Місіс Деллоуей

           Asforthecleanlinesswhichhithimintheface,itwasn’tcleanliness,somuchasbareness,frigidity;athingthathadtobe.Somearidmatronmadeherroundsatdawnsniffing,peering,causingblue-nosedmaidstoscour,foralltheworldasifthenextvisitorwereajointofmeattobeservedonaperfectlycleanplatter.Forsleep,onebed;forsittingin,onearmchair;forcleaningone’steethandshavingone’schin,onetumbler,onelooking-glass.Books,letters,dressing-gown,slippedaboutontheimpersonalityofthehorsehairlikeincongruousimpertinences.AnditwasClarissa’sletterthatmadehimseeallthis.“Heavenlytoseeyou.Shemustsayso!”Hefoldedthepaper;pusheditaway;nothingwouldinducehimtoreaditagain!

           Togetthatlettertohimbysixo’clockshemusthavesatdownandwrittenitdirectlyhelefther;stampedit;sentsomebodytothepost.Itwas,aspeoplesay,verylikeher.Shewasupsetbyhisvisit.Shehadfeltagreatdeal;hadforamoment,whenshekissedhishand,regretted,enviedhimeven,rememberedpossibly(forhesawherlookit)somethinghehadsaid—howtheywouldchangetheworldifshemarriedhimperhaps;whereas,itwasthis;itwasmiddleage;itwasmediocrity;thenforcedherselfwithherindomitablevitalitytoputallthataside,therebeinginherathreadoflifewhichfortoughness,endurance,powertoovercomeobstacles,andcarryhertriumphantlythroughhehadneverknownthelikeof.Yes;buttherewouldcomeareactiondirectlyhelefttheroom.