Місіс Деллоуей

           Therewasnofumbling—nohesitation.Sweepingandswerving,accurately,punctually,noiselessly,there,preciselyattherightinstant,themotor-carstoppedatthedoor.Thegirl,silk-stockinged,feathered,evanescent,butnottohimparticularlyattractive(forhehadhadhisfling),alighted.Admirablebutlers,tawnychowdogs,hallslaidinblackandwhitelozengeswithwhiteblindsblowing,Petersawthroughtheopeneddoorandapprovedof.Asplendidachievementinitsownway,afterall,London;theseason;civilisation.ComingashedidfromarespectableAnglo-Indianfamilywhichforatleastthreegenerationshadadministeredtheaffairsofacontinent(it’sstrange,hethought,whatasentimentIhaveaboutthat,dislikingIndia,andempire,andarmyashedid),thereweremomentswhencivilisation,evenofthissort,seemeddeartohimasapersonalpossession;momentsofprideinEngland;inbutlers;chowdogs;girlsintheirsecurity.Ridiculousenough,stillthereitis,hethought.Andthedoctorsandmenofbusinessandcapablewomenallgoingabouttheirbusiness,punctual,alert,robust,seemedtohimwhollyadmirable,goodfellows,towhomonewouldentrustone’slife,companionsintheartofliving,whowouldseeonethrough.Whatwithonethingandanother,theshowwasreallyverytolerable;andhewouldsitdownintheshadeandsmoke.

           TherewasRegent’sPark.Yes.