Chapter 12

           Shefoldedthegreenshawlabouthershoulders.Shetookhisarm.Hisbeautywassogreat,shesaid,beginningtospeakofKennedythegardener,atoncehewassoawfullyhandsome,thatshecouldn’tdismisshim.Therewasaladderagainstthegreenhouse,andlittlelumpsofputtystuckabout,fortheywerebeginningtomendthegreenhouse.Yes,butasshestrolledalongwithherhusband,shefeltthatthatparticularsourceofworryhadbeenplaced.Shehaditonthetipofhertonguetosay,astheystrolled,"It’llcostfiftypounds,"butinstead,forherheartfailedheraboutmoney,shetalkedaboutJaspershootingbirds,andhesaid,atonce,soothingherinstantly,thatitwasnaturalinaboy,andhetrustedhewouldfindbetterwaysofamusinghimselfbeforelong.Herhusbandwassosensible,sojust.Andsoshesaid,"Yes;allchildrengothroughstages,"andbeganconsideringthedahliasinthebigbed,andwonderingwhataboutnextyear’sflowers,andhadheheardthechildren’snicknameforCharlesTansley,sheasked.Theatheist,theycalledhim,thelittleatheist."He’snotapolishedspecimen,"saidMr.Ramsay."Farfromit,"saidMrs.Ramsay.

           Shesupposeditwasallrightleavinghimtohisowndevices,Mrs.Ramsaysaid,wonderingwhetheritwasanyusesendingdownbulbs;didtheyplantthem?"Oh,hehashisdissertationtowrite,"saidMr.Ramsay.SheknewallaboutTHAT,saidMrs.Ramsay.Hetalkedofnothingelse.Itwasabouttheinfluenceofsomebodyuponsomething.