《[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版》

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[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版- 第91部分


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without embarrassment or apology: 

“I don’t see why I should answer Aunt Celia’s questions。 
I’ve told her already that I won’t。” 

Mr。 Hilbery was relieved and secretly amused at the 
thought of the interview; although he could not license 
such irreverence outwardly。 

“Very good。 Then you authorize me to tell her that she’s 
been mistaken; and there was nothing but a little fun in 
it? You’ve no doubt; Katharine; in your own mind? 
Cassandra is in our charge; and I don’t intend that people 
should gossip about her。 I suggest that you should be a 
little more careful in future。 Invite me to your next entertainment。” 


She did not respond; as he had hoped; with any affectionate 
or humorous reply。 She meditated; pondering 

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something or other; and he reflected that even his 
Katharine did not differ from other women in the capacity 
to let things be。 Or had she something to say? 

“Have you a guilty conscience?” he inquired lightly。 
“Tell me; Katharine;” he said more seriously; struck by 
something in the expression of her eyes。 

“I’ve been meaning to tell you for some time;” she said; 
“I’m not going to marry William。” 

“You’re not going—!” he exclaimed; dropping the poker 
in his immense surprise。 “Why? When? Explain yourself; 
Katharine。” 

“Oh; some time ago—a week; perhaps more。” Katharine 
spoke hurriedly and indifferently; as if the matter could 
no longer concern any one。 

“But may I ask—why have I not been told of this— 
what do you mean by it?” 

“We don’t wish to be married—that’s all。” 

“This is William’s wish as well as yours?” 

“Oh; yes。 We agree perfectly。” 

Mr。 Hilbery had seldom felt more pletely at a loss。 
He thought that Katharine was treating the matter with 

curious unconcern; she scarcely seemed aware of the gravity 
of what she was saying; he did not understand the 
position at all。 But his desire to smooth everything over 
fortably came to his relief。 No doubt there was some 
quarrel; some whimsey on the part of William; who; though 
a good fellow; was a little exacting sometimes—something 
that a woman could put right。 But though he inclined 
to take the easiest view of his responsibilities; he 
cared too much for this daughter to let things be。 

“I confess I find great difficulty in following you。 I 
should like to hear William’s side of the story;” he said 
irritably。 “I think he ought to have spoken to me in the 
first instance。” 

“I wouldn’t let him;” said Katharine。 “I know it must 
seem to you very strange;” she added。 “But I assure you; 
if you’d wait a little—until mother es back。” 

This appeal for delay was much to Mr。 Hilbery’s liking。 
But his conscience would not suffer it。 People were talking。 
He could not endure that his daughter’s conduct 
should be in any way considered irregular。 He wondered 
whether; in the circumstances; it would be better to wire 

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Virginia Woolf 

to his wife; to send for one of his sisters; to forbid William 
the house; to pack Cassandra off home—for he was vaguely 
conscious of responsibilities in her direction; too。 His forehead 
was being more and more wrinkled by the multiplicity 
of his anxieties; which he was sorely tempted to ask 
Katharine to solve for him; when the door opened and 
William Rodney appeared。 This necessitated a plete 
change; not only of manner; but of position also。 

“Here’s William;” Katharine exclaimed; in a tone of relief。 
“I’ve told father we’re not engaged;” she said to him。 
“I’ve explained that I prevented you from telling him。” 

William’s manner was marked by the utmost formality。 
He bowed very slightly in the direction of Mr。 Hilbery; 
and stood erect; holding one lapel of his coat; and gazing 
into the center of the fire。 He waited for Mr。 Hilbery 
to speak。 

Mr。 Hilbery also assumed an appearance of formidable 
dignity。 He had risen to his feet; and now bent the top 
part of his body slightly forward。 

“I should like your account of this affair; Rodney—if 
Katharine no longer prevents you from speaking。” 

William waited two seconds at least。 

“Our engagement is at an end;” he said; with the utmost 
stiffness。 

“Has this been arrived at by your joint desire?” 

