Shewasnotabletofollowupherobservations，however，ortocometoanyconclusion，forbyoneofthoseaccidentswhichareliabletohappenatsea，thewholecourseoftheirliveswasnowputoutoforder。
　　Evenatteathefloorrosebeneaththeirfeetandpitchedtoolowagain，andatdinnertheshipseemedtogroanandstrainasthoughalashweredescending。Shewhohadbeenabroad-backeddray-horse，uponwhosehind-quarterspierrotsmightwaltz，becameacoltinafield。Theplatesslantedawayfromtheknives，andMrs。Dalloway’sfaceblanchedforasecondasshehelpedherselfandsawthepotatoesrollthiswayandthat。Willoughby，ofcourse，extolledthevirtuesofhisship，andquotedwhathadbeensaidofherbyexpertsanddistinguishedpassengers，forhelovedhisownpossessions。Still，dinnerwasuneasy，anddirectlytheladieswerealoneClarissaownedthatshewouldbebetteroffinbed，andwent，smilingbravely。
　　Nextmorningthestormwasonthem，andnopolitenesscouldignoreit。
　　Mrs。Dallowaystayedinherroom。Richardfacedthreemeals，eatingvaliantlyateach；butatthethird，certainglazedasparagusswimminginoilfinallyconqueredhim。
　　“Thatbeatsme，“hesaid，andwithdrew。
　　“Nowwearealoneoncemore，“remarkedWilliamPepper，lookingroundthetable；butnoonewasreadytoengagehimintalk，andthemealendedinsilence。
　　Onthefollowingdaytheymet——butasflyingleavesmeetintheair。
　　Sicktheywerenot；butthewindpropelledthemhastilyintorooms，violentlydownstairs。Theypassedeachothergaspingondeck；theyshoutedacrosstables。Theyworefurcoats；andHelenwasneverseenwithoutabandannaonherhead。Forcomforttheyretreatedtotheircabins，wherewithtightlywedgedfeettheylettheshipbounceandtumble。
　　Theirsensationswerethesensationsofpotatoesinasackonagallopinghorse。Theworldoutsidewasmerelyaviolentgreytumult。
　　Fortwodaystheyhadaperfectrestfromtheiroldemotions。
　　Rachelhadjustenoughconsciousnesstosupposeherselfadonkeyonthesummitofamoorinahail-storm，withitscoatblownintofurrows；
　　thenshebecameawizenedtree，perpetuallydrivenbackbythesaltAtlanticgale。
　　Helen，ontheotherhand，staggeredtoMrs。Dalloway’sdoor，knocked，couldnotbeheardfortheslammingofdoorsandthebatteringofwind，andentered。
　　Therewerebasins，ofcourse。Mrs。Dallowaylayhalf-raisedonapillow，anddidnotopenhereyes。Thenshemurmured，“Oh，Dick，isthatyou？“
　　Helenshouted——forshewasthrownagainstthewashstand——“Howareyou？“
　　Clarissaopenedoneeye。Itgaveheranincrediblydissipatedappearance。
　　“Awful！“shegasped。Herlipswerewhiteinside。
　　Plantingherfeetwide，Helencontrivedtopourchampagneintoatumblerwithatooth-brushinit。
　　“Champagne，“shesaid。
　　“There’satooth-brushinit，“murmuredClarissa，andsmiled；
　　itmighthavebeenthecontortionofoneweeping。Shedrank。
　　“Disgusting，“shewhispered，indicatingthebasins。Relicsofhumourstillplayedoverherfacelikemoonshine。
　　“Wantmore？“Helenshouted。SpeechwasagainbeyondClarissa’sreach。
　　Thewindlaidtheshipshiveringonherside。PaleagoniescrossedMrs。Dallowayinwaves。Whenthecurtainsflapped，greylightspuffedacrossher。Betweenthespasmsofthestorm，Helenmadethecurtainfast，shookthepillows，stretchedthebed-clothes，andsmoothedthehotnostrilsandforeheadwithcoldscent。
　　“You_are_good！“Clarissagasped。“Horridmess！“
　　Shewastryingtoapologiseforwhiteunderclothesfallenandscatteredonthefloor。Foronesecondsheopenedasingleeye，andsawthattheroomwastidy。
　　“That’snice，“shegasped。
　　Helenlefther；far，farawaysheknewthatshefeltakindoflikingforMrs。Dalloway。Shecouldnothelprespectingherspiritandherdesire，eveninthethroesofsickness，foratidybedroom。
　　Herpetticoats，however，roseaboveherknees。
　　Quitesuddenlythestormrelaxeditsgrasp。Ithappenedattea；
　　theexpectedparoxysmoftheblastgaveoutjustasitreacheditsclimaxanddwindledaway，andtheshipinsteadoftakingtheusualplungewentsteadily。Themonotonousorderofplungingandrising，roaringandrelaxing，wasinterferedwith，andeveryoneattablelookedupandfeltsomethingloosenwithinthem。
