Миссис Дэллоуэй

           Sometimeslatelyithadseemedtoherthat,exceptforElizabeth,herfoodwasallthatshelivedfor;hercomforts;herdinner,hertea;herhot-waterbottleatnight.Butonemustfight;vanquish;havefaithinGod.Mr.Whittakerhadsaidshewasthereforapurpose.Butnooneknewtheagony!Hesaid,pointingtothecrucifix,thatGodknew.Butwhyshouldshehavetosufferwhenotherwomen,likeClarissaDalloway,escaped?Knowledgecomesthroughsuffering,saidMr.Whittaker.

           Shehadpassedthepillar-box,andElizabethhadturnedintothecoolbrowntobaccodepartmentoftheArmyandNavyStoreswhileshewasstillmutteringtoherselfwhatMr.Whittakerhadsaidaboutknowledgecomingthroughsufferingandtheflesh.“Theflesh,”shemuttered.

           Whatdepartmentdidshewant?Elizabethinterruptedher.

           “Petticoats,”shesaidabruptly,andstalkedstraightontothelift.

           Uptheywent.Elizabethguidedherthiswayandthat;guidedherinherabstractionasifshehadbeenagreatchild,anunwieldybattleship.Therewerethepetticoats,brown,decorous,striped,frivolous,solid,flimsy;andshechose,inherabstraction,portentously,andthegirlservingthoughthermad.

           Elizabethratherwondered,astheydiduptheparcel,whatMissKilmanwasthinking.Theymusthavetheirtea,saidMissKilman,rousing,collectingherself.Theyhadtheirtea.

           ElizabethratherwonderedwhetherMissKilmancouldbehungry.