CHAPTER XII

aininterposed,ratherresentingthewasteoftimeinvolvedintalkingaboutfictitiouspeoplewhenyoumightbetalkingaboutrealpeople.“Butyouwouldn’trememberhim,Katharine.” “Mr.Lavington?Oh,yes,Ido,”saidKatharine,wakingfromotherthoughtswithherlittlestart.“ThesummerwehadahousenearTenby.Irememberthefieldandthepondwiththetadpoles,andmakinghaystackswithMr.Lavington.” “Sheisright.Therewasapondwithtadpoles,”Mrs.Coshamcorroborated.“Millaismadestudiesofitfor‘Ophelia.’Somesaythatisthebestpictureheeverpainted—” “AndIrememberthedogchainedupintheyard,andthedeadsnakeshanginginthetoolhouse.” “ItwasatTenbythatyouwerechasedbythebull,”Mrs.Milvaincontinued.“Butthatyoucouldn’tremember,thoughit’strueyouwereawonderfulchild.Sucheyesshehad,Mr.Denham!Iusedtosaytoherfather,‘She’swatchingus,andsummingusallupinherlittlemind.’Andtheyhadanurseinthosedays,”shewenton,tellingherstorywithcharmingsolemnitytoRalph,“whowasagoodwoman,butengagedtoasailor.Whensheoughttohavebeenattendingtothebaby,hereyeswereonthesea.AndMrs.Hilberyallowedthisgirl—Susanhernamewas—tohavehimtostayinthevillage.Theyabusedhergoodness,I’msorrytosay,andwhiletheywalkedinthelanes,theystoodtheperambulatoraloneinafieldwheretherewasabull.Theanimalbecameenragedbytheredblanketintheperambulator,andHeavenknowswhatmighthavehappenedifagentlemanhadnotbeenwalkingbyinthenickoftime,andrescuedKatharineinhisarms!” “Ithinkthebullwasonlyacow,AuntCelia,”saidKatharine. “Mydarling,itwasagreatredDevonshirebull,andnotlongafteritgoredamantodeathandhadtobedestroyed.AndyourmotherforgaveSusan—athingIcouldneverhavedone.” “Maggie’ssympathieswereentirelywithSusanandthesailor,Iamsure,”saidMrs.Cosham,rathertartly.“Mysister-in-law,”shecontinued,“haslaidherburdensuponProvidenceateverycrisisinherlife,andProvidence,Imustconfess,hasrespondednobly,sofar—” “Yes,”saidKatharine,withalaugh,forshelikedtherashnesswhichirritatedtherestofthefamily.“Mymother’sbullsalwaysturnintocowsatthecriticalmoment.” “Well,”saidMrs.Milvain,“I’mgladyouhavesomeonetoprotectyoufrombullsnow.” “Ican’timagineWilliamprotectinganyonefrombulls,”saidKatharine. IthappenedthatMrs.CoshamhadoncemoreproducedherpocketvolumeofShakespeare,andwasconsultingRalphuponanobscurepassagein“MeasureforMeasure.”HedidnotatonceseizethemeaningofwhatKatharineandherauntweresayingWilliam,hesupposed,referredtosomesmallcousin,forhenowsawKatharineasachildinapinaforebut,nevertheless,hewassomuchdistractedthathiseyecouldhardlyfollowthewordsonthepaper.Amomentlaterheheardthemspeakdistinctlyofanengagementring. “Ilikerubies,”heheardKatharinesay. “Tobeimprison’dintheviewlesswinds, Andblownwithrestlessviolenceroundabout Thependantworld....” Mrs.Coshamintonedatthesameinstant“Rodney”fitteditselfto“William”inRalph’smind.HefeltconvincedthatKatharinewasengagedtoRodney.Hisfirstsensationwasoneofviolentragewithherforhavingdeceivedhimthroughoutthevisit,fedhimwithpleasantoldwives’tales,lethimseeherasachildplayinginameadow,sharedheryouthwithhim,whileallthetimeshewasastrangerentirely,andengagedtomarryRodney. Butwasitpossible?Surelyitwasnotpossible.Forinhiseyesshewasstillachild.HepausedsolongoverthebookthatMrs.Coshamhadtimetolookoverhisshoulderandaskherniece: “Andhaveyousettleduponahouseyet,Katharine?” Thisconvincedhimofthetruthofthemonstrousidea.Helookedupatonceandsaid: “Yes,it’sadifficultpassage.” Hisvoicehadchangedsomuch,hespokewithsuchcurtnessandevenwithsuchcontempt,thatMrs.Coshamlookedathimfairlypuzzled.Happilyshebelongedtoagenerationwhichexpecteduncouthnessinitsmen,andshemerelyfeltconvincedthatthisMr.Denhamwasvery,veryclever.ShetookbackherShakespeare,asDenhamseemedtohavenomoretosay,andsecreteditoncemoreaboutherpersonwiththeinfinitelypatheticresignationoftheold. “Katharine’sengagedtoWilliamRodney,”shesaid,bywayoffillinginthepause“averyoldfriendofours.Hehasawonderfulknowledgeofliterature,too—wonderful.”Shenoddedherheadrathervaguely.“Youshouldmeeteachother.” Denham’sonewishwastoleavethehouseassoonashecouldbuttheelderlyladieshadrisen,andwereproposingtovisitMrs.Hilberyinherbedroom,sothatanymoveonhispartwasimpossible.Atthesametime,hewishedtosaysomething,butheknewnotwhat,toKatharinealone.Shetookherauntsupstairs,andreturned,comingtowardshimoncemorewithanairofinnocenceandfriendlinessthatamazedhim. “Myfatherwillbeback,”shesaid.“Won’tyousitdown?”andshelaughed,asifnowtheymightshareaperfectlyfriendlylaughatthetea-party. ButRalphmadenoattempttoseathimself. “Imustcongratulat