Місіс Деллоуей

           Hehadhisduties;histenants;amotherandsisters;hadbeenalldayatLords,andthatwaswhattheyweretalkingabout—cricket,cousins,themovies—whenMrs.Dallowaycameup.LordGaytonlikedhermostawfully.SodidMissBlow.Shehadsuchcharmingmanners.

           “Itisangelic—itisdeliciousofyoutohavecome!”shesaid.ShelovedLords;shelovedyouth,andNancy,dressedatenormousexpensebythegreatestartistsinParis,stoodtherelookingasifherbodyhadmerelyputforth,ofitsownaccord,agreenfrill.

           “Ihadmeanttohavedancing,”saidClarissa.

           Fortheyoungpeoplecouldnottalk.Andwhyshouldthey?Shout,embrace,swing,beupatdawn;carrysugartoponies;kissandcaressthesnoutsofadorablechows;andthenalltinglingandstreaming,plungeandswim.ButtheenormousresourcesoftheEnglishlanguage,thepoweritbestows,afterall,ofcommunicatingfeelings(attheirage,sheandPeterwouldhavebeenarguingalltheevening),wasnotforthem.Theywouldsolidifyyoung.Theywouldbegoodbeyondmeasuretothepeopleontheestate,butalone,perhaps,ratherdull.

           “Whatapity!”shesaid.“Ihadhopedtohavedancing.”

           Itwassoextraordinarilyniceofthemtohavecome!Buttalkofdancing!Theroomswerepacked.

           TherewasoldAuntHelenainhershawl.Alas,shemustleavethem—LordGaytonandNancyBlow.TherewasoldMissParry,heraunt.