Chapter 5

           "Andevenifitisn’tfinetomorrow,"saidMrs.Ramsay,raisinghereyestoglanceatWilliamBankesandLilyBriscoeastheypassed,"itwillbeanotherday.Andnow,"shesaid,thinkingthatLily’scharmwasherChineseeyes,aslantinherwhite,puckeredlittleface,butitwouldtakeaclevermantoseeit,"andnowstandup,andletmemeasureyourleg,"fortheymightgototheLighthouseafterall,andshemustseeifthestockingdidnotneedtobeaninchortwolongerintheleg.

           Smiling,foritwasanadmirableidea,thathadflasheduponherthisverysecond—WilliamandLilyshouldmarry—shetooktheheather-mixturestocking,withitscriss-crossofsteelneedlesatthemouthofit,andmeasureditagainstJames’sleg.

           "Mydear,standstill,"shesaid,forinhisjealousy,notlikingtoserveasmeasuringblockfortheLighthousekeeper’slittleboy,Jamesfidgetedpurposely;andifhedidthat,howcouldshesee,wasittoolong,wasittooshort?sheasked.

           Shelookedup—whatdemonpossessedhim,heryoungest,hercherished?—andsawtheroom,sawthechairs,thoughtthemfearfullyshabby.