[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版-第48部分

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she　would　be　an　acquisition。　Those　elderly　ladies；　
who　sit　on　the　edge　of　ballrooms　sampling　the　stuff　
of　humanity　between　finger　and　thumb　and　breathing　so　
evenly　that　the　necklaces；　which　rise　and　fall　upon　their　
breasts；　seem　to　represent　some　elemental　force；　such　as　
the　waves　upon　the　ocean　of　humanity；　concluded；　a　little　
smilingly；　that　she　would　do。　They　meant　that　she　would　
in　all　probability　marry　some　young　man　whose　mother　
they　respected。　

William　Rodney　was　fertile　in　suggestions。　He　knew　of　
little　galleries；　and　select　concerts；　and　private　performances；　
and　somehow　made　time　to　meet　Katharine　and　

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Night　and　Day　

Cassandra；　and　to　give　them　tea　or　dinner　or　supper　in　
his　rooms　afterwards。　Each　one　of　her　fourteen　days　thus　
promised　to　bear　some　bright　illumination　in　its　sober　
text。　But　Sunday　approached。　The　day　is　usually　dedicated　
to　Nature。　The　weather　was　almost　kindly　enough　
for　an　expedition。　But　Cassandra　rejected　Hampton　Court；　
Greenwich；　Richmond；　and　Kew　in　favor　of　the　Zoological　
Gardens。　She　had　once　trifled　with　the　psychology　of　
animals；　and　still　knew　something　about　inherited　characteristics。　
On　Sunday　afternoon；　therefore；　Katharine；　
Cassandra；　and　William　Rodney　drove　off　to　the　Zoo。　As　
their　cab　approached　the　entrance；　Katharine　bent　forward　
and　waved　her　hand　to　a　young　man　who　was　walking　
rapidly　in　the　same　direction。　

“There’s　Ralph　Denham！”　she　exclaimed。　“I　told　him　to　
meet　us　here；”　she　added。　She　had　even　e　provided　
with　a　ticket　for　him。　William’s　objection　that　he　would　
not　be　admitted　was；　therefore；　silenced　directly。　But　the　
way　in　which　the　two　men　greeted　each　other　was　significant　
of　what　was　going　to　happen。　As　soon　as　they　
had　admired　the　little　birds　in　the　large　cage　William　and　

Cassandra　lagged　behind；　and　Ralph　and　Katharine　pressed　
on　rather　in　advance。　It　was　an　arrangement　in　which　
William　took　his　part；　and　one　that　suited　his　convenience；　
but　he　was　annoyed　all　the　same。　He　thought　
that　Katharine　should　have　told　him　that　she　had　invited　
Denham　to　meet　them。　

“One　of　Katharine’s　friends；”　he　said　rather　sharply。　It　
was　clear　that　he　was　irritated；　and　Cassandra　felt　for　his　
annoyance。　They　were　standing　by　the　pen　of　some　Oriental　
hog；　and　she　was　prodding　the　brute　gently　with　
the　point　of　her　umbrella；　when　a　thousand　little　observations　
seemed；　in　some　way；　to　collect　in　one　center。　
The　center　was　one　of　intense　and　curious　emotion。　Were　
they　happy？　She　dismissed　the　question　as　she　asked　it；　
scorning　herself　for　applying　such　simple　measures　to　
the　rare　and　splendid　emotions　of　so　unique　a　couple。　
Nevertheless；　her　manner　became　immediately　different；　
as　if；　for　the　first　time；　she　felt　consciously　womanly；　and　
as　if　William　might　conceivably　wish　later　on　to　confide　
in　her。　She　forgot　all　about　the　psychology　of　animals；　
and　the　recurrence　of　blue　eyes　and　brown；　and　became　

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instantly　engrossed　in　her　feelings　as　a　woman　who　could　
administer　consolation；　and　she　hoped　that　Katharine　
would　keep　ahead　with　Mr。　Denham；　as　a　child　who　plays　
at　being　grownup　hopes　that　her　mother　won’t　e　in　
just　yet；　and　spoil　the　game。　Or　was　it　not　rather　that　she　
had　ceased　to　play　at　being　grownup；　and　was　conscious；　
suddenly；　that　she　was　alarmingly　mature　and　in　earnest？　

There　was　still　unbroken　silence　between　Katharine　and　
Ralph　Denham；　but　the　occupants　of　the　different　cages　
served　instead　of　speech。　

“What　have　you　been　doing　since　we　met？”　Ralph　asked　
at　length。　

“Doing？”　she　pondered。　“Walking　in　and　out　of　other　
people’s　houses。　I　wonder　if　these　animals　are　happy？”　
she　speculated；　stopping　before　a　gray　bear；　who　was　
philosophically　playing　with　a　tassel　which　once；　perhaps；　
formed　part　of　a　lady’s　parasol。　

