sdreahebegantolaytheblaofthe
presents
“haventialhinkingofkatharinewhilei
ighthavelovedryifithadntbeen
forthatidioinesheeonce,iertain
ofthat,butitotedhersoyhursthat
iletchancesslip,andnoarrying
andthisisadeoflifenothing,nothing,
nothing”
thetraoftheirbootsuponthedryroadseedto
asseveratenothing,nothing,nothingrythoughtthatthissilencehesilenceofrelief;hisdepressionsheascribedtothefactthathehadseenkatharineandpartedfroer,leavingherinthepanyofrodney
sheuldnotblahiorlovingkatharine,butthat,arryhibr >
thatseedtoherthecruellesttreacherytheiroldfriendshipanditsfiraseuponindestructiblequalitiesofcharactercruled,andheredfoolish,
herselferelytheshellof
anhonestnoh,thepastsochdeupofralph;
andnoadeupofsothingstrangeand
falseandotherthanshehadthoughtitshetriedtorecaptureasayingshehaddetohelpherselfthating,asralphpaidthebillforluncheon;butsheuldseehiayingthebillrevividlythansheuldreerthephrasesothingabouttruth;
hooseethetruthisourgreatchanceinthisworld“ifyoudontarry,”ralphnowbeganagain,
houtabruptness,hdiffidencerather,“thereisnoneedoseeeachother,isthereor
herthatforthe
present”
“keepapartidontknoustthinkaboutit”
“tellohing,ry,”heresud;“haveidone
anythingtokeyouindabout”
shenselytetedtogiveoheatural
trustinhirevivedbythedeepandnoelancholytonesofhisvoiofherlove,andof
edlikelythat
she,thecertainty
thathedidnotloveher,nfirdbyeverywordofhis215
nightandday
proposal,forbadeanyfreedofspee
speakandtofeelherselfunabletoreply,ostrainedinherreplies,e
orepliantanwould
havetakenthischanceofanexplanation,everrisksattaarysfidresolute
teerantthereionintheideaofself
abandonnt;lettheotionriseeversohigh,
sheuldnotshuthereyestoshenceivedtobe
thetruthhersilencepuzzledralphhesearchedhisryforighthavedeher
thinkbadlyofhiinhispresentodinstancescabuttooquithisculnating
proofofhisbasenessthathehadaskedhertorryhiaproposalwereselfish
andhalfhearted
“youneedntansly“therearereasons
enough,iknousttheykillourfriendship,
ryletkeepthat,atleast”
“oh,”shethoughttoherself,hasuddenrushofanguishhreateneddisastertoherselfrespect,“ithasetothistothisouldhavegiven
hiverything”
“yes,ness
sheuldster
“ishallyourfriendship,”hesaidheadded,“ifyoufinditpossible,letseeyouasoftenasyoucantheoftenerthebetterishallyourhelp”
sheprosedthis,andtheylyof
thingsthathadnoreferencetotheirfeelingsatalkh,initsnstraint,
onerereferenceadetothestateofthings
betlatethatnight,hhadgone
toherrooandthetenhadstuledoffto
bedinsuchastateofsleepthattheyhardlyfeltthefloorbeneaththeirfeetafteradaysshooting
rydretlenearertothefire,forthe
logseofnightitwas
hardlyralphwasreading,
butshehadnotietithathiseyesinstead
offolloheprintherabovethepage
thatcatoweighuponher
216
virginiawoolf
ndshehadnottogive
adeherrebitterlycertain
that,ifshegaveoherownwish
andnottohisbutshehaddeteedthattherewasnoreasonicencehe
causeofhissufferingtherefore,althoughshefounditpainful,shespoke:
“youaskedifihadchangedndaboutyou,
ralph,”shesaid“ithinktheresonlyohingwhenyouaskedtorryyou,idontthinkyouantit
thatdeangryforthentbefore,youdalways
spokenthetruth”
ralphsbooksliddohe
floorherestedhisforeheadonhishandandlookedintothefireheryingtorecalltheexacth
hehaddehisproposaltory
“ineversaidilovedyou,”hesaidatlast
sheforsayinghe
did,forthis,afterall,entofthetruthh
shehadvooliveby
“andtorriageh
while,”shesaid
“notgoingtopressyou,”hesaid“isee
youdontarrybutlovedontalka
greatdealofnonsenseaboutiteani
believeioregenuinelythanninenout
oftencarefortheentheyreinlovehitsonlya
storyonekesupinonesndaboutanotherperson,andoneknoeitisnttrueofurseone
knoakingcarenottodestroythe
illusionoakestoooften,orto
bealonefortoolongtogetheritsapleasant
illusion,butifyourethinkingoftherisksofrriage,itseetothattheriskofrryingapersonyourein
loveethinglossal”
“idontbelieveaoreyou
dont,either,”sherepliedhanger“ho
agree;ionlyedyoutounderstand”sheshiftedherposition,asifshetogoaninstinctivedesiretopreventherfroeavingtherooaderalphriseatthispointandbeginpacingupanddopty
kitchen,checkinghisdesire,eachtihereachedthe217
nightandday
door,toopenitandstepoutintothegardenaralist
