CHAPTER XIV

theyhadcome.Shehadheardnothingoftheirengagement.Butafterthefirstdisappointment,shewaspleased,forshefeltinstantlythatKatharinewasapersonality,and,moreover,sheneednotnowexerciseherself-control. “Wewerepassingandsawalightinyourwindow,sowecameup,”Katharineexplained,standingandlookingverytallanddistinguishedandratherabsent-minded. “Wehavebeentoseesomepictures,”saidWilliam.“Oh,dear,”heexclaimed,lookingabouthim,“thisroomremindsmeofoneoftheworsthoursinmyexistence—whenIreadapaper,andyouallsatroundandjeeredatme.Katharinewastheworst.IcouldfeelhergloatingovereverymistakeImade.MissDatchetwaskind.MissDatchetjustmadeitpossibleformetogetthrough,Iremember.” Sittingdown,hedrewoffhislightyellowgloves,andbeganslappinghiskneeswiththem.Hisvitalitywaspleasant,Marythought,althoughhemadeherlaugh.Theverylookofhimwasinclinedtomakeherlaugh.Hisratherprominenteyespassedfromoneyoungwomantotheother,andhislipsperpetuallyformedwordswhichremainedunspoken. “WehavebeenseeingoldmastersattheGraftonGallery,”saidKatharine,apparentlypayingnoattentiontoWilliam,andacceptingacigarettewhichMaryofferedher.Sheleantbackinherchair,andthesmokewhichhungaboutherfaceseemedtowithdrawherstillfurtherfromtheothers. “Wouldyoubelieveit,MissDatchet,”Williamcontinued,“Katharinedoesn’tlikeTitian.Shedoesn’tlikeapricots,shedoesn’tlikepeaches,shedoesn’tlikegreenpeas.ShelikestheElginmarbles,andgraydayswithoutanysun.She’satypicalexampleofthecoldnorthernnature.IcomefromDevonshire—” Hadtheybeenquarreling,Marywondered,andhadthey,forthatreason,soughtrefugeinherroom,orweretheyengaged,orhadKatharinejustrefusedhim?Shewascompletelybaffled. Katharinenowreappearedfromherveilofsmoke,knockedtheashfromhercigaretteintothefireplace,andlooked,withanoddexpressionofsolicitude,attheirritableman. “Perhaps,Mary,”shesaidtentatively,“youwouldn’tmindgivingussometea?Wedidtrytogetsome,buttheshopwassocrowded,andinthenextonetherewasabandplayingandmostofthepictures,atanyrate,wereverydull,whateveryoumaysay,William.”Shespokewithakindofguardedgentleness. Mary,accordingly,retiredtomakepreparationsinthepantry. “Whatintheworldaretheyafter?”sheaskedofherownreflectioninthelittlelooking-glasswhichhungthere.Shewasnotlefttodoubtmuchlonger,for,oncomingbackintothesitting-roomwiththetea-things,Katharineinformedher,apparentlyhavingbeeninstructedsotodobyWilliam,oftheirengagement. “William,”shesaid,“thinksthatperhapsyoudon’tknow.Wearegoingtobemarried.” MaryfoundherselfshakingWilliam’shand,andaddressinghercongratulationstohim,asifKatharinewereinaccessibleshehad,indeed,takenholdofthetea-kettle. “Letmesee,”Katharinesaid,“oneputshotwaterintothecupsfirst,doesn’tone?Youhavesomedodgeofyourown,haven’tyou,William,aboutmakingtea?” Marywashalfinclinedtosuspectthatthiswassaidinordertoconcealnervousness,butifso,theconcealmentwasunusuallyperfect.Talkofmarriagewasdismissed.Katharinemighthavebeenseatedinherowndrawing-room,controllingasituationwhichpresentednosortofdifficultytohertrainedmind.Rathertohersurprise,MaryfoundherselfmakingconversationwithWilliamaboutoldItalianpictures,whileKatharinepouredouttea,cutcake,keptWilliam’splatesupplied,withoutjoiningmorethanwasnecessaryintheconversation.SheseemedtohavetakenpossessionofMary’sroom,andtohandlethecupsasiftheybelongedtoher.ButitwasdonesonaturallythatitbrednoresentmentinMaryonthecontrary,shefoundherselfputtingherhandonKatharine’sknee,affectionately,foraninstant.Wastheresomethingmaternalinthisassumptionofcontrol?AndthinkingofKatharineasonewhowouldsoonbemarried,thesematernalairsfilledMary’smindwithanewtenderness,andevenwithawe.Katharineseemedverymucholderandmoreexperiencedthanshewas. MeanwhileRodneytalked.Ifhisappearancewassuperficiallyagainsthim,ithadtheadvantageofmakinghissolidmeritssomethingofasurprise.Hehadkeptnotebooksheknewagreatdealaboutpictures.Hecouldcomparedifferentexamplesindifferentgalleries,andhisauthoritativeanswerstointelligentquestionsgainednotalittle,Maryfelt,fromthesmarttapswhichhedealt,ashedeliveredthem,uponthelumpsofcoal.Shewasimpressed. “Yourtea,William,”saidKatharinegently. Hepaused,gulpeditdown,obediently,andcontinued. Andth