athousandwordsandactionsbecameplaintoher。
　　“Becausemenarebrutes！Ihatemen！“sheexclaimed。
　　“Ithoughtyousaidyoulikedhim？“saidHelen。
　　“Ilikedhim，andIlikedbeingkissed，“sheanswered，asifthatonlyaddedmoredifficultiestoherproblem。
　　Helenwassurprisedtoseehowgenuinebothshockandproblemwere，butshecouldthinkofnowayofeasingthedifficultyexceptbygoingontalking。Shewantedtomakeherniecetalk，andsotounderstandwhythisratherdull，kindly，plausiblepoliticianhadmadesodeepanimpressiononher，forsurelyattheageoftwenty-fourthiswasnotnatural。
　　“AnddidyoulikeMrs。Dallowaytoo？“sheasked。
　　AsshespokeshesawRachelredden；forsherememberedsillythingsshehadsaid，andalso，itoccurredtoherthatshetreatedthisexquisitewomanratherbadly，forMrs。Dallowayhadsaidthatshelovedherhusband。
　　“Shewasquitenice，butathimble-patedcreature，“Helencontinued。
　　“Ineverheardsuchnonsense！Chitter-chatter-chitter-chatter——
　　fishandtheGreekalphabet——neverlistenedtoawordanyonesaid——
　　chock-fullofidiotictheoriesaboutthewaytobringupchildren——
　　I’dfarrathertalktohimanyday。Hewaspompous，buthedidatleastunderstandwhatwassaidtohim。“
　　TheglamourinsensiblyfadedalittlebothfromRichardandClarissa。
　　Theyhadnotbeensowonderfulafterall，then，intheeyesofamatureperson。
　　“It’sverydifficulttoknowwhatpeoplearelike，“Rachelremarked，andHelensawwithpleasurethatshespokemorenaturally。
　　“IsupposeIwastakenin。“
　　TherewaslittledoubtaboutthataccordingtoHelen，butsherestrainedherselfandsaidaloud:
　　“Onehastomakeexperiments。“
　　“Andthey_were_nice，“saidRachel。“Theywereextraordinarilyinteresting。“ShetriedtorecalltheimageoftheworldasalivethingthatRichardhadgivenher，withdrainslikenerves，andbadhouseslikepatchesofdiseasedskin。Sherecalledhiswatch-words——Unity——Imagination，andsawagainthebubblesmeetinginhertea-cupashespokeofsistersandcanaries，boyhoodandhisfather，hersmallworldbecomingwonderfullyenlarged。
　　“Butallpeopledon’tseemtoyouequallyinteresting，dothey？“
　　askedMrs。Ambrose。
　　Rachelexplainedthatmostpeoplehadhithertobeensymbols；
　　butthatwhentheytalkedtoonetheyceasedtobesymbols，andbecame——“Icouldlistentothemforever！“sheexclaimed。
　　Shethenjumpedup，disappeareddownstairsforaminute，andcamebackwithafatredbook。
　　“_Who’s__Who_，“shesaid，layingituponHelen’skneeandturningthepages。“Itgivesshortlivesofpeople——forinstance:
　　’SirRolandBeal；born1852；parentsfromMoffatt；educatedatRugby；
　　passedfirstintoR。E。；married1878thedaughterofT。Fishwick；
　　servedintheBechuanalandExpedition1884-85honourablymentioned。Clubs:
　　UnitedService，NavalandMilitary。Recreations:anenthusiasticcurler。’“
　　SittingonthedeckatHelen’sfeetshewentonturningthepagesandreadingbiographiesofbankers，writers，clergymen，sailors，surgeons，judges，professors，statesmen，editors，philanthropists，merchants，andactresses；whatclubstheybelongedto，wheretheylived，whatgamestheyplayed，andhowmanyacrestheyowned。
　　Shebecameabsorbedinthebook。
　　Helenmeanwhilestitchedatherembroideryandthoughtoverthethingstheyhadsaid。Herconclusionwasthatshewouldverymuchliketoshowherniece，ifitwerepossible，howtolive，orassheputit，howtobeareasonableperson。Shethoughtthattheremustbesomethingwronginthisconfusionbetweenpoliticsandkissingpoliticians，andthatanelderpersonoughttobeabletohelp。
　　“Iquiteagree，“shesaid，“thatpeopleareveryinteresting；
　　only——“Rachel，puttingherfingerbetweenthepages，lookedupenquiringly。
　　“OnlyIthinkyououghttodiscriminate，“sheended。“It’sapitytobeintimatewithpeoplewhoare——well，rathersecond-rate，liketheDalloways，andtofinditoutlater。“
　　“Buthowdoesoneknow？“Rachelasked。
　　“Ireallycan’ttellyou，“repliedHelencandidly，afteramoment’sthought。“You’llhavetofindoutforyourself。Buttryand——
　　Whydon’tyoucallmeHelen？“sheadded。“’Aunt’s’ahorridname。
　　IneverlikedmyAunts。“
　　“IshouldliketocallyouHelen，“Rachelanswered。
