something
unseeing
in
the
expression
of
the
eyes
gave
her
a
likeness
to
a
woman
walking
in
her
sleep
.
Katharine
,
at
least
,
thought
so
.
“
There’s
no
reason
why
I
should
go
home
,
then
?
”
Cassandra
said
,
pausing
.
“
Unless
you
want
me
to
go
,
Katharine
?
What
do
you
want
me
to
do
?
”
For
the
first
time
their
eyes
met
.
“
You
wanted
us
to
fall
in
love
,
”
Cassandra
exclaimed
,
as
if
she
read
the
certainty
there
.
But
as
she
looked
she
saw
a
sight
that
surprised
her
.
The
tears
rose
slowly
in
Katharine’s
eyes
and
stood
there
,
brimming
but
contained
—
the
tears
of
some
profound
emotion
,
happiness
,
grief
,
renunciation
;
an
emotion
so
complex
in
its
nature
that
to
express
it
was
impossible
,
and
Cassandra
,
bending
her
head
and
receiving
the
tears
upon
her
cheek
,
accepted
them
in
silence
as
the
consecration
of
her
love
.
“
Please
,
miss
,
”
said
the
maid
,
about
eleven
o’clock
on
the
following
morning
,
“
Mrs.
Milvain
is
in
the
kitchen
.
”
A
long
wicker
basket
of
flowers
and
branches
had
arrived
from
the
country
,
and
Katharine
,
kneeling
upon
the
floor
of
the
drawing-room
,
was
sorting
them
while
Cassandra
watched
her
from
an
arm-chair
,
and
absent-mindedly
made
spasmodic
offers
of
help
which
were
not
accepted
.
The
maid’s
message
had
a
curious
effect
upon
Katharine
.
She
rose
,
walked
to
the
window
,
and
,
the
maid
being
gone
,
said
emphatically
and
even
tragically
:
“
You
know
what
that
means
.
”
Cassandra
had
understood
nothing
.
“
Aunt
Celia
is
in
the
kitchen
,
”
Katharine
repeated
.
“
Why
in
the
kitchen
?
”
Cassandra
asked
,
not
unnaturally
.
“
Probably
because
she’s
discovered
something
,
”
Katharine
replied
.
Cassandra’s
thoughts
flew
to
the
subject
of
her
preoccupation
.
“
About
us
?
”
she
inquired
.
“
Heaven
knows
,
”
Katharine
replied
.
“
I
shan’t
let
her
stay
in
the
kitchen
,
though
.
I
shall
bring
her
up
here
.
”
The
sternness
with
which
this
was
said
suggested
that
to
bring
Aunt
Celia
upstairs
was
,
for
some
reason
,
a
disciplinary
measure
.
“
For
goodness’
sake
,
Katharine
,
”
Cassandra
exclaimed
,
jumping
from
her
chair
and
showing
signs
of
agitation
,
“
don’t
be
rash
.
Don’t
let
her
suspect
.
Remember
,
nothing’s
certain
—
”
Katharine
assured
her
by
nodding
her
head
several
times
,
but
the
manner
in
which
she
left
the
room
was
not
calculated
to
inspire
complete
confidence
in
her
diplomacy
.
Mrs.
Milvain
was
sitting
,
or
rather
perching
,
upon
the
edge
of
a
chair
in
the
servants’
room
.
Whether
there
was
any
sound
reason
for
her
choice
of
a
subterranean
chamber
,
or
whether
it
corresponded
with
the
spirit
of
her
quest
,
Mrs.
Milvain
invariably
came
in
by
the
back
door
and
sat
in
the
servants’
room
when
she
was
engaged
in
confidential
family
transactions
.
The
ostensible
reason
she
gave
was
that
neither
Mr.
nor
Mrs.
Hilbery
should
be
disturbed
.
But
,
in
truth
,
Mrs.
