╰╮ 、 ．．·° ゛ ╰┛ * 。。 ** Night and Day by Virginia Woolf A Penn State Electronic Classics Series Publication Night and Day by Virginia Woolf is a publication of the Pennsylvania State University。 This Portable Document file is furnished free and without any charge of any kind。 Any person using this document file； for any purpose； and in any way does so at his or her own risk。 Neither the Pennsylvania State University nor Jim Manis； Faculty Editor； nor anyone associated with the Pennsylvania State University assumes any responsibility for the material contained within the document or for the file as an electronic transmission； in any way。 Night and Day by Virginia Woolf； the Pennsylvania State University； Electronic Classics Series； Jim Manis； Faculty Editor； Hazleton； PA 182021291 is a Portable Document File produced as part of an ongoing student publication project to bring classical works of literature； in English； to free and easy access of those wishing to make use of them。 Cover Design： Jim Manis Copyright 。 2001 The Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University is an equal opportunity university。 Virginia Woolf Night and Day by Virginia Woolf CHAPTER I It was a Sunday evening in October； and in mon with many other young ladies of her class； Katharine Hilbery was pouring out tea。 Perhaps a fifth part of her mind was thus occupied； and the remaining parts leapt over the little barrier of day which interposed between Monday morning and this rather subdued moment； and played with the things one does voluntarily and normally in the daylight。 But although she was silent； she was evidently mistress of a situation which was familiar enough to her； and inclined to let it take its way for the six hundredth time； perhaps； without bringing into play any of her un occupied faculties。 A single glance was enough to show that Mrs。 Hilbery was so rich in the gifts which make tea parties of elderly distinguished people successful； that she scarcely needed any help from her daughter； provided that the tiresome business of teacups and bread and butter was discharged for her。 Considering that the little party had been seated round the teatable for less than twenty minutes； the animation observable on their faces； and the amount of sound they were producing collectively； were very creditable to the hostess。 It suddenly came into Katharine’s mind that if some one opened the door at this moment he would think that they were enjoying themselves； he would think； “What an extremely nice house to e into！” and instinctively she laughed； and said something to increase the noise； for the credit of the house presumably； since she herself had not been feeling exhilarated。 At the very same moment； rather to her amusement； the door was flung open； and a young man entered the room。 Katharine； as she shook hands with him； asked him； in her own mind； “Now； do you think we’re enjoying ourselves enor 3 Night and Day mously？” … “Mr。 Denham； mother；” she said aloud； for she saw that her mother had forgotten his name。 That fact was perceptible to Mr。 Denham also； and increased the awkwardness which inevitably attends the entrance of a stranger into a room full of people much at their ease； and all launched upon sentences。 At the same time； it seemed to Mr。 Denham as if a thousand softly padded doors had closed between him and the street outside。 A fine mist； the etherealized essence of the fog； hung visibly in the wide and rather empty space of the drawingroom； all silver where the candles were grouped on the teatable； and ruddy again in the firelight。 With the omnibuses and cabs still running in his head； and his body still tingling with his quick walk along the streets and in and out of traffic and footpassengers； this drawing room seemed very remote and still； and the faces of the elderly people were mellowed； at some distance from each other； and had a bloom on them owing to the fact that the air in the drawingroom was thickened by blue grains of mist。 Mr。 Denham had e in as Mr。 Fortescue； the eminent novelist； reached the middle of a very long sentence。 He kept this suspended while the newer sat down； and Mrs。 Hilbery deftly joined the severed parts by leaning towards him and remarking： “Now； what would you do if you were married to an engineer； and had to live in Manchester； Mr。 Denham？” “Surely she could learn Persian；” broke in a thin； elderly gentleman。 “Is there no retired schoolmaster or man of letters in Manchester with whom she could read Persian？” “A cousin of ours has married and gone to live in Manchester；” Katharine explained。 Mr。 Denham muttered something； which was indeed all that was required of him； and the novelist went on where he had left off。 Privately； Mr。 Denham cursed himself very sharply for having exchanged the freedom of the street for this sophisticated drawingroom； where； among other disagreeables； he certainly would not appear at his best。 He glanced round him； and saw that； save for Katharine； they were all over forty； the only consolation being that Mr。 Fortescue was a considerable celebrity； so that tomorrow one might be glad to have met him。 4 Virginia Woolf “Have you ever been to Manchester？” he asked Katharine。 “Never；” she replied。 “Why do you object to it； then？” Katharine stirred her tea； and seemed to speculate； so Denham thought； upon the duty of filling somebody else’s cup； but she was really wondering how she was going to keep this strange young man in harmony with the rest。 She observed that he was pressing his teacup； so that there was danger lest the thin china might cave inwards。 She could see that he was nervous； one would expect a bony young man with his face slightly reddened by the wind； and his hair not altogether smooth； to be nervous in such a party。 Further； he probably disliked this kind of thing； and had e out of curiosity； or because her