[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版-第11部分

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Clacton；　it’s　not　Penningtons。　I　should　ring　them　up　again—　
double　three　double　eight；　Central。　Well；　this　is　a　surprise。　
e　in；”　she　added。　“You’re　just　in　time　for　tea。”　

The　light　of　relief　shone　in　Mary’s　eyes。　The　boredom　of　
the　afternoon　was　dissipated　at　once；　and　she　was　glad　
that　Katharine　had　found　them　in　a　momentary　press　of　
activity；　owing　to　the　failure　of　the　printer　to　send　back　
certain　proofs。　

The　unshaded　electric　light　shining　upon　the　table　covered　
with　papers　dazed　Katharine　for　a　moment。　After　
the　confusion　of　her　twilight　walk；　and　her　random　
thoughts；　life　in　this　small　room　appeared　extremely　con


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Night　and　Day　

centrated　and　bright。　She　turned　instinctively　to　look　
out　of　the　window；　which　was　uncurtained；　but　Mary　immediately　
recalled　her。　

“It　was　very　clever　of　you　to　find　your　way；”　she　said；　
and　Katharine　wondered；　as　she　stood　there；　feeling；　for　
the　moment；　entirely　detached　and　unabsorbed；　why　she　
had　e。　She　looked；　indeed；　to　Mary’s　eyes　strangely　
out　of　place　in　the　office。　Her　figure　in　the　long　cloak；　
which　took　deep　folds；　and　her　face；　which　was　posed　
into　a　mask　of　sensitive　apprehension；　disturbed　
Mary　for　a　moment　with　a　sense　of　the　presence　of　some　
one　who　was　of　another　world；　and；　therefore；　subversive　
of　her　world。　She　became　immediately　anxious　that　
Katharine　should　be　impressed　by　the　importance　of　her　
world；　and　hoped　that　neither　Mrs。　Seal　nor　Mr。　Clacton　
would　appear　until　the　impression　of　importance　had　been　
received。　But　in　this　she　was　disappointed。　Mrs。　Seal　burst　
into　the　room　holding　a　kettle　in　her　hand；　which　she　set　
upon　the　stove；　and　then；　with　inefficient　haste；　she　set　
light　to　the　gas；　which　flared　up；　exploded；　and　went　
out。　

“Always　the　way；　always　the　way；”　she　muttered。　“Kit　
Markham　is　the　only　person　who　knows　how　to　deal　with　
the　thing。”　

Mary　had　to　go　to　her　help；　and　together　they　spread　
the　table；　and　apologized　for　the　disparity　between　the　
cups　and　the　plainness　of　the　food。　

“If　we　had　known　Miss　Hilbery　was　ing；　we　should　
have　bought　a　cake；”　said　Mary；　upon　which　Mrs。　Seal　
looked　at　Katharine　for　the　first　time；　suspiciously；　because　
she　was　a　person　who　needed　cake。　

Here　Mr。　Clacton　opened　the　door；　and　came　in；　holding　
a　typewritten　letter　in　his　hand；　which　he　was　reading　
aloud。　

“Salford’s　affiliated；”　he　said。　

“Well　done；　Salford！”　Mrs。　Seal　exclaimed　enthusiastically；　
thumping　the　teapot　which　she　held　upon　the　table；　
in　token　of　applause。　

“Yes；　these　provincial　centers　seem　to　be　ing　into　
line　at　last；”　said　Mr。　Clacton；　and　then　Mary　introduced　
him　to　Miss　Hilbery；　and　he　asked　her；　in　a　very　formal　
manner；　if　she　were　interested　“in　our　work。”　

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“And　the　proofs　still　not　e？”　said　Mrs。　Seal；　putting　
both　her　elbows　on　the　table；　and　propping　her　chin　on　
her　hands；　as　Mary　began　to　pour　out　tea。　“It’s　too　bad—　
too　bad。　At　this　rate　we　shall　miss　the　country　post。　Which　
reminds　me；　Mr。　Clacton；　don’t　you　think　we　should　circularize　
the　provinces　with　Partridge’s　last　speech？　What？　
You’ve　not　read　it？　Oh；　it’s　the　best　thing　they’ve　had　in　
the　House　this　Session。　Even　the　Prime　Minister—”　

