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Clacton； it’s not Penningtons。 I should ring them up again—
double three double eight； Central。 Well； this is a surprise。
e in；” she added。 “You’re just in time for tea。”
The light of relief shone in Mary’s eyes。 The boredom of
the afternoon was dissipated at once； and she was glad
that Katharine had found them in a momentary press of
activity； owing to the failure of the printer to send back
certain proofs。
The unshaded electric light shining upon the table covered
with papers dazed Katharine for a moment。 After
the confusion of her twilight walk； and her random
thoughts； life in this small room appeared extremely con
69
Night and Day
centrated and bright。 She turned instinctively to look
out of the window； which was uncurtained； but Mary immediately
recalled her。
“It was very clever of you to find your way；” she said；
and Katharine wondered； as she stood there； feeling； for
the moment； entirely detached and unabsorbed； why she
had e。 She looked； indeed； to Mary’s eyes strangely
out of place in the office。 Her figure in the long cloak；
which took deep folds； and her face； which was posed
into a mask of sensitive apprehension； disturbed
Mary for a moment with a sense of the presence of some
one who was of another world； and； therefore； subversive
of her world。 She became immediately anxious that
Katharine should be impressed by the importance of her
world； and hoped that neither Mrs。 Seal nor Mr。 Clacton
would appear until the impression of importance had been
received。 But in this she was disappointed。 Mrs。 Seal burst
into the room holding a kettle in her hand； which she set
upon the stove； and then； with inefficient haste； she set
light to the gas； which flared up； exploded； and went
out。
“Always the way； always the way；” she muttered。 “Kit
Markham is the only person who knows how to deal with
the thing。”
Mary had to go to her help； and together they spread
the table； and apologized for the disparity between the
cups and the plainness of the food。
“If we had known Miss Hilbery was ing； we should
have bought a cake；” said Mary； upon which Mrs。 Seal
looked at Katharine for the first time； suspiciously； because
she was a person who needed cake。
Here Mr。 Clacton opened the door； and came in； holding
a typewritten letter in his hand； which he was reading
aloud。
“Salford’s affiliated；” he said。
“Well done； Salford！” Mrs。 Seal exclaimed enthusiastically；
thumping the teapot which she held upon the table；
in token of applause。
“Yes； these provincial centers seem to be ing into
line at last；” said Mr。 Clacton； and then Mary introduced
him to Miss Hilbery； and he asked her； in a very formal
manner； if she were interested “in our work。”
70
Virginia Woolf
“And the proofs still not e？” said Mrs。 Seal； putting
both her elbows on the table； and propping her chin on
her hands； as Mary began to pour out tea。 “It’s too bad—
too bad。 At this rate we shall miss the country post。 Which
reminds me； Mr。 Clacton； don’t you think we should circularize
the provinces with Partridge’s last speech？ What？
You’ve not read it？ Oh； it’s the best thing they’ve had in
the House this Session。 Even the Prime Minister—”
But Mary cut her short。
“We don’t allow shop at tea； Sally；” she said firmly。 “We
fine her a penny each time she forgets； and the fines go
to buying a plum cake；” she explained； seeking to draw
Katharine into the munity。 She had given up all hope
of impressing her。
“I’m sorry； I’m sorry；” Mrs。 Seal apologized。 “It’s my
misfortune to be an enthusiast；” she said； turning to
Katharine。 “My father’s daughter could hardly be anything
else。 I think I’ve been on as many mittees as most
people。 Waifs and Strays； Rescue Work； Church Work； C。 O。
S。—local branch—besides the usual civic duties which
fall to one as a householder。 But I’ve given them all up
for our work here； and I don’t regret it for a second；” she
added。 “This is the root question； I feel； until women
have votes—”
“It’ll be sixpence； at least； Sally；” said Mary； bringing
her fist down on the table。 “And we’re all sick to death of
women and their votes。”
Mrs。 Seal looked for a moment as though she could
hardly believe her ears； and made a deprecating “tuttuttut”
in her throat； looking alternately at Katharine and
Mary； and shaking her head as she did so。 Then she remarked；
rather confidentially to Katharine； with a little
nod in Mary’s direction：
“She’s doing more for the cause than any of us。 She’s
giving her youth —for； alas！ when I was young there
were domestic circumstances—” she sighed； and stopped
short。
Mr。 Clacton hastily reverted to the joke about luncheon；
and explained how Mrs。 Seal fed on a bag of biscuits
under the trees； whatever the weather might be； rather；
Katharine thought； as though Mrs。 Seal were a pet dog
who had convenient tricks。
71
Night and Day
“Yes； I took my little bag into the square；” said Mrs。
Seal； with the selfconscious guilt of a child owning some
fault to its elders。 “It was really very sustaining； and the
bare boughs against the sky do one so much GOOD。 But I
shall have to give up going into the square；” she proceeded；
wrinkling her forehead。 “The injustice of it！ Why
should I have a beautiful square all to myself； when poor
women who need rest have nowhere at all to sit？” She
looked fiercely at Katharine； giving her short locks a little
shake。 “It’s dreadful what a tyrant one still is； in spite of
all one’s efforts。 One tries to lead a decent life； but one
can’t。 Of course； directly one thinks of it； one sees that
all squares should be open to every one。 Is there any
society with that object； Mr。 Clacton？ If not； there should
be； surely。”
“A most excellent object；” said Mr。 Clacton in his professional
manner。 “At the same time； one must deplore
the ramification of organizations； Mrs。 Seal。 So much excellent
effort thrown away； not to speak of pounds； shillings；