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402
Virginia Woolf
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 Rodney。
Who has Katharine gone out with？ Ralph Denham。 Why
403
Night and Day
are they for ever meeting each other round street corners；
and going to musichalls； and taking cabs late at
night？ Why will Katharine not tell me the truth when I
question her？ I understand the reason now。 Katharine
has entangled herself with this unknown lawyer； she has
seen fit to condone Cassandra’s conduct。”
There was another slight pause。
“Ah； well； Katharine will no doubt have some explanation
to give me；” Mr。 Hilbery replied imperturbably。 “It’s
a little too plicated for me to take in all at once； I
confess—and； if you won’t think me rude； Celia； I think
I’ll be getting along towards Knightsbridge。”
Mrs。 Milvain rose at once。
“She has condoned Cassandra’s conduct and entangled
herself with Ralph Denham；” she repeated。 She stood very
erect with the dauntless air of one testifying to the truth
regardless of consequences。 She knew from past discussions
that the only way to counter her brother’s indolence
and indifference was to shoot her statements at
him in a pressed form once finally upon leaving the
room。 Having spoken thus； she restrained herself from
adding another word； and left the house with the dignity
of one inspired by a great ideal。
She had certainly framed her remarks in such a way as
to prevent her brother from paying his call in the region
of Knightsbridge。 He had no fears for Katharine； but there
was a suspicion at the back of his mind that Cassandra
might have been； innocently and ignorantly； led into some
foolish situation in one of their unshepherded dissipations。
His wife was an erratic judge of the conventions；
he himself was lazy； and with Katharine absorbed； very
naturally—Here he recalled； as well as he could； the exact
nature of the charge。 “She has condoned Cassandra’s
conduct and entangled herself with Ralph Denham。” From
which it appeared that Katharine was NOT absorbed； or
which of them was it that had entangled herself with
Ralph Denham？ From this maze of absurdity Mr。 Hilbery
saw no way out until Katharine herself came to his help；
so that he applied himself； very philosophically on the
whole； to a book。
No sooner had he heard the young people e in and
go upstairs than he sent a maid to tell Miss Katharine
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Virginia Woolf
that he wished to speak to her in the study。 She was
slipping furs loosely onto the floor in the drawingroom
in front of the fire。 They were all gathered round； reluctant
to part。 The message from her father surprised
Katharine； and the others caught from her look； as she
turned to go； a vague sense of apprehension。
Mr。 Hilbery was reassured by the sight of her。 He congratulated
himself； he prided himself； upon possessing a
daughter who had a sense of responsibility and an understanding
of life profound beyond her years。 Moreover； she
was looking today unusual； he had e to take her beauty
for granted； now he remembered it and was surprised by
it。 He thought instinctively that he had interrupted some
happy hour of hers with Rodney； and apologized。
“I’m sorry to bother you； my dear。 I heard you e in；
and thought I’d better make myself disagreeable at once—
as it seems； unfortunately； that fathers are expected to
make themselves disagreeable。 Now； your Aunt Celia has
been to see me； your Aunt Celia has taken it into her
head apparently that you and Cassandra have been—let
us say a little foolish。 This going about together—these
pleasant little parties—there’s been some kind of misunderstanding。
I told her I saw no harm in it； but I should
just like to hear from yourself。 Has Cassandra been left a
little too much in the pany of Mr。 Denham？”
Katharine did not reply at once； and Mr。 Hilbery tapped
the coal encouragingly with the poker。 Then she said；
without embarrassment or apology：
“I don’t see why I should answer Aunt Celia’s questions。