youtakeamouthful，andLordknowshowyou’regoingtoswallowit；
　　butpersevere，andyouoftensettletheattackforgood。Mywife’sacoward。“
　　Theywerepushingbacktheirchairs。Theladieswerehesitatingatthedoorway。
　　“I’dbettershowtheway，“saidHelen，advancing。
　　Rachelfollowed。Shehadtakennopartinthetalk；noonehadspokentoher；butshehadlistenedtoeverywordthatwassaid。
　　ShehadlookedfromMrs。DallowaytoMr。Dalloway，andfromMr。Dallowaybackagain。Clarissa，indeed，wasafascinatingspectacle。
　　Sheworeawhitedressandalongglitteringnecklace。
　　Whatwithherclothes，andherarchdelicateface，whichshowedexquisitelypinkbeneathhairturninggrey，shewasastonishinglylikeaneighteenth-centurymasterpiece——aReynoldsoraRomney。
　　ShemadeHelenandtheotherslookcoarseandslovenlybesideher。
　　Sittinglightlyuprightsheseemedtobedealingwiththeworldasshechose；theenormoussolidglobespunroundthiswayandthatbeneathherfingers。Andherhusband！Mr。Dallowayrollingthatrichdeliberatevoicewasevenmoreimpressive。Heseemedtocomefromthehummingoilycentreofthemachinewherethepolishedrodsaresliding，andthepistonsthumping；hegraspedthingssofirmlybutsoloosely；
　　hemadetheothersappearlikeoldmaidscheapeningremnants。
　　Rachelfollowedinthewakeofthematrons，asifinatrance；
　　acuriousscentofvioletscamebackfromMrs。Dalloway，minglingwiththesoftrustlingofherskirts，andthetinklingofherchains。
　　Asshefollowed，Rachelthoughtwithsupremeself-abasement，takinginthewholecourseofherlifeandthelivesofallherfriends，“Shesaidwelivedinaworldofourown。It’strue。
　　We’reperfectlyabsurd。“
　　“Wesitinhere，“saidHelen，openingthedoorofthesaloon。
　　“Youplay？“saidMrs。DallowaytoMrs。Ambrose，takingupthescoreof_Tristan_whichlayonthetable。
　　“Myniecedoes，“saidHelen，layingherhandonRachel’sshoulder。
　　“Oh，howIenvyyou！“ClarissaaddressedRachelforthefirsttime。
　　“D’yourememberthis？Isn’titdivine？“Sheplayedabarortwowithringedfingersuponthepage。
　　“AndthenTristangoeslikethis，andIsolde——oh！——it’salltoothrilling！HaveyoubeentoBayreuth？“
　　“No，Ihaven’t，“saidRachel。`“Thenthat’sstilltocome。
　　Ishallneverforgetmyfirst_Parsifal_——agrillingAugustday，andthosefatoldGermanwomen，comeintheirstuffyhighfrocks，andthenthedarktheatre，andthemusicbeginning，andonecouldn’thelpsobbing。Akindmanwentandfetchedmewater，Iremember；
　　andIcouldonlycryonhisshoulder！Itcaughtmehere“shetouchedherthroat。“It’slikenothingelseintheworld！Butwhere’syourpiano？““It’sinanotherroom，“Rachelexplained。
　　“Butyouwillplaytous？“Clarissaentreated。“Ican’timagineanythingnicerthantositoutinthemoonlightandlistentomusic——
　　onlythatsoundstoolikeaschoolgirl！Youknow，“shesaid，turningtoHelen，“Idon’tthinkmusic’saltogethergoodforpeople——
　　I’mafraidnot。“
　　“Toogreatastrain？“askedHelen。
　　“Tooemotional，somehow，“saidClarissa。“Onenoticesitatoncewhenaboyorgirltakesupmusicasaprofession。SirWilliamBroadleytoldmejustthesamething。Don’tyouhatethekindofattitudespeoplegointooverWagner——likethis——“Shecasthereyestotheceiling，claspedherhands，andassumedalookofintensity。
　　“Itreallydoesn’tmeanthattheyappreciatehim；infact，Ialwaysthinkit’stheotherwayround。Thepeoplewhoreallycareaboutanartarealwaystheleastaffected。D’youknowHenryPhilips，thepainter？“sheasked。
　　“Ihaveseenhim，“saidHelen。
　　“Tolookat，onemightthinkhewasasuccessfulstockbroker，andnotoneofthegreatestpaintersoftheage。That’swhatIlike。“
　　“Thereareagreatmanysuccessfulstockbrokers，ifyoulikelookingatthem，“saidHelen。
　　Rachelwishedvehementlythatherauntwouldnotbesoperverse。
　　“Whenyouseeamusicianwithlonghair，don’tyouknowinstinctivelythathe’sbad？“Clarissaasked，turningtoRachel。“WattsandJoachim——
　　theylookedjustlikeyouandme。“
