Місіс Деллоуей

           Sothattoknowher,oranyone,onemustseekoutthepeoplewhocompletedthem;eventheplaces.Oddaffinitiesshehadwithpeopleshehadneverspokento,somewomaninthestreet,somemanbehindacounter—eventrees,orbarns.Itendedinatranscendentaltheorywhich,withherhorrorofdeath,allowedhertobelieve,orsaythatshebelieved(forallherscepticism),thatsinceourapparitions,thepartofuswhichappears,aresomomentarycomparedwiththeother,theunseenpartofus,whichspreadswide,theunseenmightsurvive,berecoveredsomehowattachedtothispersonorthat,orevenhauntingcertainplacesafterdeath...perhaps—perhaps.

           Lookingbackoverthatlongfriendshipofalmostthirtyyearshertheoryworkedtothisextent.Brief,broken,oftenpainfulastheiractualmeetingshadbeenwhatwithhisabsencesandinterruptions(thismorning,forinstance,incameElizabeth,likealong-leggedcolt,handsome,dumb,justashewasbeginningtotalktoClarissa)theeffectofthemonhislifewasimmeasurable.Therewasamysteryaboutit.Youweregivenasharp,acute,uncomfortablegrain—theactualmeeting;horriblypainfulasoftenasnot;yetinabsence,inthemostunlikelyplaces,itwouldflowerout,open,sheditsscent,letyoutouch,taste,lookaboutyou,getthewholefeelofitandunderstanding,afteryearsoflyinglost.Thusshehadcometohim;onboardship;intheHimalayas;suggestedbytheoddestthings(soSallySeton,generous,enthusiasticgoose!thoughtofHIMwhenshesawbluehydrangeas).