Місіс Деллоуей

           TheywenttotheTowertogether;totheVictoriaandAlbertMuseum;stoodinthecrowdtoseetheKingopenParliament.Andthereweretheshops—hatshops,dressshops,shopswithleatherbagsinthewindow,whereshewouldstandstaring.Butshemusthaveaboy.

           ShemusthaveasonlikeSeptimus,shesaid.ButnobodycouldbelikeSeptimus;sogentle;soserious;soclever.CouldshenotreadShakespearetoo?WasShakespeareadifficultauthor?sheasked.

           Onecannotbringchildrenintoaworldlikethis.Onecannotperpetuatesuffering,orincreasethebreedoftheselustfulanimals,whohavenolastingemotions,butonlywhimsandvanities,eddyingthemnowthisway,nowthat.

           Hewatchedhersnip,shape,asonewatchesabirdhop,flitinthegrass,withoutdaringtomoveafinger.Forthetruthis(letherignoreit)thathumanbeingshaveneitherkindness,norfaith,norcharitybeyondwhatservestoincreasethepleasureofthemoment.Theyhuntinpacks.Theirpacksscourthedesertandvanishscreamingintothewilderness.Theydesertthefallen.Theyareplasteredoverwithgrimaces.