Місіс Деллоуей

           (Theyhadbeensointimate—heandSallySeton,itwasabsurdnottosayit.)Onecouldnotbeinlovetwice,hesaid.Andwhatcouldshesay?Still,itisbettertohaveloved(buthewouldthinkhersentimental—heusedtobesosharp).HemustcomeandstaywiththeminManchester.Thatisallverytrue,hesaid.Allverytrue.Hewouldlovetocomeandstaywiththem,directlyhehaddonewhathehadtodoinLondon.

           AndClarissahadcaredforhimmorethanshehadevercaredforRichard.Sallywaspositiveofthat.

           “No,no,no!”saidPeter(Sallyshouldnothavesaidthat—shewenttoofar).Thatgoodfellow—therehewasattheendoftheroom,holdingforth,thesameasever,dearoldRichard.Whowashetalkingto?Sallyasked,thatverydistinguished-lookingman?Livinginthewildsasshedid,shehadaninsatiablecuriositytoknowwhopeoplewere.ButPeterdidnotknow.Hedidnotlikehislooks,hesaid,probablyaCabinetMinister.Ofthemall,Richardseemedtohimthebest,hesaid—themostdisinterested.

           “Butwhathashedone?”Sallyasked.Publicwork,shesupposed.Andweretheyhappytogether?Sallyasked(sheherselfwasextremelyhappy);for,sheadmitted,sheknewnothingaboutthem,onlyjumpedtoconclusions,asonedoes,forwhatcanoneknowevenofthepeopleoneliveswitheveryday?sheasked.