CHAPTER XXIII

WhenRalphDenhamenteredtheroomandsawKatharineseatedwithherbacktohim,hewasconsciousofachangeinthegradeoftheatmospheresuchasatravelermeetswithsometimesupontheroads,particularlyaftersunset,when,withoutwarning,herunsfromclammychilltoahoardofunspentwarmthinwhichthesweetnessofhayandbeanfieldischerished,asifthesunstillshonealthoughthemoonisup.Hehesitatedheshudderedhewalkedelaboratelytothewindowandlaidasidehiscoat.Hebalancedhisstickmostcarefullyagainstthefoldsofthecurtain.Thusoccupiedwithhisownsensationsandpreparations,hehadlittletimetoobservewhateitheroftheothertwowasfeeling.Suchsymptomsofagitationashemightperceive(andtheyhadlefttheirtokensinbrightnessofeyeandpallorofcheeks)seemedtohimwellbefittingtheactorsinsogreatadramaasthatofKatharineHilbery’sdailylife.Beautyandpassionwerethebreathofherbeing,hethought. Shescarcelynoticedhispresence,oronlyasitforcedhertoadoptamannerofcomposure,whichshewascertainlyfarfromfeeling.William,however,wasevenmoreagitatedthanshewas,andherfirstinstalmentofpromisedhelptooktheformofsomecommonplaceupontheageofthebuildingorthearchitect’sname,whichgavehimanexcusetofumbleinadrawerforcertaindesigns,whichhelaiduponthetablebetweenthethreeofthem. Whichofthethreefollowedthedesignsmostcarefullyitwouldbedifficulttotell,butitiscertainthatnotoneofthethreefoundforthemomentanythingtosay.Yearsoftraininginadrawing-roomcameatlengthtoKatharine’shelp,andshesaidsomethingsuitable,atthesamemomentwithdrawingherhandfromthetablebecausesheperceivedthatittrembled.WilliamagreedeffusivelyDenhamcorroboratedhim,speakinginratherhigh-pitchedtonestheythrustasidetheplans,anddrewnearertothefireplace. “I’dratherliveherethananywhereinthewholeofLondon,”saidDenham. (“AndI’vegotnowheretolive”)Katharinethought,assheagreedaloud. “Youcouldgetroomshere,nodoubt,ifyouwantedto,”Rodneyreplied. “ButI’mjustleavingLondonforgood—I’vetakenthatcottageIwastellingyouabout.”Theannouncementseemedtoconveyverylittletoeitherofhishearers. “Indeed?—that’ssad....Youmustgivemeyouraddress.Butyouwon’tcutyourselfoffaltogether,surely—” “You’llbemoving,too,Isuppose,”Denhamremarked. WilliamshowedsuchvisiblesignsofflounderingthatKatharinecollectedherselfandasked: “Whereisthecottageyou’vetaken?” Inansweringher,Denhamturnedandlookedather.Astheireyesmet,sherealizedforthefirsttimethatshewastalkingtoRalphDenham,andsheremembered,withoutrecallinganydetails,thatshehadbeenspeakingofhimquitelately,andthatshehadreasontothinkillofhim.WhatMaryhadsaidshecouldnotremember,butshefeltthattherewasamassofknowledgeinhermindwhichshehadnothadtimetoexamine—knowledgenowlyingonthefarsideofagulf.Butheragitationflashedthequeerestlightsuponherpast.Shemustgetthroughthematterinhand,andthenthinkitoutinquiet.ShebenthermindtofollowwhatRalphwassaying.HewastellingherthathehadtakenacottageinNorfolk,andshewassayingthatsheknew,ordidnotknow,thatparticularneighborhood.Butafteramoment’sattentionhermindflewtoRodney,andshehadanunusual,indeedunprecedented,sensethattheywereintouchandsharedeachother’sthoughts.IfonlyRalphwerenotthere,shewouldatoncegivewaytoherdesiretotakeWilliam’shand,thentobendhisheaduponhershoulder,forthiswaswhatshewantedtodomorethananythingatthemoment,unless,indeed,shewishedmorethananythingtobealone—yes,thatwaswhatshewanted.Shewassicktodeathofthesediscussionssheshiveredattheefforttorevealherfeelings.Shehadforgottentoanswer.Williamwasspeakingnow. “Butwhatwillyoufindtodointhecountry?”sheaskedatrandom,strikingintoaconversationwhichshehadonlyhalfheard,insuchawayastomakebothRodneyandDenhamlookatherwithalittlesurprise.Butdirectlyshetookuptheconversation,itwasWilliam’sturntofallsilent.Heatonceforgottolistentowhattheyweresaying,althoughheinterposednervouslyatintervals,“Yes,yes,yes.”Astheminutespassed,Ralph’spresencebecamemoreandmoreintolerabletohim,sincetherewassomuchthathemustsaytoKatharinethemomenthecouldnottalktoher,terrib