按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bow window in which Ralph stood； but she looked away
again instantly without giving any sign that she had seen
him。 This sudden apparition had an extraordinary effect
upon him。 It was as if he had thought of her so intensely
that his mind had formed the shape of her； rather than
that he had seen her in the flesh outside in the street。
And yet he had not been thinking of her at all。 The impression
was so intense that he could not dismiss it； nor
even think whether he had seen her or merely imagined
her。 He sat down at once； and said； briefly and strangely；
rather to himself than to Mary：
“That was Katharine Hilbery。”
“Katharine Hilbery？ What do you mean？” she asked；
hardly understanding from his manner whether he had
seen her or not。
“Katharine Hilbery；” he repeated。 “But she’s gone now。”
“Katharine Hilbery！” Mary thought； in an instant of
blinding revelation； “I’ve always known it was Katharine
Hilbery！” She knew it all now。
198
Virginia Woolf
After a moment of downcast stupor； she raised her eyes；
looked steadily at Ralph； and caught his fixed and dreamy
gaze leveled at a point far beyond their surroundings； a
point that she had never reached in all the time that she
had known him。 She noticed the lips just parted； the
fingers loosely clenched； the whole attitude of rapt contemplation；
which fell like a veil between them。 She noticed
everything about him； if there had been other signs
of his utter alienation she would have sought them out；
too； for she felt that it was only by heaping one truth
upon another that she could keep herself sitting there；
upright。 The truth seemed to support her； it struck her；
even as she looked at his face； that the light of truth was
shining far away beyond him； the light of truth； she
seemed to frame the words as she rose to go； shines on a
world not to be shaken by our personal calamities。
Ralph handed her her coat and her stick。 She took them；
fastened the coat securely； grasped the stick firmly。 The
ivy spray was still twisted about the handle； this one
sacrifice； she thought； she might make to sentimentality
and personality； and she picked two leaves from the ivy
and put them in her pocket before she disencumbered
her stick of the rest of it。 She grasped the stick in the
middle； and settled her fur cap closely upon her head； as
if she must be in trim for a long and stormy walk。 Next；
standing in the middle of the road； she took a slip of
paper from her purse； and read out loud a list of missions
entrusted to her—fruit； butter； string； and so on；
and all the time she never spoke directly to Ralph or
looked at him。
Ralph heard her giving orders to attentive； rosychecked
men in white aprons； and in spite of his own preoccupation；
he mented upon the determination with which
she made her wishes known。 Once more he began； automatically；
to take stock of her characteristics。 Standing
thus； superficially observant and stirring the sawdust on
the floor meditatively with the toe of his boot； he was
roused by a musical and familiar voice behind him； acpanied
by a light touch upon his shoulder。
“I’m not mistaken？ Surely Mr。 Denham？ I caught a
glimpse of your coat through the window； and I felt sure
that I knew your coat。 Have you seen Katharine or Will
199
Night and Day
iam？ I’m wandering about Lincoln looking for the ruins。”
It was Mrs。 Hilbery； her entrance created some stir in
the shop； many people looked at her。
“First of all； tell me where I am；” she demanded； but；
catching sight of the attentive shopman； she appealed
to him。 “The ruins—my party is waiting for me at the
ruins。 The Roman ruins—or Greek； Mr。 Denham？ Your town
has a great many beautiful things in it； but I wish it
hadn’t so many ruins。 I never saw such delightful little
pots of honey in my life—are they made by your own
bees？ Please give me one of those little pots； and tell me
how I shall find my way to the ruins。”
“And now；” she continued； having received the information
and the pot of honey； having been introduced to
Mary； and having insisted that they should acpany
her back to the ruins； since in a town with so many turnings；
such prospects； such delightful little halfnaked boys
dabbling in pools； such Veian canals； such old blue
china in the curiosity shops； it was impossible for one
person all alone to find her way to the ruins。 “Now；” she
exclaimed； “please tell me what you’re doing here； Mr。
Denham—for you ARE Mr。 Denham； aren’t you？” she inquired；
gazing at him with a sudden suspicion of her own
accuracy。 “The brilliant young man who writes for the
Review； I mean？ Only yesterday my husband was telling
me he thought you one of the cleverest young men he
knew。 Certainly； you’ve been the messenger of Providence
to me； for unless I’d seen you I’m sure I should never
have found the ruins at all。”
They had reached the Roman arch when Mrs。 Hilbery
caught sight of her own party； standing like sentinels
facing up and down the road so as to intercept her if； as
they expected； she had got lodged in some shop。
“I’ve found something much better than ruins！” she
exclaimed。 “I’ve found two friends who told me how to
find you； which I could never have done without them。
They must e and have tea with us。 What a pity that
we’ve just had luncheon。” Could they not somehow revoke
that meal？
Katharine； who had gone a few steps by herself down
the road； and was investigating the window of an
ironmonger； as if her mother might have got herself con
200
Virginia Woolf
cealed among mowingmachines and gardenshears；
turned sharply on hearing her voice； and came towards
them。 She was a great deal surprised to see Denham and
Mary Datchet。 Whether the cordiality with which she
greeted them was merely that which is natural to a surprise
meeting in the country； or whether she was really
glad to see them both； at any rate she exclaimed with
unusual pleasure as she shook hands：
“I never knew you lived here。 Why didn