神鸟电子书 > 文学名著电子书 > [夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版 >

第7部分

[夜与日].(night.and.day).(英)弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙.文字版-第7部分


按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



closed them again。 Then she said; very tentatively: 

“Aren’t you happy; Ralph?” 

“No。 Are you? Perhaps I’m as happy as most people; 
though。 God knows whether I’m happy or not。 What is 
happiness?” 

23 



Night and Day 

He glanced with half a smile; in spite of his gloomy 
irritation; at his sister。 She looked; as usual; as if she 
were weighing one thing with another; and balancing 
them together before she made up her mind。 

“Happiness;” she remarked at length enigmatically; 
rather as if she were sampling the word; and then she 
paused。 She paused for a considerable space; as if she 
were considering happiness in all its bearings。 “Hilda was 
here today;” she suddenly resumed; as if they had never 
mentioned happiness。 “She brought Bobbie—he’s a fine 
boy now。” Ralph observed; with an amusement that had 
a tinge of irony in it; that she was now going to sidle 
away quickly from this dangerous approach to intimacy 
on to topics of general and family interest。 Nevertheless; 
he reflected; she was the only one of his family with 
whom he found it possible to discuss happiness; although 
he might very well have discussed happiness with Miss 
Hilbery at their first meeting。 He looked critically at Joan; 
and wished that she did not look so provincial or suburban 
in her high green dress with the faded trimming; so 
patient; and almost resigned。 He began to wish to tell 

her about the Hilberys in order to abuse them; for in the 
miniature battle which so often rages between two quickly 
following impressions of life; the life of the Hilberys was 
getting the better of the life of the Denhams in his mind; 
and he wanted to assure himself that there was some 
quality in which Joan infinitely surpassed Miss Hilbery。 
He should have felt that his own sister was more original; 
and had greater vitality than Miss Hilbery had; but 
his main impression of Katharine now was of a person of 
great vitality and posure; and at the moment he could 
not perceive what poor dear Joan had gained from the 
fact that she was the granddaughter of a man who kept a 
shop; and herself earned her own living。 The infinite 
dreariness and sordidness of their life oppressed him in 
spite of his fundamental belief that; as a family; they 
were somehow remarkable。 

“Shall you talk to mother?” Joan inquired。 “Because; 
you see; the thing’s got to be settled; one way or another。 
Charles must write to Uncle John if he’s going 
there。” 

Ralph sighed impatiently。 

24 



Virginia Woolf 

“I suppose it doesn’t much matter either way;” he exclaimed。 
“He’s doomed to misery in the long run。” 

A slight flush came into Joan’s cheek。 

“You know you’re talking nonsense;” she said。 “It doesn’t 
hurt any one to have to earn their own living。 I’m very 
glad I have to earn mine。” 

Ralph was pleased that she should feel this; and wished 
her to continue; but he went on; perversely enough。 

“Isn’t that only because you’ve forgotten how to enjoy 
yourself? You never have time for anything decent—” 

“As for instance?” 

“Well; going for walks; or music; or books; or seeing 
interesting people。 You never do anything that’s really 
worth doing any more than I do。” 

“I always think you could make this room much nicer; if 
you liked;” she observed。 

“What does it matter what sort of room I have when 
I’m forced to spend all the best years of my life drawing 
up deeds in an office?” 

“You said two days ago that you found the law so interesting。” 


“So it is if one could afford to know anything about it。” 

(“That’s Herbert only just going to bed now;” Joan interposed; 
as a door on the landing slammed vigorously。 
“And then he won’t get up in the morning。”) 

Ralph looked at the ceiling; and shut his lips closely 
together。 Why; he wondered; could Joan never for one 
moment detach her mind from the details of domestic 
life? It seemed to him that she was getting more and 
more enmeshed in them; and capable of shorter and less 
frequent flights into the outer world; and yet she was 
only thirtythree。 

“D’you ever pay calls now?” he asked abruptly。 

“I don’t often have the time。 Why do you ask?” 

“It might be a good thing; to get to know new people; 
that’s all。” 

“Poor Ralph!” said Joan suddenly; with a smile。 “You 
think your sister’s getting very old and very dull—that’s 
it; isn’t it?” 

“I don’t think anything of the kind;” he said stoutly; 
but he flushed。 “But you lead a dog’s life; Joan。 When 
you’re not working in an office; you’re worrying over the 

25 



Night and Day 

rest of us。 And I’m not much good to you; I’m afraid。” 

Joan rose; and stood for a moment warming her hands; 
and; apparently; meditating as to whether she should say 
anything more or not。 A feeling of great intimacy united 
the brother and sister; and the semicircular lines above 
their eyebrows disappeared。 No; there was nothing more 
to be said on either side。 Joan brushed her brother’s head 
with her hand as she passed him; murmured good night; 
and left the room。 For some minutes after she had gone 
Ralph lay quiescent; resting his head on his hand; but 
gradually his eyes filled with thought; and the line reappeared 
on his brow; as the pleasant impression of panionship 
and ancient sympathy waned; and he was left 
to think on alone。 

After a time he opened his book; and read on steadily; 
glancing once or twice at his watch; as if he had set 
himself a task to be acplished in a certain measure of 
time。 Now and then he heard voices in the house; and the 
closing of bedroom doors; which showed that the building; 
at the top of which he sat; was inhabited in every 
one of its cells。 When midnight struck; Ralph shut his 

book; and with a candle in his hand; descended to the 
ground floor; to ascertain that all lights were extinct and 
all doors locked。 It was a threadbare; wellworn house 
that he thus examined; as if the inmates had grazed down 
all luxuriance and plenty to the verge of decency; and in 
the night; bereft of life; bare places and ancient blemishes 
were unpleasantly visible。 Katharine Hilbery; he 
thought; would condemn it offhand。 

26 



Virginia Woolf 

CHAPTER III 


Denham had accused Katharine Hilbery of belonging to 
one of the most distinguished families in England; and if 
any one will take the trouble to consult Mr。 Galton’s “Hereditary 
Genius;” he will find that this assertion is not far 
from the truth。 The Alardyces; the Hilberys; the 
Millingtons; and the Otways seem to prove that intellect 
is a possession which can be tossed from one member of 
a certain group to another almost indefinitely; and with 
apparent certainty that the brilliant gift will be safely 
caught and held by nine out of ten of the privileged race。 
They had been conspicuous judges and admirals; lawyers 
and servants of the State for some years before the richness 
of the soil culminated in the rarest flower that any 
family can boast; a great writer; a poet eminent among 
the poets of England; a Richard Alardyce; and having produced 
him; they proved once more the amazing virtues of 
their race by proceeding unconcernedly again with their 
usual task of breeding distinguished men。 They had sailed 
with Sir John Franklin to the North Pole; and ridden with 

Havelock to the Relief of Lucknow; and when they were 
not lighthouses firmly based on rock for the guidance of 
their generation; they were steady; serviceable candles; 
illuminating the ordinary chambers of daily life。 Whatever 
profession you looked at; there was a Warburton or 
an Alardyce; a Millington or a Hilbery somewhere in authority 
and prominence。 

It may be said; indeed; that English society being what 
it is; no very great merit is required; once you bear a 
wellknown name; to put you into a position where it is 
easier on the whole to be eminent than obscure。 And if 
this is true of the sons; even the daughters; even in the 
nieenth century; are apt to bee people of importance—
philanthropists and educationalists 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的