Milvain
depended
even
more
than
most
elderly
women
of
her
generation
upon
the
delicious
emotions
of
intimacy
,
agony
,
and
secrecy
,
and
the
additional
thrill
provided
by
the
basement
was
one
not
lightly
to
be
forfeited
.
She
protested
almost
plaintively
when
Katharine
proposed
to
go
upstairs
.
“
I’ve
something
that
I
want
to
say
to
you
in
private
,
”
she
said
,
hesitating
reluctantly
upon
the
threshold
of
her
ambush
.
“
The
drawing-room
is
empty
—
”
“
But
we
might
meet
your
mother
upon
the
stairs
.
We
might
disturb
your
father
,
”
Mrs.
Milvain
objected
,
taking
the
precaution
to
speak
in
a
whisper
already
.
But
as
Katharine’s
presence
was
absolutely
necessary
to
the
success
of
the
interview
,
and
as
Katharine
obstinately
receded
up
the
kitchen
stairs
,
Mrs.
Milvain
had
no
course
but
to
follow
her
.
She
glanced
furtively
about
her
as
she
proceeded
upstairs
,
drew
her
skirts
together
,
and
stepped
with
circumspection
past
all
doors
,
whether
they
were
open
or
shut
.
“
Nobody
will
overhear
us
?
”
she
murmured
,
when
the
comparative
sanctuary
of
the
drawing-room
had
been
reached
.
“
I
see
that
I
have
interrupted
you
,
”
she
added
,
glancing
at
the
flowers
strewn
upon
the
floor
.
A
moment
later
she
inquired
,
“
Was
some
one
sitting
with
you
?
”
noticing
a
handkerchief
that
Cassandra
had
dropped
in
her
flight
.
“
Cassandra
was
helping
me
to
put
the
flowers
in
water
,
”
said
Katharine
,
and
she
spoke
so
firmly
and
clearly
that
Mrs.
Milvain
glanced
nervously
at
the
main
door
and
then
at
the
curtain
which
divided
the
little
room
with
the
relics
from
the
drawing-room
.
“
Ah
,
Cassandra
is
still
with
you
,
”
she
remarked
.
“
And
did
William
send
you
those
lovely
flowers
?
”
Katharine
sat
down
opposite
her
aunt
and
said
neither
yes
nor
no.
She
looked
past
her
,
and
it
might
have
been
thought
that
she
was
considering
very
critically
the
pattern
of
the
curtains
.
Another
advantage
of
the
basement
,
from
Mrs.
Milvain’s
point
of
view
,
was
that
it
made
it
necessary
to
sit
very
close
together
,
and
the
light
was
dim
compared
with
that
which
now
poured
through
three
windows
upon
Katharine
and
the
basket
of
flowers
,
and
gave
even
the
slight
angular
figure
of
Mrs.
Milvain
herself
a
halo
of
gold
.
“
They’re
from
Stogdon
House
,
”
said
Katharine
abruptly
,
with
a
little
jerk
of
her
head
.
Mrs.
Milvain
felt
that
it
would
be
easier
to
tell
her
niece
what
she
wished
to
say
if
they
were
actually
in
physical
contact
,
for
the
spiritual
distance
between
them
was
formidable
.
Katharine
,
however
,
made
no
overtures
,
and
Mrs.
Milvain
,
who
was
possessed
of
rash
but
heroic
courage
,
plunged
without
preface
:
“
People
are
talking
about
you
,
Katharine
.
That
is
why
I
have
come
this
morning
.
You
forgive
me
for
saying
what
I’d
much
rather
not
say
?
What
I
say
is
only
for
your
own
sake
,
my
child
.
”
“
There’s
nothing
to
forgive
yet
,
Aunt
Celia
,
”
said
Katharine
,
with
apparent
good
humor
.
“
People
are
saying
that
William
goes
everywhere
with
you
and
Cassandra
,
and
that
he
is
always
paying
her
attentions
.
At
the
Markhams’
dance
he
sat
out
five
dances
with
her
.
