on in front of it； slowly laughed and reluctantly left off laughing； and applauded with a helterskelter generosity which sometimes became unanimous and overwhelming。 Once William saw Katharine leaning forward and clapping her hands with an abandonment that startled him。 Her laugh rang out with the laughter of the audience。 397 Night and Day For a second he was puzzled； as if this laughter disclosed something that he had never suspected in her。 But then Cassandra’s face caught his eye； gazing with astonishment at the buffoon； not laughing； too deeply intent and surprised to laugh at what she saw； and for some moments he watched her as if she were a child。 The performance came to an end； the illusion dying out first here and then there； as some rose to put on their coats； others stood upright to salute “God Save the King；” the musicians folded their music and encased their instruments； and the lights sank one by one until the house was empty； silent； and full of great shadows。 Looking back over her shoulder as she followed Ralph through the swing doors； Cassandra marveled to see how the stage was already entirely without romance。 But； she wondered； did they really cover all the seats in brown holland every night？ The success of this entertainment was such that before they separated another expedition had been planned for the next day。 The next day was Saturday； therefore both William and Ralph were free to devote the whole afternoon to an expedition to Greenwich； which Cassandra had never seen； and Katharine confused with Dulwich。 On this occasion Ralph was their guide。 He brought them without accident to Greenwich。 What exigencies of state or fantasies of imagination first gave birth to the cluster of pleasant places by which London is surrounded is matter of indifference now that they have adapted themselves so admirably to the needs of people between the ages of twenty and thirty with Saturday afternoons to spend。 Indeed； if ghosts have any interest in the affections of those who succeed them they must reap their richest harvests when the fine weather es again and the lovers； the sightseers； and the holiday makers pour themselves out of trains and omnibuses into their old pleasuregrounds。 It is true that they go； for the most part； unthanked by name； although upon this occasion William was ready to give such discriminating praise as the dead architects and painters received seldom in the course of the year。 They were walking by the river bank； and Katharine and Ralph； lagging a little behind； caught fragments of his lecture。 Katharine smiled at the sound of his voice； she listened as if she found it 398 Virginia Woolf a little unfamiliar； intimately though she knew it； she tested it。 The note of assurance and happiness was new。 William was very happy。 She learnt every hour what sources of his happiness she had neglected。 She had never asked him to teach her anything； she had never consented to read Macaulay； she had never expressed her belief that his play was second only to the works of Shakespeare。 She followed dreamily in their wake； smiling and delighting in the sound which conveyed； she knew； the rapturous and yet not servile assent of Cassandra。 Then she murmured； “How can Cassandra—” but changed her sentence to the opposite of what she meant to say and ended； “how could she herself have been so blind？” But it was unnecessary to follow out such riddles when the presence of Ralph supplied her with more interesting problems； which somehow became involved with the little boat crossing the river； the majestic and careworn City； and the steamers homeing with their treasury； or starting in search of it； so that infinite leisure would be necessary for the proper disentanglement of one from the other。 He stopped； moreover； and began inquiring of an old boatman as to the tides and the ships。 In thus talking he seemed different； and even looked different； she thought； against the river； with the steeples and towers for background。 His strangeness； his romance； his power to leave her side and take part in the affairs of men； the possibility that they should together hire a boat and cross the river； the speed and wildness of this enterprise filled her mind and inspired her with such rapture； half of love and half of adventure； that William and Cassandra were startled from their talk； and Cassandra exclaimed； “She looks as if she were offering up a sacrifice！ Very beautiful；” she added quickly； though she repressed； in deference to William； her own wonder that the sight of Ralph Denham talking to a boatman on the banks of the Thames could move any one to such an attitude of adoration。 That afternoon； what with tea and the curiosities of the Thames tunnel and the unfamiliarity of the streets； passed so quickly that the only method of prolonging it was to plan another expedition for the following day。 Hampton Court was decided upon； in preference to Hampstead； for though Cassandra had dreamt as a child 399 Night and Day of the brigands of Hampstead； she had now transferred her affections pletely and for ever to William III。 Accordingly； they arrived at Hampton Court about lunchtime on a fine Sunday morning。 Such unity marked their expressions of admiration for the redbrick building that they might have e there for no other purpose than to assure each other that this palace was the stateliest palace in the world。 They walked up and down the Terrace； four abreast； and fancied themselves the owners of the place； and calculated the amount of good to the world produced indubitably by such a tenancy。 “The only hope for us；” said Katharine； “is that William shall die； and Cassandra shall be given rooms as the widow of a distinguished poet。” “Or—” Cassandra began； but checked herself from the liberty of envisaging Katharine as the widow of a distinguished lawyer。 Upon this； the third day of junketing； it was tiresome to have to restrain oneself even from