“I’m　afraid　Rodney　didn’t　like　my　ing；”　Ralph　remarked。　


“No。　But　he’ll　soon　get　over　that；”　she　replied。　The　detachment　
expressed　by　her　voice　puzzled　Ralph；　and　he　

would　have　been　glad　if　she　had　explained　her　meaning　
further。　But　he　was　not　going　to　press　her　for　explanations。　
Each　moment　was　to　be；　as　far　as　he　could　make　it；　
plete　in　itself；　owing　nothing　of　its　happiness　to　explanations；　
borrowing　neither　bright　nor　dark　tints　from　
the　future。　

“The　bears　seem　happy；”　he　remarked。　“But　we　must　
buy　them　a　bag　of　something。　There’s　the　place　to　buy　
buns。　Let’s　go　and　get　them。”　They　walked　to　the　counter　
piled　with　little　paper　bags；　and　each　simultaneously　produced　
a　shilling　and　pressed　it　upon　the　young　lady；　who　
did　not　know　whether　to　oblige　the　lady　or　the　gentleman；　
but　decided；　from　conventional　reasons；　that　it　was　
the　part　of　the　gentleman　to　pay。　

“I　wish　to　pay；”　said　Ralph　peremptorily；　refusing　the　
coin　which　Katharine　tendered。　“I　have　a　reason　for　what　
I　do；”　he　added；　seeing　her　smile　at　his　tone　of　decision。　

“I　believe　you　have　a　reason　for　everything；”　she　agreed；　
breaking　the　bun　into　parts　and　tossing　them　down　the　
bears’　throats；　“but　I　can’t　believe　it’s　a　good　one　this　
time。　What　is　your　reason？”　

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Night　and　Day　

He　refused　to　tell　her。　He　could　not　explain　to　her　that　
he　was　offering　up　consciously　all　his　happiness　to　her；　
and　wished；　absurdly　enough；　to　pour　every　possession　
he　had　upon　the　blazing　pyre；　even　his　silver　and　gold。　
He　wished　to　keep　this　distance　between　them—the　distance　
which　separates　the　devotee　from　the　image　in　the　
shrine。　

Circumstances　conspired　to　make　this　easier　than　it　
would　have　been；　had　they　been　seated　in　a　drawing
room；　for　example；　with　a　teatray　between　them。　He　saw　
her　against　a　background　of　pale　grottos　and　sleek　hides；　
camels　slanted　their　heavyridded　eyes　at　her；　giraffes　
fastidiously　observed　her　from　their　melancholy　eminence；　
and　the　pinklined　trunks　of　elephants　cautiously　abstracted　
buns　from　her　outstretched　hands。　Then　there　
were　the　hothouses。　He　saw　her　bending　over　pythons　
coiled　upon　the　sand；　or　considering　the　brown　rock　breaking　
the　stagnant　water　of　the　alligators’　pool；　or　searching　
some　minute　section　of　tropical　forest　for　the　golden　
eye　of　a　lizard　or　the　indrawn　movement　of　the　green　
frogs’　flanks。　In　particular；　he　saw　her　outlined　against　

the　deep　green　waters；　in　which　squadrons　of　silvery　fish　
wheeled　incessantly；　or　ogled　her　for　a　moment；　pressing　
their　distorted　mouths　against　the　glass；　quivering　their　
tails　straight　out　behind　them。　Again；　there　was　the　insect　
house；　where　she　lifted　the　blinds　of　the　little　cages；　
and　marveled　at　the　purple　circles　marked　upon　the　rich　
tussore　wings　of　some　lately　emerged　and　semiconscious　
butterfly；　or　at　caterpillars　immobile　like　the　knobbed　
twigs　of　a　paleskinned　tree；　or　at　slim　green　snakes　stabbing　
the　glass　wall　again　and　again　with　their　flickering　
cleft　tongues。　The　heat　of　the　air；　and　the　bloom　of　heavy　
flowers；　which　swam　in　water　or　rose　stiffly　from　great　
red　jars；　together　with　the　display　of　curious　patterns　
and　fantastic　shapes；　produced　an　atmosphere　in　which　
human　beings　tended　to　look　pale　and　to　fall　silent。　

Opening　the　door　of　a　house　which　rang　with　the　mocking　
and　profoundly　unhappy　laughter　of　monkeys；　they　
discovered　William　and　Cassandra。　William　appeared　to　
be　tempting　some　small　reluctant　animal　to　descend　from　
an　upper　perch　to　partake　of　half　an　apple。　Cassandra　
was　reading　out；　in　her　highpitched　tones；　an　account　

