Місіс Деллоуей

           Diagrams,designs,littlemenandwomenbrandishingsticksforarms,withwings—werethey?—ontheirbacks;circlestracedroundshillingsandsixpences—thesunsandstars;zigzaggingprecipiceswithmountaineersascendingropedtogether,exactlylikeknivesandforks;seapieceswithlittlefaceslaughingoutofwhatmightperhapsbewaves:themapoftheworld.Burnthem!hecried.Nowforhiswritings;howthedeadsingbehindrhododendronbushes;odestoTime;conversationswithShakespeare;Evans,Evans,Evans—hismessagesfromthedead;donotcutdowntrees;tellthePrimeMinister.Universallove:themeaningoftheworld.Burnthem!hecried.

           ButRezialaidherhandsonthem.Somewereverybeautiful,shethought.Shewouldtiethemup(forshehadnoenvelope)withapieceofsilk.

           Eveniftheytookhim,shesaid,shewouldgowithhim.Theycouldnotseparatethemagainsttheirwills,shesaid.

           Shufflingtheedgesstraight,shedidupthepapers,andtiedtheparcelalmostwithoutlooking,sittingbesidehim,hethought,asifallherpetalswereabouther.Shewasafloweringtree;andthroughherbrancheslookedoutthefaceofalawgiver,whohadreachedasanctuarywhereshefearednoone;notHolmes;notBradshaw;amiracle,atriumph,thelastandgreatest.