At
the
Zoo
they
were
seen
alone
together
.
They
left
together
.
They
never
came
back
here
till
seven
in
the
evening
.
But
that
is
not
all
.
They
say
his
manner
is
very
marked
—
he
is
quite
different
when
she
is
there
.
”
Mrs.
Milvain
,
whose
words
had
run
themselves
together
,
and
whose
voice
had
raised
its
tone
almost
to
one
of
protest
,
here
ceased
,
and
looked
intently
at
Katharine
,
as
if
to
judge
the
effect
of
her
communication
.
A
slight
rigidity
had
passed
over
Katharine’s
face
.
Her
lips
were
pressed
together
;
her
eyes
were
contracted
,
and
they
were
still
fixed
upon
the
curtain
.
These
superficial
changes
covered
an
extreme
inner
loathing
such
as
might
follow
the
display
of
some
hideous
or
indecent
spectacle
.
The
indecent
spectacle
was
her
own
action
beheld
for
the
first
time
from
the
outside
;
her
aunt’s
words
made
her
realize
how
infinitely
repulsive
the
body
of
life
is
without
its
soul
.
“
Well
?
”
she
said
at
length
.
Mrs.
Milvain
made
a
gesture
as
if
to
bring
her
closer
,
but
it
was
not
returned
.
“
We
all
know
how
good
you
are
—
how
unselfish
—
how
you
sacrifice
yourself
to
others
.
But
you’ve
been
too
unselfish
,
Katharine
.
You
have
made
Cassandra
happy
,
and
she
has
taken
advantage
of
your
goodness
.
”
“
I
don’t
understand
,
Aunt
Celia
,
”
said
Katharine
.
“
What
has
Cassandra
done
?
”
“
Cassandra
has
behaved
in
a
way
that
I
could
not
have
thought
possible
,
”
said
Mrs.
Milvain
warmly
.
“
She
has
been
utterly
selfish
—
utterly
heartless
.
I
must
speak
to
her
before
I
go
.
”
“
I
don’t
understand
,
”
Katharine
persisted
.
Mrs.
Milvain
looked
at
her
.
Was
it
possible
that
Katharine
really
doubted
?
That
there
was
something
that
Mrs.
Milvain
herself
did
not
understand
?
She
braced
herself
,
and
pronounced
the
tremendous
words
:
“
Cassandra
has
stolen
William’s
love
.
”
Still
the
words
seemed
to
have
curiously
little
effect
.
“
Do
you
mean
,
”
said
Katharine
,
“
that
he
has
fallen
in
love
with
her
?
”
“
There
are
ways
of
making
men
fall
in
love
with
one
,
Katharine
.
”
Katharine
remained
silent
.
The
silence
alarmed
Mrs.
Milvain
,
and
she
began
hurriedly
:
“
Nothing
would
have
made
me
say
these
things
but
your
own
good
.
I
have
not
wished
to
interfere
;
I
have
not
wished
to
give
you
pain
.
I
am
a
useless
old
woman
.
I
have
no
children
of
my
own
.
I
only
want
to
see
you
happy
,
Katharine
.
”
Again
she
stretched
forth
her
arms
,
but
they
remained
empty
.
“
You
are
not
going
to
say
these
things
to
Cassandra
,
”
said
Katharine
suddenly
.
“
You’ve
said
them
to
me
;
that’s
enough
.
”
Katharine
spoke
so
low
and
with
such
restraint
that
Mrs.
Milvain
had
to
strain
to
catch
her
words
,
and
when
she
heard
them
she
was
dazed
by
them
.
“
I’ve
made
you
angry
!
I
knew
I
should
!
”
she
exclaimed
.
She
quivered
,
and
a
kind
of
sob
shook
her
;
but
even
to
have
made
Katharine
angry
was
some
relief
,
and
allowed
her
to
feel
some
of
the
agreeable
sensations
of
martyrdom
.
