Місіс Деллоуей

           Sittingatlittletablesroundvases,dressedornotdressed,withtheirshawlsandbagslaidbesidethem,withtheirairoffalsecomposure,fortheywerenotusedtosomanycoursesatdinner,andconfidence,fortheywereabletopayforit,andstrain,fortheyhadbeenrunningaboutLondonalldayshopping,sightseeing;andtheirnaturalcuriosity,fortheylookedroundandupasthenice-lookinggentlemaninhorn-rimmedspectaclescamein,andtheirgoodnature,fortheywouldhavebeengladtodoanylittleservice,suchaslendatime-tableorimpartusefulinformation,andtheirdesire,pulsinginthem,tuggingatthemsubterraneously,somehowtoestablishconnectionsifitwereonlyabirthplace(Liverpool,forexample)incommonorfriendsofthesamename;withtheirfurtiveglances,oddsilences,andsuddenwithdrawalsintofamilyjocularityandisolation;theretheysateatingdinnerwhenMr.Walshcameinandtookhisseatatalittletablebythecurtain.

           Itwasnotthathesaidanything,forbeingsolitaryhecouldonlyaddresshimselftothewaiter;itwashiswayoflookingatthemenu,ofpointinghisforefingertoaparticularwine,ofhitchinghimselfuptothetable,ofaddressinghimselfseriously,notgluttonouslytodinner,thatwonhimtheirrespect;which,havingtoremainunexpressedforthegreaterpartofthemeal,flaredupatthetablewheretheMorrisessatwhenMr.Walshwasheardtosayattheendofthemeal,“Bartlettpears.