Місіс Деллоуей

           Andifitweretruethathehadnottakenpartinanyofthegreatmovementsofthetimeorheldimportantoffice,oneortwohumblereformsstoodtohiscredit;animprovementinpublicshelterswasone;theprotectionofowlsinNorfolkanother;servantgirlshadreasontobegratefultohim;andhisnameattheendofletterstotheTimes,askingforfunds,appealingtothepublictoprotect,topreserve,toclearuplitter,toabatesmoke,andstampoutimmoralityinparks,commandedrespect.

           Amagnificentfigurehecuttoo,pausingforamoment(asthesoundofthehalfhourdiedaway)tolookcritically,magisterially,atsocksandshoes;impeccable,substantial,asifhebeheldtheworldfromacertaineminence,anddressedtomatch;butrealisedtheobligationswhichsize,wealth,health,entail,andobservedpunctiliouslyevenwhennotabsolutelynecessary,littlecourtesies,old-fashionedceremonieswhichgaveaqualitytohismanner,somethingtoimitate,somethingtorememberhimby,forhewouldneverlunch,forexample,withLadyBruton,whomhehadknownthesetwentyyears,withoutbringingherinhisoutstretchedhandabunchofcarnationsandaskingMissBrush,LadyBruton’ssecretary,afterherbrotherinSouthAfrica,which,forsomereason,MissBrush,deficientthoughshewasineveryattributeoffemalecharm,somuchresentedthatshesaid“Thankyou,he’sdoingverywellinSouthAfrica,”when,forhalfadozenyears,hehadbeendoingbadlyinPortsmouth.