CHAPTER VIII
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d,agooddealhurtthatCyrilhadnotconfidedinher—didhethink,asRalphDenhamorMaryDatchetmightthink,thatshewas,forsomereason,unsympathetic—hostileeven?
“Astoyourmother,”saidMr.Hilbery,afterapause,inwhichheseemedtobeconsideringthecoloroftheflames,“youhadbettertellherthefacts.She’dbetterknowthefactsbeforeeveryonebeginstotalkaboutit,thoughwhyAuntCeliathinksitnecessarytocome,I’msureIdon’tknow.Andthelesstalkthereisthebetter.”
Grantingtheassumptionthatgentlemenofsixtywhoarehighlycultivated,andhavehadmuchexperienceoflife,probablythinkofmanythingswhichtheydonotsay,Katharinecouldnothelpfeelingratherpuzzledbyherfather’sattitude,asshewentbacktoherroom.Whatadistancehewasfromitall!Howsuperficiallyhesmoothedtheseeventsintoasemblanceofdecencywhichharmonizedwithhisownviewoflife!HeneverwonderedwhatCyrilhadfelt,nordidthehiddenaspectsofthecasetempthimtoexamineintothem.Hemerelyseemedtorealize,ratherlanguidly,thatCyrilhadbehavedinawaywhichwasfoolish,becauseotherpeopledidnotbehaveinthatway.Heseemedtobelookingthroughatelescopeatlittlefigureshundredsofmilesinthedistance.
HerselfishanxietynottohavetotellMrs.Hilberywhathadhappenedmadeherfollowherfatherintothehallafterbreakfastthenextmorninginordertoquestionhim.
“Haveyoutoldmother?”sheasked.Hermannertoherfatherwasalmoststern,andsheseemedtoholdendlessdepthsofreflectioninthedarkofhereyes.
Mr.Hilberysighed.
“Mydearchild,itwentoutofmyhead.”Hesmoothedhissilkhatenergetically,andatonceaffectedanairofhurry.“I’llsendanoteroundfromtheoffice....I’mlatethismorning,andI’veanyamountofproofstogetthrough.”
“Thatwouldn’tdoatall,”Katharinesaiddecidedly.“Shemustbetold—youorImusttellher.Weoughttohavetoldheratfirst.”
Mr.Hilberyhadnowplacedhishatonhishead,andhishandwasonthedoor-knob.AnexpressionwhichKatharineknewwellfromherchildhood,whenheaskedhertoshieldhiminsomeneglectofduty,cameintohiseyesmalice,humor,andirresponsibilitywereblendedinit.Henoddedhisheadtoandfrosignificantly,openedthedoorwithanadroitmovement,andsteppedoutwithalightnessunexpectedathisage.Hewavedhishandoncetohisdaughter,andwasgone.Leftalone,Katharinecouldnothelplaughingtofindherselfcheatedasusualindomesticbargainingswithherfather,andlefttodothedisagreeableworkwhichbelonged,byrights,tohim.