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of　this　creature’s　secluded　disposition　and　nocturnal　habits。　
She　saw　Katharine　and　exclaimed：　

“Here　you　are！　Do　prevent　William　from　torturing　this　
unfortunate　ayeaye。”　

“We　thought　we’d　lost　you；”　said　William。　He　looked　
from　one　to　the　other；　and　seemed　to　take　stock　of　
Denham’s　unfashionable　appearance。　He　seemed　to　wish　
to　find　some　outlet　for　malevolence；　but；　failing　one；　he　
remained　silent。　The　glance；　the　slight　quiver　of　the　upper　
lip；　were　not　lost　upon　Katharine。　

“William　isn’t　kind　to　animals；”　she　remarked。　“He　doesn’t　
know　what　they　like　and　what　they　don’t　like。”　

“I　take　it　you’re　well　versed　in　these　matters；　Denham；”　
said　Rodney；　withdrawing　his　hand　with　the　apple。　

“It’s　mainly　a　question　of　knowing　how　to　stroke　them；”　
Denham　replied。　

“Which　is　the　way　to　the　Reptile　House？”　Cassandra　
asked　him；　not　from　a　genuine　desire　to　visit　the　reptiles；　
but　in　obedience　to　her　newborn　feminine　susceptibility；　
which　urged　her　to　charm　and　conciliate　the　other　
sex。　Denham　began　to　give　her　directions；　and　Katharine　

and　William　moved　on　together。　

“I　hope　you’ve　had　a　pleasant　afternoon；”　William　remarked。　


“I　like　Ralph　Denham；”　she　replied。　

“Ca　se　voit；”　William　returned；　with　superficial　urbanity。　

Many　retorts　were　obvious；　but　wishing；　on　the　whole；　
for　peace；　Katharine　merely　inquired：　

“Are　you　ing　back　to　tea？”　

“Cassandra　and　I　thought　of　having　tea　at　a　little　shop　
in　Portland　Place；”　he　replied。　“I　don’t　know　whether　you　
and　Denham　would　care　to　join　us。”　

“I’ll　ask　him；”　she　replied；　turning　her　head　to　look　for　
him。　But　he　and　Cassandra　were　absorbed　in　the　ayeaye　
once　more。　

William　and　Katharine　watched　them　for　a　moment；　and　
each　looked　curiously　at　the　object　of　the　other’s　preference。　
But　resting　his　eye　upon　Cassandra；　to　whose　elegance　
the　dressmakers　had　now　done　justice；　William　
said　sharply：　

“If　you　e；　I　hope　you　won’t　do　your　best　to　make　
me　ridiculous。”　

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Night　and　Day　

“If　that’s　what　you’re　afraid　of　I　certainly　shan’t　e；”　
Katharine　replied。　

They　were　professedly　looking　into　the　enormous　central　
cage　of　monkeys；　and　being　thoroughly　annoyed　by　
William；　she　pared　him　to　a　wretched　misanthropical　
ape；　huddled　in　a　scrap　of　old　shawl　at　the　end　of　a　pole；　
darting　peevish　glances　of　suspicion　and　distrust　at　his　
panions。　Her　tolerance　was　deserting　her。　The　events　
of　the　past　week　had　worn　it　thin。　She　was　in　one　of　
those　moods；　perhaps　not　unmon　with　either　sex；　
when　the　other　bees　very　clearly　distinguished；　and　
of　contemptible　baseness；　so　that　the　necessity　of　association　
is　degrading；　and　the　tie；　which　at　such　moments　
is　always　extremely　close；　drags　like　a　halter　round　the　
neck。　William’s　exacting　demands　and　his　jealousy　had　
pulled　her　down　into　some　horrible　swamp　of　her　nature　
where　the　primeval　struggle　between　man　and　woman　
still　rages。　

“You　seem　to　delight　in　hurting　me；”　William　persisted。　
“Why　did　you　say　that　just　now　about　my　behavior　to　
animals？”　As　he　spoke　he　rattled　his　stick　against　the　

bars　of　the　cage；　which　gave　his　words　an　acpaniment　
peculiarly　exasperating　to　Katharine’s　nerves。　

“Because　it’s　true。　You　never　see　what　any　one　feels；”　
she　said。　“You　think　of　no　one　but　yourself。”　

“That　is　not　true；”　said　William。　By　his　determined　rattling　
he　had　now　collected　the　animated　attention　of　
some　halfdozen　apes。　Either　to　propitiate　them；　or　to　
show　his　consideration　for　their　feelings；　he　proceeded　
to　offer　them　the　apple　which　he　held。　

