Миссис Дэллоуэй

           Shestoodquitestillandlookedathermother;butthedoorwasajar,andoutsidethedoorwasMissKilman,asClarissaknew;MissKilmaninhermackintosh,listeningtowhatevertheysaid.

           Yes,MissKilmanstoodonthelanding,andworeamackintosh;buthadherreasons.First,itwascheap;second,shewasoverforty;anddidnot,afterall,dresstoplease.Shewaspoor,moreover;degradinglypoor.OtherwiseshewouldnotbetakingjobsfrompeopleliketheDalloways;fromrichpeople,wholikedtobekind.Mr.Dalloway,todohimjustice,hadbeenkind.ButMrs.Dallowayhadnot.Shehadbeenmerelycondescending.Shecamefromthemostworthlessofallclasses—therich,withasmatteringofculture.Theyhadexpensivethingseverywhere;pictures,carpets,lotsofservants.SheconsideredthatshehadaperfectrighttoanythingthattheDallowaysdidforher.

           Shehadbeencheated.Yes,thewordwasnoexaggeration,forsurelyagirlhasarighttosomekindofhappiness?Andshehadneverbeenhappy,whatwithbeingsoclumsyandsopoor.Andthen,justasshemighthavehadachanceatMissDolby’sschool,thewarcame;andshehadneverbeenabletotelllies.MissDolbythoughtshewouldbehappierwithpeoplewhosharedherviewsabouttheGermans.Shehadhadtogo.ItwastruethatthefamilywasofGermanorigin;speltthenameKiehlmanintheeighteenthcentury;butherbrotherhadbeenkilled.