CHAPTER V

ever,Katharine,tofeelwhatIcan’texpress?AndthethingsIcangivethere’snouseinmygiving.Trustme,Katharine,”headdedhastily,“Iwon’tspeakofitagain.Butinthepresenceofbeauty—lookattheiridescenceroundthemoon!—onefeels—onefeels—Perhapsifyoumarriedme—I’mhalfapoet,yousee,andIcan’tpretendnottofeelwhatIdofeel.IfIcouldwrite—ah,thatwouldbeanothermatter.Ishouldn’tbotheryoutomarrymethen,Katharine.” Hespokethesedisconnectedsentencesratherabruptly,withhiseyesalternatelyuponthemoonanduponthestream. “ButformeIsupposeyouwouldrecommendmarriage?”saidKatharine,withhereyesfixedonthemoon. “CertainlyIshould.Notforyouonly,butforallwomen.Why,you’renothingatallwithoutityou’reonlyhalfaliveusingonlyhalfyourfacultiesyoumustfeelthatforyourself.Thatiswhy—”Herehestoppedhimself,andtheybegantowalkslowlyalongtheEmbankment,themoonfrontingthem. “Withhowsadstepssheclimbsthesky, Howsilentlyandwithhowwanaface,” Rodneyquoted. “I’vebeentoldagreatmanyunpleasantthingsaboutmyselfto-night,”Katharinestated,withoutattendingtohim.“Mr.Denhamseemstothinkithismissiontolectureme,thoughIhardlyknowhim.Bytheway,William,youknowhimtellme,whatishelike?” Williamdrewadeepsigh. “Wemaylectureyoutillwe’reblueintheface—” “Yes—butwhat’shelike?” “Andwewritesonnetstoyoureyebrows,youcruelpracticalcreature.Denham?”headded,asKatharineremainedsilent.“Agoodfellow,Ishouldthink.Hecares,naturally,fortherightsortofthings,Iexpect.Butyoumustn’tmarryhim,though.Hescoldedyou,didhe—whatdidhesay?” “WhathappenswithMr.Denhamisthis:Hecomestotea.IdoallIcantoputhimathisease.Hemerelysitsandscowlsatme.ThenIshowhimourmanuscripts.Atthishebecomesreallyangry,andtellsmeI’venobusinesstocallmyselfamiddle-classwoman.Sowepartinahuffandnexttimewemeet,whichwasto-night,hewalksstraightuptome,andsays,‘GototheDevil!’That’sthesortofbehaviormymothercomplainsof.Iwanttoknow,whatdoesitmean?” Shepausedand,slackeninghersteps,lookedatthelightedtraindrawingitselfsmoothlyoverHungerfordBridge. “Itmeans,Ishouldsay,thathefindsyouchillyandunsympathetic.” Katharinelaughedwithround,separatenotesofgenuineamusement. “It’stimeIjumpedintoacabandhidmyselfinmyownhouse,”sheexclaimed. “Wouldyourmotherobjecttomybeingseenwithyou?Noonecouldpossiblyrecognizeus,couldthey?”Rodneyinquired,withsomesolicitude. Katharinelookedathim,andperceivingthathissolicitudewasgenuine,shelaughedagain,butwithanironicalnoteinherlaughter. “Youmaylaugh,Katharine,butIcantellyouthatifanyofyourfriendssawustogetheratthistimeofnighttheywouldtalkaboutit,andIshouldfindthatverydisagreeable.Butwhydoyoulaugh?” “Idon’tknow.Becauseyou’resuchaqueermixture,Ithink.You’rehalfpoetandhalfoldmaid.” “IknowIalwaysseemtoyouhighlyridiculous.ButIcan’thelphavinginheritedcertaintraditionsandtryingtoputthemintopractice.” “Nonsense,William.YoumaycomeoftheoldestfamilyinDevonshire,butthat’snoreasonwhyyoushouldmindbeingseenalonewithmeontheEmbankment.” “I’mtenyearsolderthanyouare,Katharine,andIknowmoreoftheworldthanyoudo.” “Verywell.Leavemeandgohome.” Rodneylookedbackoverhisshoulderandperceivedthattheywerebeingfollowedatashortdistancebyataxicab,whichevidentlyawaitedhissummons.Katharinesawit,too,andexclaimed: “Don’tcallthatcabforme,William.Ishallwalk.” “Nonsense,Katharineyou’lldonothingofthekind.It’snearlytwelveo’clock,andwe’vewalkedtoofarasitis.” KatharinelaughedandwalkedonsoquicklythatbothRodneyandthetaxicabhadtoincreasetheirpacetokeepupwithher. “Now,William,”shesaid,“ifpeopleseemeracingalongtheEmbankmentlikethistheywilltalk.Youhadfarbettersaygood-night,ifyoudon’twantpeopletotalk.” AtthisWilliambeckoned,withadespoticgesture,tothecabwithonehand,andwiththeotherhebroughtKatharinetoastandstill. “Don’tletthemanseeusstruggling,forGod’ssake!”hemurmured.Katharinestoodforamomentquitestill. “There’smoreoftheoldmaidinyouthanthepoet,”sheobservedbriefly. Williamshutt