Місіс Деллоуей

           Fearnomoretheheato’thesun;fortheshockofLadyBrutonaskingRichardtolunchwithouthermadethemomentinwhichshehadstoodshiver,asaplantontheriver-bedfeelstheshockofapassingoarandshivers:sosherocked:sosheshivered.

           MillicentBruton,whoselunchpartiesweresaidtobeextraordinarilyamusing,hadnotaskedher.NovulgarjealousycouldseparateherfromRichard.Butshefearedtimeitself,andreadonLadyBruton’sface,asifithadbeenadialcutinimpassivestone,thedwindlingoflife;howyearbyyearhersharewassliced;howlittlethemarginthatremainedwascapableanylongerofstretching,ofabsorbing,asintheyouthfulyears,thecolours,salts,tonesofexistence,sothatshefilledtheroomsheentered,andfeltoftenasshestoodhesitatingonemomentonthethresholdofherdrawing-room,anexquisitesuspense,suchasmightstayadiverbeforeplungingwhiletheseadarkensandbrightensbeneathhim,andthewaveswhichthreatentobreak,butonlygentlysplittheirsurface,rollandconcealandencrustastheyjustturnovertheweedswithpearl.

           Sheputthepadonthehalltable.