　　Thestrainwasslackenedandhumanfeelingsbegantopeepagain，astheydowhendaylightshowsattheendofatunnel。
　　“Tryaturnwithme，“RidleycalledacrosstoRachel。“
　　“Foolish！“criedHelen，buttheywentstumblinguptheladder。
　　Chokedbythewindtheirspiritsrosewitharush，forontheskirtsofallthegreytumultwasamistyspotofgold。Instantlytheworlddroppedintoshape；theywerenolongeratomsflyinginthevoid，butpeopleridingatriumphantshiponthebackofthesea。
　　Windandspacewerebanished；theworldfloatedlikeanappleinatub，andthemindofman，whichhadbeenunmooredalso，oncemoreattacheditselftotheoldbeliefs。
　　Havingscrambledtwiceroundtheshipandreceivedmanysoundcuffsfromthewind，theysawasailor’sfacepositivelyshinegolden。
　　Theylooked，andbeheldacompleteyellowcircleofsun；nextminuteitwastraversedbysailingstandsofcloud，andthencompletelyhidden。
　　Bybreakfastthenextmorning，however，theskywassweptclean，thewaves，althoughsteep，wereblue，andaftertheirviewofthestrangeunder-world，inhabitedbyphantoms，peoplebegantoliveamongtea-potsandloavesofbreadwithgreaterzestthanever。
　　RichardandClarissa，however，stillremainedontheborderland。
　　Shedidnotattempttositup；herhusbandstoodonhisfeet，contemplatedhiswaistcoatandtrousers，shookhishead，andthenlaydownagain。Theinsideofhisbrainwasstillrisingandfallingliketheseaonthestage。Atfouro’clockhewokefromsleepandsawthesunlightmakeavividangleacrosstheredplushcurtainsandthegreytweedtrousers。Theordinaryworldoutsideslidintohismind，andbythetimehewasdressedhewasanEnglishgentlemanagain。
　　Hestoodbesidehiswife。Shepulledhimdowntoherbythelapelofhiscoat，kissedhim，andheldhimfastforaminute。
　　“Goandgetabreathofair，Dick，“shesaid。“Youlookquitewashedout……Howniceyousmell！……Andbepolitetothatwoman。
　　Shewassokindtome。“
　　ThereuponMrs。Dallowayturnedtothecoolsideofherpillow，terriblyflattenedbutstillinvincible。
　　RichardfoundHelentalkingtoherbrother-in-law，overtwodishesofyellowcakeandsmoothbreadandbutter。
　　“Youlookveryill！“sheexclaimedonseeinghim。“Comeandhavesometea。“
　　Heremarkedthatthehandsthatmovedaboutthecupswerebeautiful。
　　“Ihearyou’vebeenverygoodtomywife，“hesaid。“She’shadanawfultimeofit。Youcameinandfedherwithchampagne。
　　Wereyouamongthesavedyourself？“
　　“I？Oh，Ihaven’tbeensickfortwentyyears——sea-sick，Imean。“
　　“Therearethreestagesofconvalescence，Ialwayssay，“
　　brokeintheheartyvoiceofWilloughby。“Themilkstage，thebread-and-butterstage，andtheroast-beefstage。Ishouldsayyouwereatthebread-and-butterstage。“Hehandedhimtheplate。
　　“Now，Ishouldadviseaheartytea，thenabriskwalkondeck；
　　andbydinner-timeyou’llbeclamouringforbeef，eh？“Hewentofflaughing，excusinghimselfonthescoreofbusiness。
　　“Whatasplendidfellowheis！“saidRichard。“Alwayskeenonsomething。“
　　“Yes，“saidHelen，“he’salwaysbeenlikethat。“
　　“Thisisagreatundertakingofhis，“Richardcontinued。
　　“It’sabusinessthatwon’tstopwithships，Ishouldsay。
　　WeshallseehiminParliament，orI’mmuchmistaken。He’sthekindofmanwewantinParliament——themanwhohasdonethings。“
　　ButHelenwasnotmuchinterestedinherbrother-in-law。
　　“Iexpectyourhead’saching，isn’tit？“sheasked，pouringafreshcup。
　　“Well，itis，“saidRichard。“It’shumiliatingtofindwhataslaveoneistoone’sbodyinthisworld。D’youknow，Icanneverworkwithoutakettleonthehob。AsoftenasnotIdon’tdrinktea，butImustfeelthatIcanifIwantto。“
　　“That’sverybadforyou，“saidHelen。
　　“Itshortensone’slife；butI’mafraid，Mrs。Ambrose，wepoliticiansmustmakeupourmindstothatattheoutset。We’vegottoburnthecandleatbothends，or——“
　　“You’vecookedyourgoose！“saidHelenbrightly。
　　“Wecan’tmakeyoutakeusseriously，Mrs。Ambrose，“heprotested。
　　“MayIaskhowyou’vespentyourtime？Reading——philosophy？“Hesawtheblackbook。“Metaphysicsandfishing！“heexclaimed。“IfIhadtoliveagainIbelieveIshoulddevotemyselftooneortheother。“