But　Mary　cut　her　short。　

“We　don’t　allow　shop　at　tea；　Sally；”　she　said　firmly。　“We　
fine　her　a　penny　each　time　she　forgets；　and　the　fines　go　
to　buying　a　plum　cake；”　she　explained；　seeking　to　draw　
Katharine　into　the　munity。　She　had　given　up　all　hope　
of　impressing　her。　

“I’m　sorry；　I’m　sorry；”　Mrs。　Seal　apologized。　“It’s　my　
misfortune　to　be　an　enthusiast；”　she　said；　turning　to　
Katharine。　“My　father’s　daughter　could　hardly　be　anything　
else。　I　think　I’ve　been　on　as　many　mittees　as　most　
people。　Waifs　and　Strays；　Rescue　Work；　Church　Work；　C。　O。　
S。—local　branch—besides　the　usual　civic　duties　which　
fall　to　one　as　a　householder。　But　I’ve　given　them　all　up　

for　our　work　here；　and　I　don’t　regret　it　for　a　second；”　she　
added。　“This　is　the　root　question；　I　feel；　until　women　
have　votes—”　

“It’ll　be　sixpence；　at　least；　Sally；”　said　Mary；　bringing　
her　fist　down　on　the　table。　“And　we’re　all　sick　to　death　of　
women　and　their　votes。”　

Mrs。　Seal　looked　for　a　moment　as　though　she　could　
hardly　believe　her　ears；　and　made　a　deprecating　“tuttuttut”　
in　her　throat；　looking　alternately　at　Katharine　and　
Mary；　and　shaking　her　head　as　she　did　so。　Then　she　remarked；　
rather　confidentially　to　Katharine；　with　a　little　
nod　in　Mary’s　direction：　

“She’s　doing　more　for　the　cause　than　any　of　us。　She’s　
giving　her　youth　—for；　alas！　when　I　was　young　there　
were　domestic　circumstances—”　she　sighed；　and　stopped　
short。　

Mr。　Clacton　hastily　reverted　to　the　joke　about　luncheon；　
and　explained　how　Mrs。　Seal　fed　on　a　bag　of　biscuits　
under　the　trees；　whatever　the　weather　might　be；　rather；　
Katharine　thought；　as　though　Mrs。　Seal　were　a　pet　dog　
who　had　convenient　tricks。　

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“Yes；　I　took　my　little　bag　into　the　square；”　said　Mrs。　
Seal；　with　the　selfconscious　guilt　of　a　child　owning　some　
fault　to　its　elders。　“It　was　really　very　sustaining；　and　the　
bare　boughs　against　the　sky　do　one　so　much　GOOD。　But　I　
shall　have　to　give　up　going　into　the　square；”　she　proceeded；　
wrinkling　her　forehead。　“The　injustice　of　it！　Why　
should　I　have　a　beautiful　square　all　to　myself；　when　poor　
women　who　need　rest　have　nowhere　at　all　to　sit？”　She　
looked　fiercely　at　Katharine；　giving　her　short　locks　a　little　
shake。　“It’s　dreadful　what　a　tyrant　one　still　is；　in　spite　of　
all　one’s　efforts。　One　tries　to　lead　a　decent　life；　but　one　
can’t。　Of　course；　directly　one　thinks　of　it；　one　sees　that　
all　squares　should　be　open　to　every　one。　Is　there　any　
society　with　that　object；　Mr。　Clacton？　If　not；　there　should　
be；　surely。”　

