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years； pretending； letting one take it for granted； that he
was single。 And the poor deserted little wife—”
“She is not his wife；” Aunt Celia interrupted。
“I’ve never heard anything so detestable！” Mrs。 Hilbery
wound up； striking her fist on the arm of her chair。 As she
realized the facts she became thoroughly disgusted； although；
perhaps； she was more hurt by the concealment
of the sin than by the sin itself。 She looked splendidly
roused and indignant； and Katharine felt an immense relief
and pride in her mother。 It was plain that her indignation
was very genuine； and that her mind was as perfectly
focused upon the facts as any one could wish—
more so； by a long way； than Aunt Celia’s mind； which
seemed to be timidly circling； with a morbid pleasure； in
these unpleasant shades。 She and her mother together
would take the situation in hand； visit Cyril； and see the
whole thing through。
“We must realize Cyril’s point of view first；” she said；
speaking directly to her mother； as if to a contemporary；
but before the words were out of her mouth； there was
more confusion outside； and Cousin Caroline； Mrs。 Hilbery’s
maiden cousin； entered the room。 Although she was by
birth an Alardyce； and Aunt Celia a Hilbery； the plexities
of the family relationship were such that each was at
once first and second cousin to the other； and thus aunt
and cousin to the culprit Cyril； so that his misbehavior
was almost as much Cousin Caroline’s affair as Aunt Celia’s。
Cousin Caroline was a lady of very imposing height and
circumference； but in spite of her size and her handsome
trappings； there was something exposed and unsheltered
in her expression； as if for many summers her thin red
skin and hooked nose and reduplication of chins； so much
resembling the profile of a cockatoo； had been bared to
the weather； she was； indeed； a single lady； but she had；
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Virginia Woolf
it was the habit to say； “made a life for herself；” and was
thus entitled to be heard with respect。
“This unhappy business；” she began； out of breath as
she was。 “If the train had not gone out of the station just
as I arrived； I should have been with you before。 Celia
has doubtless told you。 You will agree with me； Maggie。
He must be made to marry her at once for the sake of the
children—”
“But does he refuse to marry her？” Mrs。 Hilbery inquired；
with a return of her bewilderment。
“He has written an absurd perverted letter； all quotations；”
Cousin Caroline puffed。 “He thinks he’s doing a very
fine thing； where we only see the folly of it… 。 The girl’s
every bit as infatuated as he is—for which I blame him。”
“She entangled him；” Aunt Celia intervened； with a very
curious smoothness of intonation； which seemed to convey
a vision of threads weaving and interweaving a close；
white mesh round their victim。
“It’s no use going into the rights and wrongs of the
affair now； Celia；” said Cousin Caroline with some acerbity；
for she believed herself the only practical one of the
family； and regretted that； owing to the slowness of the
kitchen clock； Mrs。 Milvain had already confused poor
dear Maggie with her own inplete version of the facts。
“The mischief’s done； and very ugly mischief too。 Are we
to allow the third child to be born out of wedlock？ （I am
sorry to have to say these things before you； Katharine。）
He will bear your name； Maggie—your father’s name； remember。”
“But let us hope it will be a girl；” said Mrs。 Hilbery。
Katharine； who had been looking at her mother constantly；
while the chatter of tongues held sway； perceived
that the look of straightforward indignation had already
vanished； her mother was evidently casting about in her
mind for some method of escape； or bright spot； or sudden
illumination which should show to the satisfaction
of everybody that all had happened； miraculously but
incontestably； for the best。
“It’s detestable—quite detestable！” she repeated； but
in tones of no great assurance； and then her face lit up
with a smile which； tentative at first； soon became almost
assured。 “Nowadays； people don’t think so badly of
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Night and Day
these things as they used to do；” she began。 “It will be
horribly unfortable for them sometimes； but if they
are brave； clever children； as they will be； I dare say it’ll
make remarkable people of them in the end。 Robert Browning
used to say that every great man has Jewish blood in
him； and we must try to look at it in that light。 And； after
all； Cyril has acted on principle。 One may disagree with
his principle； but； at least； one can respect it—like the
French Revolution； or Cromwell cutting the King’s head
off。 Some of the most terrible things in history have been
done on principle；” she concluded。
“I’m afraid I take a very different view of principle；”
Cousin Caroline remarked tartly。
“Principle！” Aunt Celia repeated； with an air of deprecating
such a word in such a connection。 “I will go tomorrow
and see him；” she added。
“But why should you take these disagreeable things
upon yourself； Celia？” Mrs。 Hilbery interposed； and Cousin
Caroline thereupon protested with some further plan involving
sacrifice of herself。
Growing weary of it all； Katharine turned to the win
dow； and stood among the folds of the curtain； pressing
close to the windowpane； and gazing disconsolately at
the river much in the attitude of a child depressed by the
meaningless talk of its elders。 She was much disappointed
in her mother—and in herself too。 The little tug which
she gave to the blind； letting it fly up to the top with a
snap； signified her annoyance。 She was very angry； and
yet impotent to give expression to her anger； or know
with whom she was angry。 How they talked and moralized
and made up stories to suit their own version of the being；
and secretly praised their own devotion and tact！
No； they had their dwelling in a mist； she decided； hundreds
of miles away —away from what？ “Perhaps it would
be bette