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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
348
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。
349
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 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
overe by her thoughts。
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Virginia Woolf
“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 dressinggown； 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 plex 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 baske