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barely and tersely； with a curious assumption that the
number of things that could properly be thought about
was strictly limited。 And Mr。 Bast was only stiff upon
the surface； there was an intelligence in his face which
attracted her intelligence。
310
Virginia Woolf
“When will the public know？” she asked。
“What d’you mean—about us？” Mr。 Bast asked； with
a little smile。
“That depends upon many things；” said Mary。 The conspirators
looked pleased； as if Katharine’s question； with
the belief in their existence which it implied； had a warming
effect upon them。
“In starting a society such as we wish to start （we can’t
say any more at present）；” Mr。 Bast began； with a
little jerk of his head； “there are two things to remember—
the Press and the public。 Other societies； which shall
be nameless； have gone under because they’ve appealed
only to cranks。 If you don’t want a mutual admiration
society； which dies as soon as you’ve all discovered each
other’s faults； you must nobble the Press。 You must appeal
to the public。”
“That’s the difficulty；” said Mary thoughtfully。
“That’s where she es in；” said Mr。 Bast； jerking
his head in Mary’s direction。 “She’s the only one of us
who’s a capitalist。 She can make a wholetime job of it。 I’m
tied to an office； I can only give my spare time。 Are you；
by any chance； on the lookout for a job？” he asked
Katharine； with a queer mixture of distrust and deference。
“Marriage is her job at present；” Mary replied for her。
“Oh； I see；” said Mr。 Bast。 He made allowances for
that； he and his friends had faced the question of sex；
along with all others； and assigned it an honorable place
in their scheme of life。 Katharine felt this beneath the
roughness of his manner； and a world entrusted to the
guardianship of Mary Datchet and Mr。 Bast seemed to
her a good world； although not a romantic or beautiful
place or； to put it figuratively； a place where any line of
blue mist softly linked tree to tree upon the horizon。 For
a moment she thought she saw in his face； bent now over
the fire； the features of that original man whom we still
recall every now and then； although we know only the
clerk； barrister； Governmental official； or workingman
variety of him。 Not that Mr。 Bast； giving his days to
merce and his spare time to social reform； would long
carry about him any trace of his possibilities of pleteness；
but； for the moment； in his youth and ardor；
still speculative； still uncramped； one might imagine him
311
Night and Day
the citizen of a nobler state than ours。 Katharine turned
over her small stock of information； and wondered what
their society might be going to attempt。 Then she remembered
that she was hindering their business； and rose；
still thinking of this society； and thus thinking； she said
to Mr。 Bast：
“Well； you’ll ask me to join when the time es； I
hope。”
He nodded； and took his pipe from his mouth； but；
being unable to think of anything to say； he put it back
again； although he would have been glad if she had
stayed。
Against her wish； Mary insisted upon taking her downstairs；
and then； as there was no cab to be seen； they
stood in the street together； looking about them。
“Go back；” Katharine urged her； thinking of Mr。 Bast
with his papers in his hand。
“You can’t wander about the streets alone in those
clothes；” said Mary； but the desire to find a cab was not
her true reason for standing beside Katharine for a minute
or two。 Unfortunately for her posure； Mr。 Bast and
his papers seemed to her an incidental diversion of life’s
serious purpose pared with some tremendous fact
which manifested itself as she stood alone with Katharine。
It may have been their mon womanhood。
“Have you seen Ralph？” she asked suddenly； without
preface。
“Yes；” said Katharine directly； but she did not remember
when or where she had seen him。 It took her a moment
or two to remember why Mary should ask her if she
had seen Ralph。
“I believe I’m jealous；” said Mary。
“Nonsense； Mary；” said Katharine； rather distractedly；
taking her arm and beginning to walk up the street in the
direction of the main road。 “Let me see； we went to Kew；
and we agreed to be friends。 Yes； that’s what happened。”
Mary was silent； in the hope that Katharine would tell
her more。 But Katharine said nothing。
“It’s not a question of friendship；” Mary exclaimed； her
anger rising； to her own surprise。 “You know it’s not。 How
can it be？ I’ve no right to interfere—” She stopped。 “Only
I’d rather Ralph wasn’t hurt；” she concluded。
312
Virginia Woolf
“I think he seems able to take care of himself；” Katharine
observed。 Without either of them wishing it； a feeling of
hostility had risen between them。
“Do you really think it’s worth it？” said Mary； after a
pause。
“How can one tell？” Katharine asked。
“Have you ever cared for any one？” Mary demanded
rashly and foolishly。
“I can’t wander about London discussing my feelings—
Here’s a cab—no； there’s some one in it。”
“We don’t want to quarrel；” said Mary。
“Ought I to have told him that I wouldn’t be his friend？”
Katharine asked。 “Shall I tell him that？ If so； what reason
shall I give him？”
“Of course you can’t tell him that；” said Mary； controlling
herself。
“I believe I shall； though；” said Katharine suddenly。
“I lost my temper； Katharine； I shouldn’t have said what
I did。”
“The whole thing’s foolish；” said Katharine； peremptorily。
“That’s what I say。 It’s not worth it。” She spoke with
unnecessary vehemence； but it was not directed against
Mary Datchet。 Their animosity had pletely disappeared；
and upon both of them a cloud of difficulty and darkness
rested； obscuring the future； in which they had both to
find a way。
“No； no； it’s not worth it；” Katharine repeated。 “Suppose；
as you say； it’s out of the question—this friendship；
he falls in love with me。 I don’t want that。 Still；”