“
Yes
,
”
said
Katharine
,
standing
up
,
“
I’m
so
angry
that
I
don’t
want
to
say
anything
more
.
I
think
you’d
better
go
,
Aunt
Celia
.
We
don’t
understand
each
other
.
”
At
these
words
Mrs.
Milvain
looked
for
a
moment
terribly
apprehensive
;
she
glanced
at
her
niece’s
face
,
but
read
no
pity
there
,
whereupon
she
folded
her
hands
upon
a
black
velvet
bag
which
she
carried
in
an
attitude
that
was
almost
one
of
prayer
.
Whatever
divinity
she
prayed
to
,
if
pray
she
did
,
at
any
rate
she
recovered
her
dignity
in
a
singular
way
and
faced
her
niece
.
“
Married
love
,
”
she
said
slowly
and
with
emphasis
upon
every
word
,
“
is
the
most
sacred
of
all
loves
.
The
love
of
husband
and
wife
is
the
most
holy
we
know
.
That
is
the
lesson
Mamma’s
children
learnt
from
her
;
that
is
what
they
can
never
forget
.
I
have
tried
to
speak
as
she
would
have
wished
her
daughter
to
speak
.
You
are
her
grandchild
.
”
Katharine
seemed
to
judge
this
defence
upon
its
merits
,
and
then
to
convict
it
of
falsity
.
“
I
don’t
see
that
there
is
any
excuse
for
your
behavior
,
”
she
said
.
At
these
words
Mrs.
Milvain
rose
and
stood
for
a
moment
beside
her
niece
.
She
had
never
met
with
such
treatment
before
,
and
she
did
not
know
with
what
weapons
to
break
down
the
terrible
wall
of
resistance
offered
her
by
one
who
,
by
virtue
of
youth
and
beauty
and
sex
,
should
have
been
all
tears
and
supplications
.
But
Mrs.
Milvain
herself
was
obstinate
;
upon
a
matter
of
this
kind
she
could
not
admit
that
she
was
either
beaten
or
mistaken
.
She
beheld
herself
the
champion
of
married
love
in
its
purity
and
supremacy
;
what
her
niece
stood
for
she
was
quite
unable
to
say
,
but
she
was
filled
with
the
gravest
suspicions
.
The
old
woman
and
the
young
woman
stood
side
by
side
in
unbroken
silence
.
Mrs.
Milvain
could
not
make
up
her
mind
to
withdraw
while
her
principles
trembled
in
the
balance
and
her
curiosity
remained
unappeased
.
She
ransacked
her
mind
for
some
question
that
should
force
Katharine
to
enlighten
her
,
but
the
supply
was
limited
,
the
choice
difficult
,
and
while
she
hesitated
the
door
opened
and
William
Rodney
came
in
.
He
carried
in
his
hand
an
enormous
and
splendid
bunch
of
white
and
purple
flowers
,
and
,
either
not
seeing
Mrs.
Milvain
,
or
disregarding
her
,
he
advanced
straight
to
Katharine
,
and
presented
the
flowers
with
the
words
:
“
These
are
for
you
,
Katharine
.
”
Katharine
took
them
with
a
glance
that
Mrs.
Milvain
did
not
fail
to
intercept
.
But
with
all
her
experience
,
she
did
not
know
what
to
make
of
it
.
She
watched
anxiously
for
further
illumination
.
William
greeted
her
without
obvious
sign
of
guilt
,
and
,
explaining
that
he
had
a
holiday
,
both
he
and
Katharine
seemed
to
take
it
for
granted
that
his
holiday
should
be
celebrated
with
flowers
and
spent
in
Cheyne
Walk
.
A
pause
followed
;
that
,
too
,
was
natural
;
and
Mrs.
Milvain
began
to
feel
that
she
laid
herself
open
to
a
charge
of
selfishness
if
she
stayed
.
