Місіс Деллоуей

           Heresheismendingherdress;mendingherdressasusual,hethought;hereshe’sbeensittingallthetimeI’vebeeninIndia;mendingherdress;playingabout;goingtoparties;runningtotheHouseandbackandallthat,hethought,growingmoreandmoreirritated,moreandmoreagitated,forthere’snothingintheworldsobadforsomewomenasmarriage,hethought;andpolitics;andhavingaConservativehusband,liketheadmirableRichard.Soitis,soitis,hethought,shuttinghisknifewithasnap.

           “Richard’sverywell.Richard’sataCommittee,”saidClarissa.

           Andsheopenedherscissors,andsaid,didhemindherjustfinishingwhatshewasdoingtoherdress,fortheyhadapartythatnight?

           “WhichIshan’taskyouto,”shesaid.“MydearPeter!”shesaid.

           Butitwasdelicioustohearhersaythat—mydearPeter!Indeed,itwasallsodelicious—thesilver,thechairs;allsodelicious!

           Whywouldn’tsheaskhimtoherparty?heasked.

           Nowofcourse,thoughtClarissa,he’senchanting!perfectlyenchanting!NowIrememberhowimpossibleitwasevertomakeupmymind—andwhydidImakeupmymind—nottomarryhim?shewondered,thatawfulsummer?

           “Butit’ssoextraordinarythatyoushouldhavecomethismorning!”shecried,puttingherhands,oneontopofanother,downonherdress.