with sometimes upon the roads； particularly after sunset；
when； without warning； he runs from clammy chill to a
hoard of unspent warmth in which the sweetness of hay
and beanfield is cherished； as if the sun still shone although
the moon is up。 He hesitated； he shuddered； he
walked elaborately to the window and laid aside his coat。
He balanced his stick most carefully against the folds of
the curtain。 Thus occupied with his own sensations and
preparations； he had little time to observe what either of
the other two was feeling。 Such symptoms of agitation
as he might perceive （and they had left their tokens in
brightness of eye and pallor of cheeks） seemed to him
well befitting the actors in so great a drama as that of
Katharine Hilbery’s daily life。 Beauty and passion were
the breath of her being； he thought。
She scarcely noticed his presence； or only as it forced
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her to adopt a manner of posure； which she was certainly
far from feeling。 William； however； was even more
agitated than she was； and her first instalment of promised
help took the form of some monplace upon the
age of the building or the architect’s name； which gave
him an excuse to fumble in a drawer for certain designs；
which he laid upon the table between the three of them。
Which of the three followed the designs most carefully
it would be difficult to tell； but it is certain that not one
of the three found for the moment anything to say。 Years
of training in a drawingroom came at length to Katharine’s
help； and she said something suitable； at the same moment
withdrawing her hand from the table because she
perceived that it trembled。 William agreed effusively；
Denham corroborated him； speaking in rather highpitched
tones； they thrust aside the plans； and drew nearer to the
fireplace。
“I’d rather live here than anywhere in the whole of London；”
said Denham。
（“And I’ve got nowhere to live”） Katharine thought； as
she agreed aloud。
“You could get rooms here； no doubt； if you wanted
to；” Rodney replied。
“But I’m just leaving London for good—I’ve taken that
cottage I was telling you about。” The announcement
seemed to convey very little to either of his hearers。
“Indeed？—that’s sad… 。 You must give me your address。
But you won’t cut yourself off altogether； surely—”
“You’ll be moving； too； I suppose；” Denham remarked。
William showed such visible signs of floundering that
Katharine collected herself and asked：
“Where is the cottage you’ve taken？”
In answering her； Denham turned and looked at her。 As
their eyes met； she realized for the first time that she
was talking to Ralph Denham； and she remembered； without
recalling any details； that she had been speaking of
him quite lately； and that she had reason to think ill of
him。 What Mary had said she could not remember； but
she felt that there was a mass of knowledge in her mind
which she had not had time to examine—knowledge now
lying on the far side of a gulf。 But her agitation flashed
the queerest lights upon her past。 She must get through
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the matter in hand； and then think it out in quiet。 She
bent her mind to follow what Ralph was saying。 He was
telling her that he had taken a cottage in Norfolk； and
she was saying that she knew； or did not know； that particular
neighborhood。 But after a moment’s attention her
mind flew to Rodney； and she had an unusual； indeed
unprecedented； sense that they were in touch and shared
each other’s thoughts。 If only Ralph were not there； she
would at once give way to her desire to take William’s
hand； then to bend his head upon her shoulder； for this
was what she wanted to do more than anything at the
moment； unless； indeed； she wished more than anything
to be alone—yes； that was what she wanted。 She was
sick to death of these discussions； she shivered at the
effort to reveal her feelings。 She had forgotten to answer。
William was speaking now。
“But what will you find to do in the country？” she asked
at random； striking into a conversation which she had
only half heard； in such a way as to make both Rodney
and Denham look at her with a little surprise。 But directly
she took up the conversation； it was William’s turn
to fall silent。 He at once forgot to listen to what they
were saying； although he interposed nervously at intervals；
“Yes； yes； yes。” As the minutes passed； Ralph’s presence
became more and more intolerable to him； since
there was so much that he must say to Katharine； the
moment he could not talk to her； terrible doubts； unanswerable
questions accumulated； which he must lay before
Katharine； for she alone could help him now。 Unless
he could see her alone； it would be impossible for him
ever to sleep； or to know what he had said in a moment
of madness； which was not altogether mad； or was it
mad？ He nodded his head； and said； nervously； “Yes； yes；”
and looked at Katharine； and thought how beautiful she
looked； there was no one in the world that he admired
more。 There was an emotion in her face which lent it an
expression he had never seen there。 Then； as he was turning
over means by which he could speak to her alone； she
rose； and he was taken by surprise； for he had counted on
the fact that she would outstay Denham。 His only chance；
then； of saying something to her in private； was to take
her downstairs and walk with her to the street。 While he
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hesitated； however； overe with the difficulty of putting
one simple thought into words when all his thoughts
were scattered about； and all were too strong for utterance；
he was struck silent by something that was still
more unexpected。 Denham got up from his chair； looked
at Katharine； and said：
“I’m going； too。 Shall we go together？”
And before William could see any way of detaining him—
or would it be better to detain Katharine？—he had taken
his hat； stick； and was holding the door open for Katharine
to pass out。 The most that William could do was to stand
at the head of the stairs and say goodnight。 He could
not offer to go with them。 He could not insist that she
should stay。 He watched her descend； rather slowly； owing
to the dusk of the staircase； and he had a last sight of
Denham’s head and of Katharine’s head near together；
against the panels； when suddenly a pang of acute jealousy
overcame him； and had he not remained conscious
of the slippers upon his feet； he would have run after
them or cried out。 As it was he could not move from the
spot。 At the turn of the staircase Katharine turned to
look back； trusting to this last glance to seal their pact
of good friendship。 Instead of returning her silent
greeting； William grinned back at her a cold stare of sarcasm
or of rage。
She stopped dead for a moment； and then descended
slowly into the court。 She looked to the right and to the
left； and once up into the sky。 She was only conscious of
Denham as a block upon her thoughts。 She measured the
distance that must be traversed before she would be alone。
But when they came to the Strand no cabs were to be
seen； and Denham broke the silence by saying：
“There seem to be no cabs。 Shall we walk on a little？”
“Very well；” she agreed； paying no attention to him。
Aware of her preoccupation； or absorbed in his own
thoughts； Ralph said nothing further； and in silence they
walked some distance along the Strand。 Ralph was doing
his best to put his thoughts into such order that one
came before the rest； and the determination that when
he spoke he should speak worthily； made him put off the
moment of speaking till he had found the exact words
and even the place that best suited him。 The Strand was
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too busy。 There was too much risk； also； of finding an
empty cab。 Without a word of explanation he turned to
the left； down one of the side streets leading to the river。
On no account must they part until something of the very
greatest importance had happened。 He knew perfectly
well what he wished to say； and had arranged not only
the substance； but the order in which he was to say it。
Now； however； that he was alone with her； not only did
he find the difficulty of speaking almost insurmountable；
but he was aware that he was angry with her for thus
disturbing him； and casting； as it was so easy for a person
of her advantages to do； these phantoms and pitfalls
across his path。 He was determined that he would question
her as severely as he would question himself； and
make them both； once and for all； either justify her dominance
or renounce it。 But the longer they walked thus
alone； the more he was disturbed by the sense of her
actual presence。 Her skirt blew； the feathers in her hat
waved； sometimes he saw her a step or two ahead of him；
or had to wait for her to catch him up。
The silence was prolonged； and at length drew her at
tention to him。 First she was annoyed that there was no
cab to free her from his pany； then sh