Місіс Деллоуей

           TheBritishmiddleclassessittingsidewaysonthetopsofomnibuseswithparcelsandumbrellas,yes,evenfursonadaylikethis,were,shethought,moreridiculous,moreunlikeanythingtherehaseverbeenthanonecouldconceive;andtheQueenherselfheldup;theQueenherselfunabletopass.ClarissawassuspendedononesideofBrookStreet;SirJohnBuckhurst,theoldJudgeontheother,withthecarbetweenthem(SirJohnhadlaiddownthelawforyearsandlikedawell-dressedwoman)whenthechauffeur,leaningeversoslightly,saidorshowedsomethingtothepoliceman,whosalutedandraisedhisarmandjerkedhisheadandmovedtheomnibustothesideandthecarpassedthrough.Slowlyandverysilentlyittookitsway.

           Clarissaguessed;Clarissaknewofcourse;shehadseensomethingwhite,magical,circular,inthefootman’shand,adiscinscribedwithaname—theQueen’s,thePrinceofWales’s,thePrimeMinister’s?—which,byforceofitsownlustre,burntitswaythrough(Clarissasawthecardiminishing,disappearing),toblazeamongcandelabras,glitteringstars,breastsstiffwithoakleaves,HughWhitbreadandallhiscolleagues,thegentlemenofEngland,thatnightinBuckinghamPalace.AndClarissa,too,gaveaparty.Shestiffenedalittle;soshewouldstandatthetopofherstairs.

           Thecarhadgone,butithadleftaslightripplewhichflowedthroughgloveshopsandhatshopsandtailors’shopsonbothsidesofBondStreet.