CHAPTER XVII

daunts,inpracticingbothviolinandpiano,withtheresultthathecouldnotperformprofessionallyuponeither.Indeed,forthirty-twoyearsoflifehehadnothingmoresubstantialtoshowthanamanuscriptbookcontainingthescoreofhalfanopera.Inthisprotestofhis,Katharinehadalwaysgivenhimhersupport,andasshewasgenerallyheldtobeanextremelysensibleperson,whodressedtoowelltobeeccentric,hehadfoundhersupportofsomeuse.Indeed,whenshecamedownatChristmassheusuallyspentagreatpartofhertimeinprivateconferenceswithHenryandwithCassandra,theyoungestgirl,towhomthesilkwormsbelonged.Withtheyoungersectionshehadagreatreputationforcommonsense,andforsomethingthattheydespisedbutinwardlyrespectedandcalledknowledgeoftheworld—thatistosay,ofthewayinwhichrespectableelderlypeople,goingtotheirclubsanddiningoutwithministers,thinkandbehave.ShehadmorethanonceplayedthepartofambassadorbetweenLadyOtwayandherchildren.Thatpoorlady,forinstance,consultedherforadvicewhen,oneday,sheopenedCassandra’sbedroomdooronamissionofdiscovery,andfoundtheceilinghungwithmulberry-leaves,thewindowsblockedwithcages,andthetablesstackedwithhome-mademachinesforthemanufactureofsilkdresses. “Iwishyoucouldhelphertotakeaninterestinsomethingthatotherpeopleareinterestedin,Katharine,”sheobserved,ratherplaintively,detailinghergrievances.“It’sallHenry’sdoing,youknow,givingupherpartiesandtakingtothesenastyinsects.Itdoesn’tfollowthatifamancandoathingawomanmaytoo.” ThemorningwassufficientlybrighttomakethechairsandsofasinLadyOtway’sprivatesitting-roomappearmorethanusuallyshabby,andthegallantgentlemen,herbrothersandcousins,whohaddefendedtheEmpireandlefttheirbonesonmanyfrontiers,lookedattheworldthroughafilmofyellowwhichthemorninglightseemedtohavedrawnacrosstheirphotographs.LadyOtwaysighed,itmaybeatthefadedrelics,andturned,withresignation,toherballsofwool,which,curiouslyandcharacteristically,werenotanivory-white,butratheratarnishedyellow-white.Shehadcalledhernieceinforalittlechat.Shehadalwaystrustedher,andnowmorethanever,sinceherengagementtoRodney,whichseemedtoLadyOtwayextremelysuitable,andjustwhatonewouldwishforone’sowndaughter.Katharineunwittinglyincreasedherreputationforwisdombyaskingtobegivenknitting-needlestoo. “It’ssoverypleasant,”saidLadyOtway,“toknitwhileone’stalking.Andnow,mydearKatharine,tellmeaboutyourplans.” Theemotionsofthenightbefore,whichshehadsuppressedinsuchawayastokeepherawaketilldawn,hadleftKatharinealittlejaded,andthusmorematter-of-factthanusual.Shewasquitereadytodiscussherplans—housesandrents,servantsandeconomy—withoutfeelingthattheyconcernedherverymuch.Asshespoke,knittingmethodicallymeanwhile,LadyOtwaynoted,withapproval,theupright,responsiblebearingofherniece,towhomtheprospectofmarriagehadbroughtsomegravitymostbecominginabride,andyet,inthesedays,mostrare.Yes,Katharine’sengagementhadchangedheralittle. “Whataperfectdaughter,ordaughter-in-law!”shethoughttoherself,andcouldnothelpcontrastingherwithCassandra,surroundedbyinnumerablesilkwormsinherbedroom. “Yes,”shecontinued,glancingatKatharine,withtheround,greenisheyeswhichwereasinexpressiveasmoistmarbles,“Katharineislikethegirlsofmyyouth.Wetooktheseriousthingsoflifeseriously.”Butjustasshewasderivingsatisfactionfromthisthought,andwasproducingsomeofthehoardedwisdomwhichnoneofherowndaughters,alas!seemednowtoneed,thedooropened,andMrs.Hilberycamein,orrather,didnotcomein,butstoodinthedoorwayandsmiled,havingevidentlymistakentheroom. “Inevershallknowmywayaboutthishouse!”sheexclaimed.“I’monmywaytothelibrary,andIdon’twanttointerrupt.YouandKatharinewerehavingalittlechat?” Thepresenceofhersister-in-lawmadeLadyOtwayslightlyuneasy.HowcouldshegoonwithwhatshewassayinginMaggie’spresence?forshewassayingsomethingthatshehadneversaid,alltheseyears,toMaggieherself. “IwastellingKatharineafewlittlecommonplacesaboutmarriage,”shesaid,withalittlelaugh.“Arenoneofmychildrenlookingaftery