“A　most　excellent　object；”　said　Mr。　Clacton　in　his　professional　
manner。　“At　the　same　time；　one　must　deplore　
the　ramification　of　organizations；　Mrs。　Seal。　So　much　excellent　
effort　thrown　away；　not　to　speak　of　pounds；　shillings；　
and　pence。　Now　how　many　organizations　of　a　philanthropic　
nature　do　you　suppose　there　are　in　the　City　of　

London　itself；　Miss　Hilbery？”　he　added；　screwing　his　mouth　
into　a　queer　little　smile；　as　if　to　show　that　the　question　
had　its　frivolous　side。　

Katharine　smiled；　too。　Her　unlikeness　to　the　rest　of　
them　had；　by　this　time；　perated　to　Mr。　Clacton；　who　
was　not　naturally　observant；　and　he　was　wondering　who　
she　was；　this　same　unlikeness　had　subtly　stimulated　Mrs。　
Seal　to　try　and　make　a　convert　of　her。　Mary；　too；　looked　
at　her　almost　as　if　she　begged　her　to　make　things　easy。　
For　Katharine　had　shown　no　disposition　to　make　things　
easy。　She　had　scarcely　spoken；　and　her　silence；　though　
grave　and　even　thoughtful；　seemed　to　Mary　the　silence　
of　one　who　criticizes。　

“Well；　there　are　more　in　this　house　than　I’d　any　notion　
of；”　she　said。　“On　the　ground　floor　you　protect　natives；　
on　the　next　you　emigrate　women　and　tell　people　to　eat　
nuts—”　

“Why　do　you　say　that　‘we’　do　these　things？”　Mary　interposed；　
rather　sharply。　“We’re　not　responsible　for　all　the　
cranks　who　choose　to　lodge　in　the　same　house　with　us。”　

Mr。　Clacton　cleared　his　throat　and　looked　at　each　of　the　

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young　ladies　in　turn。　He　was　a　good　deal　struck　by　the　
appearance　and　manner　of　Miss　Hilbery；　which　seemed　to　
him　to　place　her　among　those　cultivated　and　luxurious　people　
of　whom　he　used　to　dream。　Mary；　on　the　other　hand；　was　
more　of　his　own　sort；　and　a　little　too　much　inclined　to　order　
him　about。　He　picked　up　crumbs　of　dry　biscuit　and　put　them　
into　his　mouth　with　incredible　rapidity。　

“You　don’t　belong　to　our　society；　then？”　said　Mrs。　Seal。　

“No；　I’m　afraid　I　don’t；”　said　Katharine；　with　such　ready　
candor　that　Mrs。　Seal　was　nonplussed；　and　stared　at　her　
with　a　puzzled　expression；　as　if　she　could　not　classify　her　
among　the　varieties　of　human　beings　known　to　her。　

“But　surely　“　she　began。　

“Mrs。　Seal　is　an　enthusiast　in　these　matters；”　said　Mr。　
Clacton；　almost　apologetically。　“We　have　to　remind　her　
sometimes　that　others　have　a　right　to　their　views　even　if　
they　differ　from　our　own…　。　“Punch”　has　a　very　funny　
picture　this　week；　about　a　Suffragist　and　an　agricultural　
laborer。　Have　you　seen　this　week’s　“Punch；”　Miss　Datchet？”　

Mary　laughed；　and　said　“No。”　

Mr。　Clacton　then　told　them　the　substance　of　the　joke；　

which；　however；　depended　a　good　deal　for　its　success　
upon　the　expression　which　the　artist　had　put　into　the　
people’s　faces。　Mrs。　Seal　sat　all　the　time　perfectly　grave。　
Directly　he　had　done　speaking　she　burst　out：　

“But　surely；　if　you　care　about　the　welfare　of　your　sex　at　
all；　you　must　wish　them　to　have　the　vote？”　

“I　never　said　I　didn’t　wish　them　to　have　the　vote；”　
Katharine　protested。　

“Then　why　aren’t　you　a　member　of　our　society？”　Mrs。　
Seal　demanded。　

Katharine　stirred　her　spoon　round　and　round；　stared　
into　the　swirl　of　the　tea；　and　remained　silent。　Mr。　Clacton；　
meanwhile；　framed　a　question　which；　after　a　moment’s　
hesitation；　he　put　to　Katharine。　