　　“D’youthinkmeveryunsympathetic？“
　　RachelreviewedthepointswhichHelenhadcertainlyfailedtounderstand；theyarosechieflyfromthedifferenceofnearlytwentyyearsinagebetweenthem，whichmadeMrs。Ambroseappeartoohumorousandcoolinamatterofsuchmoment。
　　“No，“shesaid。“Somethingsyoudon’tunderstand，ofcourse。“
　　“Ofcourse，“Helenagreed。“Sonowyoucangoaheadandbeapersononyourownaccount，“sheadded。
　　Thevisionofherownpersonality，ofherselfasarealeverlastingthing，differentfromanythingelse，unmergeable，liketheseaorthewind，flashedintoRachel’smind，andshebecameprofoundlyexcitedatthethoughtofliving。
　　“Icanbym-m-myself，“shestammered，“inspiteofyou，inspiteoftheDalloways，andMr。Pepper，andFather，andmyAunts，inspiteofthese？“Shesweptherhandacrossawholepageofstatesmenandsoldiers。
　　“Inspiteofthemall，“saidHelengravely。Shethenputdownherneedle，andexplainedaplanwhichhadcomeintoherheadastheytalked。
　　InsteadofwanderingondowntheAmazonsuntilshereachedsomesulphuroustropicalport，whereonehadtoliewithindoorsalldaybeatingoffinsectswithafan，thesensiblethingtodosurelywastospendtheseasonwiththemintheirvillabytheseaside，whereamongotheradvantagesMrs。Ambroseherselfwouldbeathandto——
　　“Afterall，Rachel，“shebrokeoff，“it’ssillytopretendthatbecausethere’stwentyyears’differencebetweenuswethereforecan’ttalktoeachotherlikehumanbeings。“
　　“No；becausewelikeeachother，“saidRachel。
　　“Yes，“Mrs。Ambroseagreed。
　　Thatfact，togetherwithotherfacts，hadbeenmadeclearbytheirtwentyminutes’talk，althoughhowtheyhadcometotheseconclusionstheycouldnothavesaid。
　　Howevertheywerecomeby，theyweresufficientlyserioustosendMrs。Ambroseadayortwolaterinsearchofherbrother-in-law。Shefoundhimsittinginhisroomworking，applyingastoutbluepencilauthoritativelytobundlesoffilmypaper。Paperslaytoleftandtorightofhim，thereweregreatenvelopessogorgedwithpapersthattheyspiltpapersontothetable。Abovehimhungaphotographofawoman’shead。TheneedofsittingabsolutelystillbeforeaCockneyphotographerhadgivenherlipsaqueerlittlepucker，andhereyesforthesamereasonlookedasthoughshethoughtthewholesituationridiculous。Neverthelessitwastheheadofanindividualandinterestingwoman，whowouldnodoubthaveturnedandlaughedatWilloughbyifshecouldhavecaughthiseye；
　　butwhenhelookedupatherhesighedprofoundly。Inhismindthisworkofhis，thegreatfactoriesatHullwhichshowedlikemountainsatnight，theshipsthatcrossedtheoceanpunctually，theschemesforcombiningthisandthatandbuildingupasolidmassofindustry，wasallanofferingtoher；helaidhissuccessatherfeet；andwasalwaysthinkinghowtoeducatehisdaughtersothatTheresamightbeglad。Hewasaveryambitiousman；
　　andalthoughhehadnotbeenparticularlykindtoherwhileshelived，asHelenthought，henowbelievedthatshewatchedhimfromHeaven，andinspiredwhatwasgoodinhim。
　　Mrs。Ambroseapologisedfortheinterruption，andaskedwhethershemightspeaktohimaboutaplanofhers。Wouldheconsenttoleavehisdaughterwiththemwhentheylanded，insteadoftakingheronuptheAmazons？
　　“Wewouldtakegreatcareofher，“sheadded，“andweshouldreallylikeit。“
　　Willoughbylookedverygraveandcarefullylaidasidehispapers。
　　“She’sagoodgirl，“hesaidatlength。“Thereisalikeness？“——
　　henoddedhisheadatthephotographofTheresaandsighed。HelenlookedatTheresapursingupherlipsbeforetheCockneyphotographer。
　　Itsuggestedherinanabsurdhumanway，andshefeltanintensedesiretosharesomejoke。
　　“She’stheonlythingthat’slefttome，“sighedWilloughby。
　　“Wegoonyearafteryearwithouttalkingaboutthesethings——“
　　Hebrokeoff。“Butit’sbetterso。Onlylife’sveryhard。“
　　Helenwassorryforhim，andpattedhimontheshoulder，butshefeltuncomfortablewhenherbrother-in-lawexpressedhisfeelings，andtookrefugeinpraisingRachel，andexplainingwhyshethoughtherplanmightbeagoodone。
