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brother； apparently forgot her presence。 She must have
counted upon his support more than she realized； for
this indifference； emphasized； as it was； by the insignificant
monplace of his surroundings； awoke her； not
only to that ugliness； but to her own folly。 She thought
of one scene after another in a few seconds； with that
shudder which is almost a blush。 She had believed him
when he spoke of friendship。 She had believed in a spiritual
light burning steadily and steadfastly behind the
erratic disorder and incoherence of life。 The light was
now gone out； suddenly； as if a sponge had blotted it。
The litter of the table and the tedious but exacting conversation
of Mrs。 Denham remained： they struck； indeed；
upon a mind bereft of all defences； and； keenly conscious
of the degradation which is the result of strife whether
victorious or not； she thought gloomily of her loneliness；
of life’s futility； of the barren prose of reality； of William
Rodney； of her mother； and the unfinished book。
Her answers to Mrs。 Denham were perfunctory to the
verge of rudeness； and to Ralph； who watched her narrowly；
she seemed further away than was patible with
her physical closeness。 He glanced at her； and ground out
further steps in his argument； determined that no folly
should remain when this experience was over。 Next moment；
a silence； sudden and plete； descended upon
them all。 The silence of all these people round the untidy
table was enormous and hideous； something horrible
seemed about to burst from it； but they endured it obstinately。
A second later the door opened and there was a
stir of relief； cries of “Hullo； Joan！ There’s nothing left
for you to eat；” broke up the oppressive concentration of
so many eyes upon the tablecloth； and set the waters of
family life dashing in brisk little waves again。 It was
obvious that Joan had some mysterious and beneficent
power upon her family。 She went up to Katharine as if
she had heard of her； and was very glad to see her at last。
She explained that she had been visiting an uncle who
was ill； and that had kept her。 No； she hadn’t had any
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Night and Day
tea； but a slice of bread would do。 Some one handed up a
hot cake； which had been keeping warm in the fender；
she sat down by her mother’s side； Mrs。 Denham’s anxieties
seemed to relax； and every one began eating and
drinking； as if tea had begun over again。 Hester voluntarily
explained to Katharine that she was reading to pass
some examination； because she wanted more than anything
in the whole world to go to Newnham。
“Now； just let me hear you decline ‘amo’—I love；”
Johnnie demanded。
“No； Johnnie； no Greek at mealtimes；” said Joan； overhearing
him instantly。 “She’s up at all hours of the night
over her books； Miss Hilbery； and I’m sure that’s not the
way to pass examinations；” she went on； smiling at
Katharine； with the worried humorous smile of the elder
sister whose younger brothers and sisters have bee
almost like children of her own。
“Joan； you don’t really think that ‘amo’ is Greek？” Ralph
asked。
“Did I say Greek？ Well； never mind。 No dead languages at teatime。
My dear boy； don’t trouble to make me any toast—”
“Or if you do； surely there’s the toastingfork somewhere？”
said Mrs。 Denham； still cherishing the belief that the breadknife
could be spoilt。 “Do one of you ring and ask for one；”
she said； without any conviction that she would be obeyed。
“But is Ann ing to be with Uncle Joseph？” she continued。
“If so； surely they had better send Amy to us—” and
in the mysterious delight of learning further details of these
arrangements； and suggesting more sensible plans of her
own； which； from the aggrieved way in which she spoke；
she did not seem to expect any one to adopt； Mrs。 Denham
pletely forgot the presence of a welldressed visitor；
who had to be informed about the amenities of Highgate。
As soon as Joan had taken her seat； an argument had
sprung up on either side of Katharine； as to whether the
Salvation Army has any right to play hymns at street corners
on Sunday mornings； thereby making it impossible for
James to have his sleep out； and tampering with the rights
of individual liberty。
“You see； James likes to lie in bed and sleep like a
hog；” said Johnnie； explaining himself to Katharine；
whereupon James fired up and； making her his goal； also
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Virginia Woolf
exclaimed：
“Because Sundays are my one chance in the week of
having my sleep out。 Johnnie messes with stinking chemicals
in the pantry—”
They appealed to her； and she forgot her cake and began
to laugh and talk and argue with sudden animation。
The large family seemed to her so warm and various that
she forgot to censure them for their taste in pottery。 But
the personal question between James and Johnnie merged
into some argument already； apparently； debated； so that
the parts had been distributed among the family； in which
Ralph took the lead； and Katharine found herself opposed
to him and the champion of Johnnie’s cause； who； it
appeared； always lost his head and got excited in argument
with Ralph。
“Yes； yes； that’s what I mean。 She’s got it right；” he
exclaimed； after Katharine had restated his case； and made
it more precise。 The debate was left almost solely to
Katharine and Ralph。 They looked into each other’s eyes
fixedly； like wrestlers trying to see what movement is
ing next； and while Ralph spoke； Katharine bit her
lower lip； and was always ready with her next point as
soon as he had done。 They were very well matched； and
held the opposite views。
But at the most exciting stage of the argument； for no
reason that Katharine could see； all chairs were pushed
back； and one after another the Denham family got up
and went out of the door； as if a bell had summoned
them。 She was not used to the clockwork regulations of a
large family。 She hesitated in what she was saying； and
rose。 Mrs。 Denham and Joan had drawn together and stood
by the fireplace； slightly raisin