“Are　you　in　any　way　related；　I　wonder；　to　the　poet　
Alardyce？　His　daughter；　I　believe；　married　a　Mr。　Hilbery。”　

“Yes；　I’m　the　poet’s　granddaughter；”　said　Katharine；　with　
a　little　sigh；　after　a　pause；　and　for　a　moment　they　were　
all　silent。　

“The　poet’s　granddaughter！”　Mrs。　Seal　repeated；　half　to　
herself；　with　a　shake　of　her　head；　as　if　that　explained　

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Night　and　Day　

what　was　otherwise　inexplicable。　

The　light　kindled　in　Mr。　Clacton’s　eye。　

“Ah；　indeed。　That　interests　me　very　much；”　he　said。　“I　
owe　a　great　debt　to　your　grandfather；　Miss　Hilbery。　At　
one　time　I　could　have　repeated　the　greater　part　of　him　
by　heart。　But　one　gets　out　of　the　way　of　reading　poetry；　
unfortunately。　You　don’t　remember　him；　I　suppose？”　

A　sharp　rap　at　the　door　made　Katharine’s　answer　inaudible。　
Mrs。　Seal　looked　up　with　renewed　hope　in　her　eyes；　
and　exclaiming：　

“The　proofs　at　last！”　ran　to　open　the　door。　“Oh；　it’s　only　
Mr。　Denham！”　she　cried；　without　any　attempt　to　conceal　
her　disappointment。　Ralph；　Katharine　supposed；　was　a　
frequent　visitor；　for　the　only　person　he　thought　it　necessary　
to　greet　was　herself；　and　Mary　at　once　explained　the　
strange　fact　of　her　being　there　by　saying：　

“Katharine　has　e　to　see　how　one　runs　an　office。”　

Ralph　felt　himself　stiffen　unfortably；　as　he　said：　

“I　hope　Mary　hasn’t　persuaded　you　that　she　knows　how　
to　run　an　office？”　

“What；　doesn’t　she？”　said　Katharine；　looking　from　one　

to　the　other。　

At　these　remarks　Mrs。　Seal　began　to　exhibit　signs　of　
disposure；　which　displayed　themselves　by　a　tossing　
movement　of　her　head；　and；　as　Ralph　took　a　letter　from　
his　pocket；　and　placed　his　finger　upon　a　certain　sentence；　
she　forestalled　him　by　exclaiming　in　confusion：　

“Now；　I　know　what　you’re　going　to　say；　Mr。　Denham！　
But　it　was　the　day　Kit　Markham　was　here；　and　she　upsets　
one　so—with　her　wonderful　vitality；　always　thinking　of　
something　new　that　we　ought　to　be　doing　and　aren’t—　
and　I　was　conscious　at　the　time　that　my　dates　were　mixed。　
It　had　nothing　to　do　with　Mary　at　all；　I　assure　you。”　

“My　dear　Sally；　don’t　apologize；”　said　Mary；　laughing。　
“Men　are　such　pedants—they　don’t　know　what　things　
matter；　and　what　things　don’t。”　

“Now；　Denham；　speak　up　for　our　sex；”　said　Mr。　Clacton　
in　a　jocular　manner；　indeed；　but　like　most　insignificant　
men　he　was　very　quick　to　resent　being　found　fault　with　
by　a　woman；　in　argument　with　whom　he　was　fond　of　
calling　himself　“a　mere　man。”　He　wished；　however；　to　
enter　into　a　literary　conservation　with　Miss　Hilbery；　and　

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thus　let　the　matter　drop。　

“Doesn’t　it　seem　strange　to　you；　Miss　Hilbery；”　he　said；　
“that　the　French；　with　all　their　wealth　of　illustrious　names；　
have　no　poet　who　can　pare　with　your　grandfather？　
Let　me　see。　There’s　Chenier　and　Hugo　and　Alfred　de　
Musset—wonderful　men；　but；　at　the　same　time；　there’s　a　
richness；　a　freshness　about　Alardyce—”　

