Місіс Деллоуей

           Afirst-ratevaletwastheobviouscomparison—somebodywhowalkedbehindcarryingsuitcases;couldbetrustedtosendtelegrams—indispensabletohostesses.Andhe’dfoundhisjob—marriedhisHonourableEvelyn;gotsomelittlepostatCourt,lookedaftertheKing’scellars,polishedtheImperialshoe-buckles,wentaboutinknee-breechesandlaceruffles.Howremorselesslifeis!AlittlejobatCourt!

           Hehadmarriedthislady,theHonourableEvelyn,andtheylivedhereabouts,sohethought(lookingatthepompoushousesoverlookingthePark),forhehadlunchedthereonceinahousewhichhad,likeallHugh’spossessions,somethingthatnootherhousecouldpossiblyhave—linencupboardsitmighthavebeen.Youhadtogoandlookatthem—youhadtospendagreatdealoftimealwaysadmiringwhateveritwas—linencupboards,pillow-cases,oldoakfurniture,pictures,whichHughhadpickedupforanoldsong.ButMrs.Hughsometimesgavetheshowaway.Shewasoneofthoseobscuremouse-likelittlewomenwhoadmirebigmen.Shewasalmostnegligible.Thensuddenlyshewouldsaysomethingquiteunexpected—somethingsharp.Shehadtherelicsofthegrandmannerperhaps.Thesteamcoalwasalittletoostrongforher—itmadetheatmospherethick.Andsotheretheylived,withtheirlinencupboardsandtheiroldmastersandtheirpillow-casesfringedwithreallaceattherateoffiveortenthousandayearpresumably,whilehe,whowastwoyearsolderthanHugh,cadgedforajob.