Місіс Деллоуей

           IfonlyforClarissa’shealthitwouldhavebeenbettertoliveinthecountry.ButClarissahadalwaysbeenfondofsociety.

           “HehasbeeninBurma,”saidClarissa.

           Ah.ShecouldnotresistrecallingwhatCharlesDarwinhadsaidaboutherlittlebookontheorchidsofBurma.

           (ClarissamustspeaktoLadyBruton.)

           Nodoubtitwasforgottennow,herbookontheorchidsofBurma,butitwentintothreeeditionsbefore1870,shetoldPeter.Sherememberedhimnow.HehadbeenatBourton(andhehadlefther,PeterWalshremembered,withoutawordinthedrawing-roomthatnightwhenClarissahadaskedhimtocomeboating).

           “Richardsomuchenjoyedhislunchparty,”saidClarissatoLadyBruton.

           “Richardwasthegreatestpossiblehelp,”LadyBrutonreplied.“Hehelpedmetowritealetter.Andhowareyou?”

           “Oh,perfectlywell!”saidClarissa.(LadyBrutondetestedillnessinthewivesofpoliticians.)

           “Andthere’sPeterWalsh!”saidLadyBruton(forshecouldneverthinkofanythingtosaytoClarissa;thoughshelikedher.Shehadlotsoffinequalities;buttheyhadnothingincommon—sheandClarissa.ItmighthavebeenbetterifRichardhadmarriedawomanwithlesscharm,whowouldhavehelpedhimmoreinhiswork.HehadlosthischanceoftheCabinet).