Місіс Деллоуей

           Thatistosay,thoughhemightbeeversoeasy,andindeedwithhisgaietyandgood-breedingfascinatingtobewith,itwasonlyuptoapoint.Shesaidsomething—no,no;hesawthroughthat.Hewouldn’tstandthat—no,no.Thenhecouldshoutandrockandholdhissidestogetheroversomejokewithmen.HewasthebestjudgeofcookinginIndia.Hewasaman.Butnotthesortofmanonehadtorespect—whichwasamercy;notlikeMajorSimmons,forinstance;notintheleastlikethat,Daisythought,when,inspiteofhertwosmallchildren,sheusedtocomparethem.

           Hepulledoffhisboots.Heemptiedhispockets.Outcamewithhispocket-knifeasnapshotofDaisyontheverandah;Daisyallinwhite,withafox-terrieronherknee;verycharming,verydark;thebesthehadeverseenofher.Itdidcome,afterallsonaturally;somuchmorenaturallythanClarissa.Nofuss.Nobother.Nofinickingandfidgeting.Allplainsailing.Andthedark,adorablyprettygirlontheverandahexclaimed(hecouldhearher).Ofcourse,ofcourseshewouldgivehimeverything!shecried(shehadnosenseofdiscretion)everythinghewanted!shecried,runningtomeethim,whoevermightbelooking.Andshewasonlytwenty-four.Andshehadtwochildren.Well,well!

           Wellindeedhehadgothimselfintoamessathisage.Anditcameoverhimwhenhewokeinthenightprettyforcibly.Supposetheydidmarry?Forhimitwouldbeallverywell,butwhatabouther?Mrs.