Місіс Деллоуей

           Thedoorhadshut,andthereamongthedustoffallenplasterandthelitterofbirds’nestshowdistanttheviewhadlooked,andthesoundscamethinandchill(onceonLeithHill,sheremembered),andRichard,Richard!shecried,asasleeperinthenightstartsandstretchesahandinthedarkforhelp.LunchingwithLadyBruton,itcamebacktoher.Hehasleftme;Iamaloneforever,shethought,foldingherhandsuponherknee.

           PeterWalshhadgotupandcrossedtothewindowandstoodwithhisbacktoher,flickingabandannahandkerchieffromsidetoside.Masterlyanddryanddesolatehelooked,histhinshoulder-bladesliftinghiscoatslightly;blowinghisnoseviolently.Takemewithyou,Clarissathoughtimpulsively,asifhewerestartingdirectlyuponsomegreatvoyage;andthen,nextmoment,itwasasifthefiveactsofaplaythathadbeenveryexcitingandmovingwerenowoverandshehadlivedalifetimeinthemandhadrunaway,hadlivedwithPeter,anditwasnowover.

           Nowitwastimetomove,and,asawomangathersherthingstogether,hercloak,hergloves,heropera-glasses,andgetsuptogooutofthetheatreintothestreet,sherosefromthesofaandwenttoPeter.

           Anditwasawfullystrange,hethought,howshestillhadthepower,asshecametinkling,rustling,stillhadthepowerasshecameacrosstheroom,tomakethemoon,whichhedetested,riseatBourtonontheterraceinthesummersky.

           “Tellme,”hesaid,seizingherbytheshoulders.