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of having their hands upon strings which； when pulled；
would pletely change the pageant exhibited daily to
those who read the newspapers。 Although their views were
very different； this sense united them and made them
almost cordial in their manners to each other。
Mary； however； left the teaparty rather early； desiring
both to be alone； and then to hear some music at the
Queen’s Hall。 She fully intended to use her loneliness to
think out her position with regard to Ralph； but although
she walked back to the Strand with this end in view； she
found her mind unfortably full of different trains of
thought。 She started one and then another。 They seemed
even to take their color from the street she happened to
be in。 Thus the vision of humanity appeared to be in
some way connected with Bloomsbury； and faded distinctly
by the time she crossed the main road； then a
belated organgrinder in Holborn set her thoughts dancing
incongruously； and by the time she was crossing the
great misty square of Lincoln’s Inn Fields； she was cold
and depressed again； and horribly clearsighted。 The dark
removed the stimulus of human panionship； and a
tear actually slid down her cheek； acpanying a sudden
conviction within her that she loved Ralph； and that
he didn’t love her。 All dark and empty now was the path
where they had walked that morning； and the sparrows
145
Night and Day
silent in the bare trees。 But the lights in her own building
soon cheered her； all these different states of mind
were submerged in the deep flood of desires； thoughts；
perceptions； antagonisms； which washed perpetually at
the base of her being； to rise into prominence in turn
when the conditions of the upper world were favorable。
She put off the hour of clear thought until Christmas；
saying to herself； as she lit her fire； that it is impossible
to think anything out in London； and； no doubt； Ralph
wouldn’t e at Christmas； and she would take long
walks into the heart of the country； and decide this question
and all the others that puzzled her。 Meanwhile； she
thought； drawing her feet up on to the fender； life was
full of plexity； life was a thing one must love to the
last fiber of it。
She had sat there for five minutes or so； and her thoughts
had had time to grow dim； when there came a ring at her
bell。 Her eye brightened； she felt immediately convinced
that Ralph had e to visit her。 Accordingly； she waited
a moment before opening the door； she wanted to feel
her hands secure upon the reins of all the troublesome
emotions which the sight of Ralph would certainly arouse。
She posed herself unnecessarily； however； for she had
to admit； not Ralph； but Katharine and William Rodney。
Her first impression was that they were both extremely
well dressed。 She felt herself shabby and slovenly beside
them； and did not know how she should entertain them；
nor could she guess why they had e。 She had heard
nothing of their engagement。 But after the first disappointment；
she was pleased； for she felt instantly that
Katharine was a personality； and； moreover； she need not
now exercise her selfcontrol。
“We were passing and saw a light in your window； so we
came up；” Katharine explained； standing and looking very
tall and distinguished and rather absentminded。
“We have been to see some pictures；” said William。 “Oh；
dear；” he exclaimed； looking about him； “this room reminds
me of one of the worst hours in my existence—
when I read a paper； and you all sat round and jeered at
me。 Katharine was the worst。 I could feel her gloating over
every mistake I made。 Miss Datchet was kind。 Miss Datchet
just made it possible for me to get through； I remember。”
146
Virginia Woolf
Sitting down； he drew off his light yellow gloves； and
began slapping his knees with them。 His vitality was pleasant；
Mary thought； although he made her laugh。 The very
look of him was inclined to make her laugh。 His rather
prominent eyes passed from one young woman to the
other； and his lips perpetually formed words which remained
unspoken。
“We have been seeing old masters at the Grafton Gallery；”
said Katharine； apparently paying no attention to
William； and accepting a cigarette which Mary offered
her。 She leant back in her chair； and the smoke which
hung about her face seemed to withdraw her still further
from the others。
“Would you believe it； Miss Datchet；” William continued；
“Katharine doesn’t like Titian。 She doesn’t like apricots；
she doesn’t like peaches； she doesn’t like green peas。
She likes the Elgin marbles； and gray days without any
sun。 She’s a typical example of the cold northern nature。
I e from Devonshire—”
Had they been quarreling； Mary wondered； and had they；
for that reason； sought refuge in her room； or were they
engaged； or had Katharine just refused him？ She was
pletely baffled。
Katharine now reappeared from her veil of smoke；
knocked the ash from her cigarette into the fireplace；
and looked； with an odd expression of solicitude； at the
irritable man。
“Perhaps； Mary；” she said tentatively； “you wouldn’t mind
giving us some tea？ We did try to get some； but the shop
was so crowded； and in the next one there was a band
playing； and most of the pictures； at any rate； were very
dull； whatever you may say； William。” She spoke with a
kind of guarded gentleness。
Mary； accordingly； retired to make preparations in the
pantry。
“What in the world are they after？” she asked of her
own reflection in the little lookingglass which hung there。
She was not left to doubt much longer； for； on ing
back into the sittingroom with the teathings； Katharine
informed her； apparently having been instructed so to do
by William； of their engagement。
“William；” she said； “thinks that perhaps you don’t know。
147
Night and Day
We are going to be married。”
Mary found herself shaking William’s hand； and addressing
her congratulations to him； as if Katharine were inaccessible；
she had； indeed； taken hold of the teakett