Місіс Деллоуей

           Awholelifetimewastooshorttobringout,nowthatonehadacquiredthepower,thefullflavour;toextracteveryounceofpleasure,everyshadeofmeaning;whichbothweresomuchmoresolidthantheyusedtobe,somuchlesspersonal.ItwasimpossiblethatheshouldeversufferagainasClarissahadmadehimsuffer.Forhoursatatime(prayGodthatonemightsaythesethingswithoutbeingoverheard!),forhoursanddaysheneverthoughtofDaisy.

           Coulditbethathewasinlovewithherthen,rememberingthemisery,thetorture,theextraordinarypassionofthosedays?Itwasadifferentthingaltogether—amuchpleasanterthing—thetruthbeing,ofcourse,thatnowSHEwasinlovewithHIM.Andthatperhapswasthereasonwhy,whentheshipactuallysailed,hefeltanextraordinaryrelief,wantednothingsomuchastobealone;wasannoyedtofindallherlittleattentions—cigars,notes,arugforthevoyage—inhiscabin.Everyoneiftheywerehonestwouldsaythesame;onedoesn’twantpeopleafterfifty;onedoesn’twanttogoontellingwomentheyarepretty;that’swhatmostmenoffiftywouldsay,PeterWalshthought,iftheywerehonest.

           Butthentheseastonishingaccessesofemotion—burstingintotearsthismorning,whatwasallthatabout?WhatcouldClarissahavethoughtofhim?thoughthimafoolpresumably,notforthefirsttime.