one walking in her sleep。” To Cassandra the significant thing was that Katharine had gone out without telling her； and she interpreted this to mean that she had gone out to meet Ralph Denham。 But to her surprise William drew no fort from this probability。 “Once throw conventions aside；” he began； “once do the things that people don’t do—” and the fact that you are going to meet a young man is no longer proof of anything； except； indeed； that people will talk。 Cassandra saw； not without a pang of jealousy； that he was extremely solicitous that people should not talk about Katharine； as if his interest in her were still proprietary rather than friendly。 As they were both ignorant of Ralph’s visit the night before they had not that reason to fort themselves with the thought that matters were hastening to a crisis。 These absences of Katharine’s； moreover； left them exposed to interruptions which almost destroyed their pleasure in being alone together。 The rainy evening made it impossible to go out； and； indeed； according to William’s code； it was considerably more damning to be seen out of doors than surprised within。 They were so much at the mercy of bells and doors that they could hardly talk of Macaulay with any conviction； and William preferred to defer the second act of his tragedy until another day。 Under these circumstances Cassandra showed herself at her best。 She sympathized with William’s anxieties and did her utmost to share them； but still； to be alone together； to be running risks together； to be partners in the wonderful conspiracy； was to her so enthralling that she was always forgetting discretion； breaking out into ex 395 Night and Day clamations and admirations which finally made William believe that； although deplorable and upsetting； the situation was not without its sweetness。 When the door did open； he started； but braved the forthing revelation。 It was not Mrs。 Milvain； however； but Katharine herself who entered； closely followed by Ralph Denham。 With a set expression which showed what an effort she was making； Katharine encountered their eyes； and saying； “We’re not going to interrupt you；” she led Denham behind the curtain which hung in front of the room with the relics。 This refuge was none of her willing； but confronted with wet pavements and only some belated museum or Tube station for shelter； she was forced； for Ralph’s sake； to face the disforts of her own house。 Under the street lamps she had thought him looking both tired and strained。 Thus separated； the two couples remained occupied for some time with their own affairs。 Only the lowest murmurs perated from one section of the room to the other。 At length the maid came in to bring a message that Mr。 Hilbery would not be home for dinner。 It was true that there was no need that Katharine should be informed； but William began to inquire Cassandra’s opinion in such a way as to show that； with or without reason； he wished very much to speak to her。 From motives of her own Cassandra dissuaded him。 “But don’t you think it’s a little unsociable？” he hazarded。 “Why not do something amusing？—go to the play； for instance？ Why not ask Katharine and Ralph； eh？” The coupling of their names in this manner caused Cassandra’s heart to leap with pleasure。 “Don’t you think they must be—？” she began； but William hastily took her up。 “Oh； I know nothing about that。 I only thought we might amuse ourselves； as your uncle’s out。” He proceeded on his embassy with a mixture of excitement and embarrassment which caused him to turn aside with his hand on the curtain； and to examine intently for several moments the portrait of a lady； optimistically said by Mrs。 Hilbery to be an early work of Sir Joshua Reynolds。 Then； with some unnecessary fumbling； he drew aside the curtain； and with his eyes fixed upon the ground； 396 Virginia Woolf repeated his message and suggested that they should all spend the evening at the play。 Katharine accepted the suggestion with such cordiality that it was strange to find her of no clear mind as to the precise spectacle she wished to see。 She left the choice entirely to Ralph and William； who； taking counsel fraternally over an evening paper； found themselves in agreement as to the merits of a musichall。 This being arranged； everything else followed easily and enthusiastically。 Cassandra had never been to a musichall。 Katharine instructed her in the peculiar delights of an entertainment where Polar bears follow directly upon ladies in full evening dress； and the stage is alternately a garden of mystery； a milliner’s bandbox； and a friedfish shop in the Mile End Road。 Whatever the exact nature of the program that night； it fulfilled the highest purposes of dramatic art； so far； at least； as four of the audience were concerned。 No doubt the actors and the authors would have been surprised to learn in what shape their efforts reached those particular eyes and ears； but they could not have denied that the effect as a whole was tremendous。 The hall resounded with brass and strings； alternately of enormous pomp and majesty； and then of sweetest lamentation。 The reds and creams of the background； the lyres and harps and urns and skulls； the protuberances of plaster； the fringes of scarlet plush； the sinking and blazing of innumerable electric lights； could scarcely have been surpassed for decorative effect by any craftsman of the ancient or modern world。 Then there was the audience itself； bareshouldered； tufted and garlanded in the stalls； decorous but festal in the balconies； and frankly fit for daylight and street life in the galleries。 But； however they differed when looked at separately； they shared the same huge； lovable nature in the bulk； which murmured and swayed and quivered all the time the dancing and juggling and lovemaking went on in front of it； slowly laughed and reluctantly left off laughing； and applauded with a helterskelte