For； as she walked along the street to her office； the force
of all her customary objections to being in love with any
one overcame her。 She did not want to marry at all。 It
seemed to her that there was something amateurish in
bringing love into touch with a perfectly straightforward
friendship； such as hers was with Ralph； which； for two
years now； had based itself upon mon interests in
impersonal topics； such as the housing of the poor； or
the taxation of land values。
But the afternoon spirit differed intrinsically from the
morning spirit。 Mary found herself watching the flight of
a bird； or making drawings of the branches of the plane
trees upon her blottingpaper。 People came in to see Mr。
Clacton on business； and a seductive smell of cigarette
smoke issued from his room。 Mrs。 Seal wandered about
with newspaper cuttings； which seemed to her either
“quite splendid” or “really too bad for words。” She used
to paste these into books； or send them to her friends；
having first drawn a broad bar in blue pencil down the
margin； a proceeding which signified equally and indistinguishably
the depths of her reprobation or the heights
of her approval。
About four o’clock on that same afternoon Katharine
Hilbery was walking up Kingsway。 The question of tea
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Virginia Woolf
presented itself。 The street lamps were being lit already；
and as she stood still for a moment beneath one of them；
she tried to think of some neighboring drawingroom
where there would be firelight and talk congenial to her
mood。 That mood； owing to the spinning traffic and the
evening veil of unreality； was illadapted to her home
surroundings。 Perhaps； on the whole； a shop was the best
place in which to preserve this queer sense of heightened
existence。 At the same time she wished to talk。
Remembering Mary Datchet and her repeated invitations；
she crossed the road； turned into Russell Square； and
peered about； seeking for numbers with a sense of adventure
that was out of all proportion to the deed itself。
She found herself in a dimly lighted hall； unguarded by a
porter； and pushed open the first swing door。 But the
officeboy had never heard of Miss Datchet。 Did she belong
to the S。R。F。R。？ Katharine shook her head with a
smile of dismay。 A voice from within shouted； “No。 The
S。G。S。—top floor。”
Katharine mounted past innumerable glass doors； with
initials on them； and became steadily more and more
doubtful of the wisdom of her venture。 At the top she
paused for a moment to breathe and collect herself。 She
heard the typewriter and formal professional voices inside；
not belonging； she thought； to any one she had
ever spoken to。 She touched the bell； and the door was
opened almost immediately by Mary herself。 Her face had
to change its expression entirely when she saw Katharine。
“You！” she exclaimed。 “We thought you were the printer。”
Still holding the door open； she called back； “No； Mr。
Clacton； it’s not Penningtons。 I should ring them up again—
double three double eight； Central。 Well； this is a surprise。
e in；” she added。 “You’re just in time for tea。”
The light of relief shone in Mary’s eyes。 The boredom of
the afternoon was dissipated at once； and she was glad
that Katharine had found them in a momentary press of
activity； owing to the failure of the printer to send back
certain proofs。
The unshaded electric light shining upon the table covered
with papers dazed Katharine for a moment。 After
the confusion of her twilight walk； and her random
thoughts； life in this small room appeared extremely con
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Night and Day
centrated and bright。 She turned instinctively to look
out of the window； which was uncurtained； but Mary immediately
recalled her。
“It was very clever of you to find your way；” she said；
and Katharine wondered； as she stood there； feeling； for
the moment； entirely detached and unabsorbed； why she
had e。 She looked； indeed； to Mary’s eyes strangely
out of place in the office。 Her figure in the long cloak；
which took deep folds； and her face； which was posed
into a mask of sensitive apprehension； disturbed
Mary for a moment with a sense of the presence of some
one who was of another world； and； therefore； subversive
of her world。 She became immediately anxious that
Katharine should be impressed by the importance of her
world； and hoped that neither Mrs。 Seal nor Mr。 Clacton
would appear until the impression of importance had been
received。 But in this she was disappointed。 Mrs。 Seal burst
into the room holding a kettle in her hand； which she set
upon the stove； and then； with inefficient haste； she set
light to the gas； which flared up； exploded； and went
out。
“Always the way； always the way；” she muttered。 “Kit
Markham is the only person who knows how to deal with
the thing。”
Mary had to go to her help； and together they spread
the table； and apologized for the disparity between the
cups and the plainness of the food。
“If we had known Miss Hilbery was ing； we should
have bought a cake；” said Mary； upon which Mrs。 Seal
looked at Katharine for the first time； suspiciously； because
she was a person who needed cake。
Here Mr。 Clacton opened the door； and came in； holding
a typewritten letter in his hand； which he was reading
aloud。
“Salford’s affiliated；” he said。
“Well done； Salford！” Mrs。 Seal exclaimed enthusiastically；
thumping the teapot which she held upon the table；
in token of applause。
“Yes； these provincial centers seem to be ing into
line at last；” said Mr。 Clacton； and then Mary introduced
him to Miss Hilbery； and he asked her； in a very formal
manner； if she were interested “in our work。”
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Virginia Woolf
“And the proofs still not e？” said Mrs。 Seal； putting
both her elbows on the table； and propping her chin on
her hands； as Mary began to pour out tea。 “It’s too bad—
too bad。 At this rate we shall miss the country post。 Which
reminds me； Mr。 Clacton； don’t you think we should circularize
the provinces with Partridge’s last speech？ What？
You’ve not read it？ Oh； it’s the best thing they’ve had in
the House this Session。 Even the Prime Minister—”
But Mary cut her short。
“We don’t allow shop at tea； Sally；” she said firmly。 “We
fine her a penny each time she forgets； and the fines go
to buying a plum cake；” she explained； seeking to draw
Katharine into the munity。 She had given up all hope
of impressing her。
“I’m sorry； I’m sorry；” Mrs。 Seal apologized。 “It’s my
misfortune to be an enthusiast；” she said； turning to
Katharine。 “My father’s daughter could hardly be anything
else。 I think I’ve been on as many mittees as most
people。 Waifs and Strays； Rescue Work； Church Work； C。 O。
S。—local branch—besides the usual civic duties which
fall to one as a householder。 But I’ve given them all up
for our work here； and I don’t regret it for a second；” she
added。 “This is the root question； I feel； until women
have votes—”
“It’ll be sixpence； at le