The
mere
presence
of
a
young
man
had
altered
her
disposition
curiously
,
and
filled
her
with
a
desire
for
a
scene
which
should
end
in
an
emotional
forgiveness
.
She
would
have
given
much
to
clasp
both
nephew
and
niece
in
her
arms
.
But
she
could
not
flatter
herself
that
any
hope
of
the
customary
exaltation
remained
.
“
I
must
go
,
”
she
said
,
and
she
was
conscious
of
an
extreme
flatness
of
spirit
.
Neither
of
them
said
anything
to
stop
her
.
William
politely
escorted
her
downstairs
,
and
somehow
,
amongst
her
protests
and
embarrassments
,
Mrs.
Milvain
forgot
to
say
good-bye
to
Katharine
.
She
departed
,
murmuring
words
about
masses
of
flowers
and
a
drawing-room
always
beautiful
even
in
the
depths
of
winter
.
William
came
back
to
Katharine
;
he
found
her
standing
where
he
had
left
her
.
“
I’ve
come
to
be
forgiven
,
”
he
said
.
“
Our
quarrel
was
perfectly
hateful
to
me
.
I’ve
not
slept
all
night
.
You’re
not
angry
with
me
,
are
you
,
Katharine
?
”
She
could
not
bring
herself
to
answer
him
until
she
had
rid
her
mind
of
the
impression
that
her
aunt
had
made
on
her
.
It
seemed
to
her
that
the
very
flowers
were
contaminated
,
and
Cassandra’s
pocket-handkerchief
,
for
Mrs.
Milvain
had
used
them
for
evidence
in
her
investigations
.
“
She’s
been
spying
upon
us
,
”
she
said
,
“
following
us
about
London
,
overhearing
what
people
are
saying
—
”
“
Mrs.
Milvain
?
”
Rodney
exclaimed
.
“
What
has
she
told
you
?
”
His
air
of
open
confidence
entirely
vanished
.
“
Oh
,
people
are
saying
that
you’re
in
love
with
Cassandra
,
and
that
you
don’t
care
for
me
.
”
“
They
have
seen
us
?
”
he
asked
.
“
Everything
we’ve
done
for
a
fortnight
has
been
seen
.
”
“
I
told
you
that
would
happen
!
”
he
exclaimed
.
He
walked
to
the
window
in
evident
perturbation
.
Katharine
was
too
indignant
to
attend
to
him
.
She
was
swept
away
by
the
force
of
her
own
anger
.
Clasping
Rodney’s
flowers
,
she
stood
upright
and
motionless
.
Rodney
turned
away
from
the
window
.
“
It’s
all
been
a
mistake
,
”
he
said
.
“
I
blame
myself
for
it
.
I
should
have
known
better
.
I
let
you
persuade
me
in
a
moment
of
madness
.
I
beg
you
to
forget
my
insanity
,
Katharine
.
”
“
She
wished
even
to
persecute
Cassandra
!
”
Katharine
burst
out
,
not
listening
to
him
.
“
She
threatened
to
speak
to
her
.
She’s
capable
of
it
—
she’s
capable
of
anything
!
”
“
Mrs.
Milvain
is
not
tactful
,
I
know
,
but
you
exaggerate
,
Katharine
.
People
are
talking
about
us
.
She
was
right
to
tell
us
.
It
only
confirms
my
own
feeling
—
the
position
is
monstrous
.
”
At
length
Katharine
realized
some
part
of
what
he
meant
.
“
You
don’t
mean
that
this
influences
you
,
William
?
”
she
asked
in
amazement
.
“
It
does
,
”
he
said
,
flushing
.
“
It’s
intensely
disagreeable
to
me
.
I
can’t
endure
that
people
should
gossip
about
us
.
And
then
there’s
your
cousin
—
Cassandra
—
”
He
paused
in
embarrassment
.
“
I
came
here
this
morning
,
Katharine
,
”
he
resumed
,
with
a
change
of
voice
,
“
to
ask
you
to
forget
my