Here　the　telephone　bell　rang；　and　he　had　to　absent　
himself　with　a　smile　and　a　bow　which　signified　that；　although　
literature　is　delightful；　it　is　not　work。　Mrs。　Seal　
rose　at　the　same　time；　but　remained　hovering　over　the　
table；　delivering　herself　of　a　tirade　against　party　government。　
“For　if　I　were　to　tell　you　what　I　know　of　backstairs　
intrigue；　and　what　can　be　done　by　the　power　of　the　purse；　
you　wouldn’t　credit　me；　Mr。　Denham；　you　wouldn’t；　indeed。　
Which　is　why　I　feel　that　the　only　work　for　my　father’s　
daughter—for　he　was　one　of　the　pioneers；　Mr。　Denham；　
and　on　his　tombstone　I　had　that　verse　from　the　Psalms　
put；　about　the　sowers　and　the　seed…　。　And　what　wouldn’t　
I　give　that　he　should　be　alive　now；　seeing　what　we’re　
going　to　see—”　but　reflecting　that　the　glories　of　the　

future　depended　in　part　upon　the　activity　of　her　typewriter；　
she　bobbed　her　head；　and　hurried　back　to　the　
seclusion　of　her　little　room；　from　which　immediately　issued　
sounds　of　enthusiastic；　but　obviously　erratic；　position。　


Mary　made　it　clear　at　once；　by　starting　a　fresh　topic　of　
general　interest；　that　though　she　saw　the　humor　of　her　
colleague；　she　did　not　intend　to　have　her　laughed　at。　

“The　standard　of　morality　seems　to　me　frightfully　low；”　
she　observed　reflectively；　pouring　out　a　second　cup　of　
tea；　“especially　among　women　who　aren’t　well　educated。　
They　don’t　see　that　small　things　matter；　and　that’s　where　
the　leakage　begins；　and　then　we　find　ourselves　in　difficulties—
I　very　nearly　lost　my　temper　yesterday；”　she　went　
on；　looking　at　Ralph　with　a　little　smile；　as　though　he　
knew　what　happened　when　she　lost　her　temper。　“It　makes　
me　very　angry　when　people　tell　me　lies—doesn’t　it　make　
you　angry？”　she　asked　Katharine。　

“But　considering　that　every　one　tells　lies；”　Katharine　
remarked；　looking　about　the　room　to　see　where　she　had　
put　down　her　umbrella　and　her　parcel；　for　there　was　an　

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intimacy　in　the　way　in　which　Mary　and　Ralph　addressed　
each　other　which　made　her　wish　to　leave　them。　Mary；　on　
the　other　hand；　was　anxious；　superficially　at　least；　that　
Katharine　should　stay　and　so　fortify　her　in　her　determination　
not　to　be　in　love　with　Ralph。　

Ralph；　while　lifting　his　cup　from　his　lips　to　the　table；　
had　made　up　his　mind　that　if　Miss　Hilbery　left；　he　would　
go　with　her。　

“I　don’t　think　that　I　tell　lies；　and　I　don’t　think　that　
Ralph　tells　lies；　do　you；　Ralph？”　Mary　continued。　

Katharine　laughed；　with　more　gayety；　as　it　seemed　to　
Mary；　than　she　could　properly　account　for。　What　was　she　
laughing　at？　At　them；　presumably。　Katharine　had　risen；　
and　was　glancing　hither　and　thither；　at　the　presses　and　
the　cupboards；　and　all　the　machinery　of　the　office；　as　if　
she　included　them　all　in　her　rather　malicious　amusement；　
which　caused　Mary　to　keep　her　eyes　on　her　straightly　and　
rather　fiercely；　as　if　she　were　a　gayplumed；　mischievous　
bird；　who　might　light　on　th