На маяк

           Bothsufferedfromtheglowoftheothertwo.He,itwasclear,felthimselfutterlyinthecold;nowomanwouldlookathimwithPaulRayleyintheroom.Poorfellow!Still,hehadhisdissertation,theinfluenceofsomebodyuponsomething:hecouldtakecareofhimself.WithLilyitwasdifferent.Shefaded,underMinta’sglow;becamemoreinconspicuousthanever,inherlittlegreydresswithherlittlepuckeredfaceandherlittleChineseeyes.Everythingaboutherwassosmall.Yet,thoughtMrs.Ramsay,comparingherwithMinta,assheclaimedherhelp(forLilyshouldbearheroutshetalkednomoreaboutherdairiesthanherhusbanddidabouthisboots—hewouldtalkbythehourabouthisboots)ofthetwo,Lilyatfortywillbethebetter.TherewasinLilyathreadofsomething;aflareofsomething;somethingofherownwhichMrs.Ramsaylikedverymuchindeed,butnomanwould,shefeared.Obviously,not,unlessitwereamucholderman,likeWilliamBankes.Butthenhecared,well,Mrs.Ramsaysometimesthoughtthathecared,sincehiswife’sdeath,perhapsforher.Hewasnot"inlove"ofcourse;itwasoneofthoseunclassifiedaffectionsofwhichtherearesomany.Oh,butnonsense,shethought;WilliammustmarryLily.Theyhavesomanythingsincommon.Lilyissofondofflowers.Theyarebothcoldandaloofandratherself-sufficing.Shemustarrangeforthemtotakealongwalktogether.

           Foolishly,shehadsetthemoppositeeachother.Thatcouldberemediedtomorrow.Ifitwerefine,theyshouldgoforapicnic.Everythingseemedpossible.