　　“True，“saidWilloughbywhenshehaddone。“Thesocialconditionsareboundtobeprimitive。Ishouldbeoutagooddeal。Iagreedbecauseshewishedit。AndofcourseIhavecompleteconfidenceinyou……Yousee，Helen，“hecontinued，becomingconfidential，“Iwanttobringherupashermotherwouldhavewished。Idon’tholdwiththesemodernviews——anymorethanyoudo，eh？She’sanicequietgirl，devotedtohermusic——alittlelessof_that_woulddonoharm。Still，it’skeptherhappy，andweleadaveryquietlifeatRichmond。Ishouldlikehertobegintoseemorepeople。
　　IwanttotakeheraboutwithmewhenIgethome。I’vehalfamindtorentahouseinLondon，leavingmysistersatRichmond，andtakehertoseeoneortwopeoplewho’dbekindtoherformysake。
　　I’mbeginningtorealise，“hecontinued，stretchinghimselfout，“thatallthisistendingtoParliament，Helen。It’stheonlywaytogetthingsdoneasonewantsthemdone。ItalkedtoDallowayaboutit。Inthatcase，ofcourse，IshouldwantRacheltobeabletotakemorepartinthings。Acertainamountofentertainingwouldbenecessary——dinners，anoccasionaleveningparty。One’sconstituentsliketobefed，Ibelieve。InallthesewaysRachelcouldbeofgreathelptome。So，“hewoundup，“Ishouldbeveryglad，ifwearrangethisvisitwhichmustbeuponabusinessfooting，mind，ifyoucouldseeyourwaytohelpingmygirl，bringingherout——
　　she’salittleshynow，——makingawomanofher，thekindofwomanhermotherwouldhavelikedhertobe，“heended，jerkinghisheadatthephotograph。
　　Willoughby’sselfishness，thoughconsistentasHelensawwithrealaffectionforhisdaughter，madeherdeterminedtohavethegirltostaywithher，evenifshehadtopromiseacompletecourseofinstructioninthefemininegraces。Shecouldnothelplaughingatthenotionofit——RachelaToryhostess！——andmarvellingasshelefthimattheastonishingignoranceofafather。
　　Rachel，whenconsulted，showedlessenthusiasmthanHelencouldhavewished。Onemomentshewaseager，thenextdoubtful。Visionsofagreatriver，nowblue，nowyellowinthetropicalsunandcrossedbybrightbirds，nowwhiteinthemoon，nowdeepinshadewithmovingtreesandcanoesslidingoutfromthetangledbanks，besether。
　　Helenpromisedariver。Thenshedidnotwanttoleaveherfather。
　　Thatfeelingseemedgenuinetoo，butintheendHelenprevailed，althoughwhenshehadwonhercaseshewasbesetbydoubts，andmorethanonceregrettedtheimpulsewhichhadentangledherwiththefortunesofanotherhumanbeing。
　　Fromadistancethe_Euphrosyne_lookedverysmall。Glasseswereturneduponherfromthedecksofgreatliners，andshewaspronouncedatramp，acargo-boat，oroneofthosewretchedlittlepassengersteamerswherepeoplerolledaboutamongthecattleondeck。
　　Theinsect-likefiguresofDalloways，Ambroses，andVinraceswerealsoderided，bothfromtheextremesmallnessoftheirpersonsandthedoubtwhichonlystrongglassescoulddispelastowhethertheywerereallylivecreaturesoronlylumpsontherigging。
　　Mr。Pepperwithallhislearninghadbeenmistakenforacormorant，andthen，asunjustly，transformedintoacow。Atnight，indeed，whenthewaltzeswereswinginginthesaloon，andgiftedpassengersreciting，thelittleship——shrunktoafewbeadsoflightoutamongthedarkwaves，andonehighinairuponthemast-head——
　　seemedsomethingmysteriousandimpressivetoheatedpartnersrestingfromthedance。Shebecameashippassinginthenight——
　　anemblemofthelonelinessofhumanlife，anoccasionforqueerconfidencesandsuddenappealsforsympathy。
　　Onandonshewent，bydayandbynight，followingherpath，untilonemorningbrokeandshowedtheland。Losingitsshadow-likeappearanceitbecamefirstcleftandmountainous，nextcolouredgreyandpurple，nextscatteredwithwhiteblockswhichgraduallyseparatedthemselves，andthen，astheprogressoftheshipactedupontheviewlikeafield-glassofincreasingpower，becamestreetsofhouses。Bynineo’clockthe_Euphrosyne_hadtakenupherpositioninthemiddleofagreatbay；shedroppedheranchor；immediately，asifshewerearecumbentgiantrequiringexamination，smallboatscameswarmingabouther。Sherangwithcries；menjumpedontoher；herdeckwasthumpedbyfeet。Thelonelylittleislandwasinvadedfromallquartersatonce，andafterfourweeksofsilenceitwasbewilderingtohearhumanspeech。Mrs。Ambrosealoneheedednoneofthisstir。