Місіс Деллоуей

           Andtheyallwentout.Hewasleftquitealone.

           “Don’tyouwanttogowiththem?”saidAuntHelena—oldMissParry!—shehadguessed.AndheturnedroundandtherewasClarissaagain.Shehadcomebacktofetchhim.Hewasovercomebyhergenerosity—hergoodness.

           “Comealong,”shesaid.“They’rewaiting.”Hehadneverfeltsohappyinthewholeofhislife!Withoutawordtheymadeitup.Theywalkeddowntothelake.Hehadtwentyminutesofperfecthappiness.Hervoice,herlaugh,herdress(somethingfloating,white,crimson),herspirit,heradventurousness;shemadethemalldisembarkandexploretheisland;shestartledahen;shelaughed;shesang.Andallthetime,heknewperfectlywell,Dallowaywasfallinginlovewithher;shewasfallinginlovewithDalloway;butitdidn’tseemtomatter.Nothingmattered.Theysatonthegroundandtalked—heandClarissa.Theywentinandoutofeachother’smindswithoutanyeffort.Andtheninaseconditwasover.Hesaidtohimselfastheyweregettingintotheboat,“Shewillmarrythatman,”dully,withoutanyresentment;butitwasanobviousthing.DallowaywouldmarryClarissa.

           Dallowayrowedthemin.Hesaidnothing.Butsomehowastheywatchedhimstart,jumpingontohisbicycletoridetwentymilesthroughthewoods,wobblingoffdownthedrive,wavinghishandanddisappearing,heobviouslydidfeel,instinctively,tremendously,strongly,allthat;thenight;theromance;Clarissa.Hedeservedtohaveher.