Місіс Деллоуей

           Itwasasuddenrevelation,atingelikeablushwhichonetriedtocheckandthen,asitspread,oneyieldedtoitsexpansion,andrushedtothefarthestvergeandtherequiveredandfelttheworldcomecloser,swollenwithsomeastonishingsignificance,somepressureofrapture,whichsplititsthinskinandgushedandpouredwithanextraordinaryalleviationoverthecracksandsores!Then,forthatmoment,shehadseenanillumination;amatchburninginacrocus;aninnermeaningalmostexpressed.Buttheclosewithdrew;thehardsoftened.Itwasover—themoment.Againstsuchmoments(withwomentoo)therecontrasted(asshelaidherhatdown)thebedandBaronMarbotandthecandlehalf-burnt.Lyingawake,thefloorcreaked;thelithousewassuddenlydarkened,andifsheraisedherheadshecouldjustheartheclickofthehandlereleasedasgentlyaspossiblebyRichard,whoslippedupstairsinhissocksandthen,asoftenasnot,droppedhishot-waterbottleandswore!Howshelaughed!

           Butthisquestionoflove(shethought,puttinghercoataway),thisfallinginlovewithwomen.TakeSallySeton;herrelationintheolddayswithSallySeton.Hadnotthat,afterall,beenlove?

           Shesatonthefloor—thatwasherfirstimpressionofSally—shesatonthefloorwithherarmsroundherknees,smokingacigarette.