Місіс Деллоуей

           Strange,shethought,pausingonthelanding,andassemblingthatdiamondshape,thatsingleperson,strangehowamistressknowstheverymoment,theverytemperofherhouse!Faintsoundsroseinspiralsupthewellofthestairs;theswishofamop;tapping;knocking;aloudnesswhenthefrontdooropened;avoicerepeatingamessageinthebasement;thechinkofsilveronatray;cleansilverfortheparty.Allwasfortheparty.

           (AndLucy,comingintothedrawing-roomwithhertrayheldout,putthegiantcandlesticksonthemantelpiece,thesilvercasketinthemiddle,turnedthecrystaldolphintowardstheclock.Theywouldcome;theywouldstand;theywouldtalkinthemincingtoneswhichshecouldimitate,ladiesandgentlemen.Ofall,hermistresswasloveliest—mistressofsilver,oflinen,ofchina,forthesun,thesilver,doorsofftheirhinges,Rumpelmayer’smen,gaveherasense,asshelaidthepaper-knifeontheinlaidtable,ofsomethingachieved.Behold!Behold!shesaid,speakingtoheroldfriendsinthebaker’sshop,whereshehadfirstseenserviceatCaterham,pryingintotheglass.ShewasLadyAngela,attendingPrincessMary,whenincameMrs.Dalloway.)

           “OhLucy,”shesaid,“thesilverdoeslooknice!”

           “Andhow,”shesaid,turningthecrystaldolphintostandstraight,“howdidyouenjoytheplaylastnight?”“Oh,theyhadtogobeforetheend!”shesaid.“Theyhadtobebackatten!”shesaid.