　　Hebeganturningthepages。
　　“’Good，then，isindefinable，’“hereadout。“Howjollytothinkthat’sgoingonstill！’SofarasIknowthereisonlyoneethicalwriter，ProfessorHenrySidgwick，whohasclearlyrecognisedandstatedthisfact。’That’sjustthekindofthingweusedtotalkaboutwhenwewereboys。IcanrememberarguinguntilfiveinthemorningwithDuffy——nowSecretaryforIndia——pacingroundandroundthosecloistersuntilwedecideditwastoolatetogotobed，andwewentforarideinstead。Whetherweevercametoanyconclusion——
　　that’sanothermatter。Still，it’sthearguingthatcounts。
　　It’sthingslikethatthatstandoutinlife。Nothing’sbeenquitesovividsince。It’sthephilosophers，it’sthescholars，“
　　hecontinued，“they’rethepeoplewhopassthetorch，whokeepthelightburningbywhichwelive。Beingapoliticiandoesn’tnecessarilyblindonetothat，Mrs。Ambrose。“
　　“No。Whyshouldit？“saidHelen。“Butcanyourememberifyourwifetakessugar？“
　　SheliftedthetrayandwentoffwithittoMrs。Dalloway。
　　Richardtwistedamufflertwiceroundhisthroatandstruggledupondeck。Hisbody，whichhadgrownwhiteandtenderinadarkroom，tingledalloverinthefreshair。Hefelthimselfamanundoubtedlyintheprimeoflife。Prideglowedinhiseyeasheletthewindbuffethimandstoodfirm。Withhisheadslightlyloweredhesheeredroundcorners，strodeuphill，andmettheblast。Therewasacollision。Forasecondhecouldnotseewhatthebodywashehadruninto。“Sorry。““Sorry。“ItwasRachelwhoapologised。
　　Theybothlaughed，toomuchblownabouttospeak。Shedroveopenthedoorofherroomandsteppedintoitscalm。Inordertospeaktoher，itwasnecessarythatRichardshouldfollow。Theystoodinawhirlpoolofwind；papersbeganflyingroundincircles，thedoorcrashedto，andtheytumbled，laughing，intochairs。
　　RichardsatuponBach。
　　“Myword！Whatatempest！“heexclaimed。
　　“Fine，isn’tit？“saidRachel。Certainlythestruggleandwindhadgivenheradecisionshelacked；redwasinhercheeks，andherhairwasdown。
　　“Oh，whatfun！“hecried。“WhatamIsittingon？Isthisyourroom？
　　Howjolly！““There——sitthere，“shecommanded。Cowperslidoncemore。
　　“Howjollytomeetagain，“saidRichard。“Itseemsanage。
　　_Cowper’s__Letters>？……Bach？……_Wuthering__Heights_？……Isthiswhereyoumeditateontheworld，andthencomeoutandposepoorpoliticianswithquestions？Intheintervalsofsea-sicknessI’vethoughtalotofourtalk。Iassureyou，youmademethink。“
　　“Imadeyouthink！Butwhy？“
　　“Whatsolitaryicebergsweare，MissVinrace！Howlittlewecancommunicate！TherearelotsofthingsIshouldliketotellyouabout——tohearyouropinionof。HaveyoueverreadBurke？“
　　“Burke？“sherepeated。“WhowasBurke？“
　　“No？Well，thenIshallmakeapointofsendingyouacopy。
　　_The__Speech__on__the__French__Revolution_——_The_
　　_American__Rebellion_？Whichshallitbe，Iwonder？“Henotedsomethinginhispocket-book。“Andthenyoumustwriteandtellmewhatyouthinkofit。Thisreticence——thisisolation——that’swhat’sthematterwithmodernlife！Now，tellmeaboutyourself。
　　Whatareyourinterestsandoccupations？Ishouldimaginethatyouwereapersonwithverystronginterests。Ofcourseyouare！
　　GoodGod！WhenIthinkoftheagewelivein，withitsopportunitiesandpossibilities，themassofthingstobedoneandenjoyed——
　　whyhaven’twetenlivesinsteadofone？Butaboutyourself？“
　　“Yousee，I’mawoman，“saidRachel。
　　“Iknow——Iknow，“saidRichard，throwinghisheadback，anddrawinghisfingersacrosshiseyes。
　　“Howstrangetobeawoman！Ayoungandbeautifulwoman，“
　　hecontinuedsententiously，“hasthewholeworldatherfeet。
　　That’strue，MissVinrace。Youhaveaninestimablepower——forgoodorforevil。Whatcouldn’tyoudo——“hebrokeoff。
　　“What？“askedRachel。
　　“Youhavebeauty，“hesaid。Theshiplurched。Rachelfellslightlyforward。Richardtookherinhisarmsandkissedher。
　　Holdinghertight，hekissedherpassionately，sothatshefeltthehardnessofhisbodyandtheroughnessofhischeekprinteduponhers。Shefellbackinherchair，withtremendousbeatsoftheheart，eachofwhichsentblackwavesacrosshereyes。