Місіс Деллоуей

           Shreddingandslicing,dividingandsubdividing,theclocksofHarleyStreetnibbledattheJuneday,counselledsubmission,upheldauthority,andpointedoutinchorusthesupremeadvantagesofasenseofproportion,untilthemoundoftimewassofardiminishedthatacommercialclock,suspendedaboveashopinOxfordStreet,announced,geniallyandfraternally,asifitwereapleasuretoMessrs.RigbyandLowndestogivetheinformationgratis,thatitwashalf-pastone.

           Lookingup,itappearedthateachletteroftheirnamesstoodforoneofthehours;subconsciouslyonewasgratefultoRigbyandLowndesforgivingonetimeratifiedbyGreenwich;andthisgratitude(soHughWhitbreadruminated,dallyingthereinfrontoftheshopwindow),naturallytooktheformlaterofbuyingoffRigbyandLowndessocksorshoes.Soheruminated.Itwashishabit.Hedidnotgodeeply.Hebrushedsurfaces;thedeadlanguages,theliving,lifeinConstantinople,Paris,Rome;riding,shooting,tennis,ithadbeenonce.ThemaliciousassertedthathenowkeptguardatBuckinghamPalace,dressedinsilkstockingsandknee-breeches,overwhatnobodyknew.Buthediditextremelyefficiently.HehadbeenafloatonthecreamofEnglishsocietyforfifty-fiveyears.HehadknownPrimeMinisters.Hisaffectionswereunderstoodtobedeep.