The　sight；　unfortunately；　was　so　ically　apt　in　its　
illustration　of　the　picture　in　her　mind；　the　ruse　was　so　
transparent；　that　Katharine　was　seized　with　laughter。　She　
laughed　uncontrollably。　William　flushed　red。　No　display　
of　anger　could　have　hurt　his　feelings　more　profoundly。　It　
was　not　only　that　she　was　laughing　at　him；　the　detachment　
of　the　sound　was　horrible。　

“I　don’t　know　what　you’re　laughing　at；”　he　muttered；　
and；　turning；　found　that　the　other　couple　had　rejoined　
them。　As　if　the　matter　had　been　privately　agreed　upon；　
the　couples　separated　once　more；　Katharine　and　Denham　
passing　out　of　the　house　without　more　than　a　perfunc


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Virginia　Woolf　

tory　glance　round　them。　Denham　obeyed　what　seemed　to　
be　Katharine’s　wish　in　thus　making　haste。　Some　change　
had　e　over　her。　He　connected　it　with　her　laughter；　
and　her　few　words　in　private　with　Rodney；　he　felt　that　
she　had　bee　unfriendly　to　him。　She　talked；　but　her　
remarks　were　indifferent；　and　when　he　spoke　her　attention　
seemed　to　wander。　This　change　of　mood　was　at　first　
extremely　disagreeable　to　him；　but　soon　he　found　it　salutary。　
The　pale　drizzling　atmosphere　of　the　day　affected　
him；　also。　The　charm；　the　insidious　magic　in　which　he　
had　luxuriated；　were　suddenly　gone；　his　feeling　had　bee　
one　of　friendly　respect；　and　to　his　great　pleasure　
he　found　himself　thinking　spontaneously　of　the　relief　of　
finding　himself　alone　in　his　room　that　night。　In　his　surprise　
at　the　suddenness　of　the　change；　and　at　the　extent　
of　his　freedom；　he　bethought　him　of　a　daring　plan；　by　
which　the　ghost　of　Katharine　could　be　more　effectually　
exorcised　than　by　mere　abstinence。　He　would　ask　her　to　
e　home　with　him　to　tea。　He　would　force　her　through　
the　mill　of　family　life；　he　would　place　her　in　a　light　unsparing　
and　revealing。　His　family　would　find　nothing　to　

admire　in　her；　and　she；　he　felt　certain；　would　despise　
them　all；　and　this；　too；　would　help　him。　He　felt　himself　
being　more　and　more　merciless　towards　her。　By　such　
courageous　measures　any　one；　he　thought；　could　end　the　
absurd　passions　which　were　the　cause　of　so　much　pain　
and　waste。　He　could　foresee　a　time　when　his　experiences；　
his　discovery；　and　his　triumph　were　made　available　for　
younger　brothers　who　found　themselves　in　the　same　predicament。　
He　looked　at　his　watch；　and　remarked　that　the　
gardens　would　soon　be　closed。　

“Anyhow；”　he　added；　“I　think　we’ve　seen　enough　for　
one　afternoon。　Where　have　the　others　got　to？”　He　looked　
over　his　shoulder；　and；　seeing　no　trace　of　them；　remarked　
at　once：　

“We’d　better　be　independent　of　them。　The　best　plan　
will　be　for　you　to　e　back　to　tea　with　me。”　

“Why　shouldn’t　you　e　with　me？”　she　asked。　

“Because　we’re　next　door　to　Highgate　here；”　he　replied　
promptly。　

She　assented；　having　very　little　notion　whether　Highgate　
was　next　door　to　Regent’s　Park　or　not。　She　was　only　glad　

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Night　and　Day　

to　put　off　her　return　to　the　family　teatable　in　Chelsea　for　
an　hour　or　two。　They　proceeded　with　dogged　determination　
through　the　winding　roads　of　Regent’s　Park；　and　the　
Sundaystricken　streets　of　the　neighborhood；　in　the　direction　
of　the　Tube　station。　Ignorant　of　the　way；　she　resigned　
herself　entirely　to　him；　and　found　his　silence　a　
convenient　cover　beneath　which　to　continue　her　anger　
with　Rodney。　

When　they　stepped　out　of　the　train　into　the　still　grayer　
gloom　of　Highgate；　she　wondered；　for　the　first　time；　where　
he　was　taking　her。　Had　he　a　family；　or　did　he　live　alone　in　
rooms？　On　the　whole　she　was　inclined　to　believe　that　he　
was　the　only　son　of　an　aged；　and　possibly　invalid；　mother。　
She　sketched　lightly；　upon　the　blank　vista　down　which　
they　walked；　the　little　white　house　and　the　tremulous　old　
lady　rising　from　behind　her　teatable　to　greet　her　with　
faltering　words　about　“my　son’s　friends；”　and　was　on　the　
point　of　asking　Ralph　to　tell　her　what　she　might　expect；　
when　he　jerked　op