After a perceptible pause William bent his head; and 
Katharine said; as if by an afterthought: 

“Oh; yes。” 

Mr。 Hilbery swayed to and fro; and moved his lips as if 
to utter remarks which remained unspoken。 

“I can only suggest that you should postpone any decision 
until the effect of this misunderstanding has had 
time to wear off。 You have now known each other—” he 
began。 

“There’s been no misunderstanding;” Katharine interposed。 
“Nothing at all。” She moved a few paces across 
the room; as if she intended to leave them。 Her preoccupied 
naturalness was in strange contrast to her father’s 
pomposity and to William’s military rigidity。 He had not 
once raised his eyes。 Katharine’s glance; on the other 
hand; ranged past the two gentlemen; along the books; 
over the tables; towards the door。 She was paying the 

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least possible attention; it seemed; to what was happening。 
Her father looked at her with a sudden clouding and 
troubling of his expression。 Somehow his faith in her stability 
and sense was queerly shaken。 He no longer felt 
that he could ultimately entrust her with the whole conduct 
of her own affairs after a superficial show of directing 
them。 He felt; for the first time in many years; responsible 
for her。 

“Look here; we must get to the bottom of this;” he 
said; dropping his formal manner and addressing Rodney 
as if Katharine were not present。 “You’ve had some difference 
of opinion; eh? Take my word for it; most people 
go through this sort of thing when they’re engaged。 I’ve 
seen more trouble e from long engagements than from 
any other form of human folly。 Take my advice and put 
the whole matter out of your minds—both of you。 I prescribe 
a plete abstinence from emotion。 Visit some 
cheerful seaside resort; Rodney。” 

He was struck by William’s appearance; which seemed 
to him to indicate profound feeling resolutely held in 
check。 No doubt; he reflected; Katharine had been very 

trying; unconsciously trying; and had driven him to take 
up a position which was none of his willing。 Mr。 Hilbery 
certainly did not overrate William’s sufferings。 No minutes 
in his life had hitherto extorted from him such intensity 
of anguish。 He was now facing the consequences 
of his insanity。 He must confess himself entirely and fundamentally 
other than Mr。 Hilbery thought him。 Everything 
was against him。 Even the Sunday evening and the 
fire and the tranquil library scene were against him。 Mr。 
Hilbery’s appeal to him as a man of the world was terribly 
against him。 He was no longer a man of any world that 
Mr。 Hilbery cared to recognize。 But some power pelled 
him; as it had pelled him to e downstairs; to 
make his stand here and now; alone and unhelped by any 
one; without prospect of reward。 He fumbled with various 
phrases; and then jerked out: 

“I love Cassandra。” 

Mr。 Hilbery’s face turned a curious dull purple。 He looked 
at his daughter。 He nodded his head; as if to convey his 
silent mand to her to leave the room; but either she 
did not notice it or preferred not to obey。 

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“You have the impudence—” Mr。 Hilbery began; in a 
dull; low voice that he himself had never heard before; 
when there was a scuffling and exclaiming in the hall; 
and Cassandra; who appeared to be insisting against some 
dissuasion on the part of another; burst into the room。 

“Uncle Trevor;” she exclaimed; “I insist upon telling 
you the truth!” She flung herself between Rodney and 
her uncle; as if she sought to intercept their blows。 As 
her uncle stood perfectly still; looking very large and imposing; 
and as nobody spoke; she shrank back a little; 
and looked first at Katharine and then at Rodney。 “You 
must know the truth;” she said; a little lamely。 

“You have the impudence to tell me this in Katharine’s 
presence?” Mr。 Hilbery continued; speaking with plete 
disregard of Cassandra’s interruption。 

“I am aware; quite aware—” Rodney’s words; which were 
broken in sense; spoken after a pause; and with his eyes 
upon the ground; nevertheless expressed an astonishing 
amount of resolution。 “I am quite aware what you must 
think of me;” he brought out; looking Mr。 Hilbery directly 
in the eyes for the first time。 

“I could express my views on the subject more fully if 
we were alone;” Mr。 Hilbery returned。 

“But you forget me;” said Katharine。 She moved a little 
towards Rodney; and her movement seemed to testify 
mutely to her respect for him; and her alliance with him。 
“I think William has behaved perfectly rightly; and; after 
all; it is I who am concerned—I and Cassandra。” 

Cassandra; too; gave an indescribably slight movement 
which seemed to draw the three of them into alliance 
together。 Katharine’s tone and glance made Mr。 Hilbery 
once more feel pletely at a loss; and in addition; 
painfully and angrily obsolete; but in spite of an awful 
inner hollowness he was outwardly posed。 

“Cassandra and Rodney have a perfect right to settle 
their own affairs according to their own wishes; but I see 
no reason why they should do so either in my room or in 
my house… 。 I wish to be quite clear on this point; however; 
you are no longer engaged to Rodney。” 

He paused; and his pause seemed to signify that he 
was extremely thankful for his daughter’s deliverance。 

Cassandra turned to Katharine; who drew her breath as 

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if to speak and checked herself; Rodney; too; seemed to 
await some movement on her part; her father glanced at 
her as if he half anticipated some further revelation。 She 
remained perfectly silent。 In the silence they heard distinctly 
steps descending the staircase; and Katharine went 
straight to the door。 

“Wait;” Mr。 Hilbery 

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