Місіс Деллоуей

           “Where’sClarissa?”

           Sallysupposed,andsodidPeterforthematterofthat,thattherewerepeopleofimportance,politicians,whomneitherofthemknewunlessbysightinthepicturepapers,whomClarissahadtobeniceto,hadtotalkto.Shewaswiththem.YettherewasRichardDallowaynotintheCabinet.Hehadn’tbeenasuccess,Sallysupposed?Forherself,shescarcelyeverreadthepapers.Shesometimessawhisnamementioned.Butthen—well,shelivedaverysolitarylife,inthewilds,Clarissawouldsay,amonggreatmerchants,greatmanufacturers,men,afterall,whodidthings.Shehaddonethingstoo!

           “Ihavefivesons!”shetoldhim.

           Lord,Lord,whatachangehadcomeoverher!thesoftnessofmotherhood;itsegotismtoo.Lasttimetheymet,Peterremembered,hadbeenamongthecauliflowersinthemoonlight,theleaves“likeroughbronze”shehadsaid,withherliteraryturn;andshehadpickedarose.Shehadmarchedhimupanddownthatawfulnight,afterthescenebythefountain;hewastocatchthemidnighttrain.Heavens,hehadwept!

           Thatwashisoldtrick,openingapocket-knife,thoughtSally,alwaysopeningandshuttingaknifewhenhegotexcited.Theyhadbeenvery,veryintimate,sheandPeterWalsh,whenhewasinlovewithClarissa,andtherewasthatdreadful,ridiculoussceneoverRichardDallowayatlunch.ShehadcalledRichard“Wickham.