　　“Andhowmuchnicerthey’dhavelookedwithcurls！“saidHelen。
　　“Thequestionis，areyougoingtoaimatbeautyorareyounot？“
　　“Cleanliness！“saidClarissa，“Idowantamantolookclean！“
　　“Bycleanlinessyoureallymeanwell-cutclothes，“saidHelen。
　　“There’ssomethingoneknowsagentlemanby，“saidClarissa，“butonecan’tsaywhatitis。“
　　“Takemyhusbandnow，doeshelooklikeagentleman？“
　　ThequestionseemedtoClarissainextraordinarilybadtaste。
　　“Oneofthethingsthatcan’tbesaid，“shewouldhaveputit。
　　Shecouldfindnoanswer，butalaugh。
　　“Well，anyhow，“shesaid，turningtoRachel，“Ishallinsistuponyourplayingtometo-morrow。“
　　TherewasthatinhermannerthatmadeRachelloveher。
　　Mrs。Dallowayhidatinyyawn，ameredilationofthenostrils。
　　“D’youknow，“shesaid，“I’mextraordinarilysleepy。It’stheseaair。
　　IthinkIshallescape。“
　　Aman’svoice，whichshetooktobethatofMr。Pepper，stridentindiscussion，andadvancinguponthesaloon，gaveherthealarm。
　　“Good-night——good-night！“shesaid。“Oh，Iknowmyway——doprayforcalm！Good-night！“
　　Heryawnmusthavebeentheimageofayawn。Insteadoflettinghermouthdroop，droppingallherclothesinabunchasthoughtheydependedononestring，andstretchingherlimbstotheutmostendofherberth，shemerelychangedherdressforadressing-gown，withinnumerablefrills，andwrappingherfeetinarug，satdownwithawriting-padonherknee。Alreadythiscrampedlittlecabinwasthedressingroomofaladyofquality。Therewerebottlescontainingliquids；
　　thereweretrays，boxes，brushes，pins。Evidentlynotaninchofherpersonlackeditsproperinstrument。ThescentwhichhadintoxicatedRachelpervadedtheair。Thusestablished，Mrs。Dallowaybegantowrite。Apeninherhandsbecameathingonecaressedpaperwith，andshemighthavebeenstrokingandticklingakittenasshewrote:
　　Pictureus，mydear，afloatintheveryoddestshipyoucanimagine。
　　It’snottheship，somuchasthepeople。Onedoescomeacrossqueersortsasonetravels。ImustsayIfindithugelyamusing。
　　There’sthemanageroftheline——calledVinrace——anicebigEnglishman，doesn’tsaymuch——youknowthesort。Asfortherest——theymighthavecometrailingoutofanoldnumberof_Punch_。They’relikepeopleplayingcroquetinthe’sixties。Howlongthey’veallbeenshutupinthisshipIdon’tknow——yearsandyearsIshouldsay——
　　butonefeelsasthoughonehadboardedalittleseparateworld，andthey’dneverbeenonshore，ordoneordinarythingsintheirlives。It’swhatI’vealwayssaidaboutliterarypeople——
　　they’refarthehardestofanytogetonwith。Theworstofitis，thesepeople——amanandhiswifeandaniece——mighthavebeen，onefeels，justlikeeverybodyelse，iftheyhadn’tgotswallowedupbyOxfordorCambridgeorsomesuchplace，andbeenmadecranksof。
　　Theman’sreallydelightfulifhe’dcuthisnails，andthewomanhasquiteafineface，onlyshedresses，ofcourse，inapotatosack，andwearsherhairlikeaLibertyshopgirl’s。Theytalkaboutart，andthinkussuchpoopsfordressingintheevening。However，Ican’thelpthat；I’dratherdiethancomeintodinnerwithoutchanging——
　　wouldn’tyou？Itmatterseversomuchmorethanthesoup。
　　It’soddhowthingslikethat_do_mattersomuchmorethanwhat’sgenerallysupposedtomatter。I’dratherhavemyheadcutoffthanwearflannelnexttheskin。Thenthere’saniceshygirl——
　　poorthing——Iwishonecouldrakeheroutbeforeit’stoolate。
　　Shehasquiteniceeyesandhair，only，ofcourse，she’llgetfunnytoo。Weoughttostartasocietyforbroadeningthemindsoftheyoung——muchmoreusefulthanmissionaries，Hester！Oh，I’dforgottenthere’sadreadfullittlethingcalledPepper。
　　He’sjustlikehisname。He’sindescribablyinsignificant，andratherqueerinhistemper，poordear。It’slikesittingdowntodinnerwithanill-conditionedfox-terrier，onlyonecan’tcombhimout，andsprinklehimwithpowder，asonewouldone’sdog。
　　It’sapity，sometimes，onecan’ttreatpeoplelikedogs！
　　Thegreatcomfortisthatwe’reawayfromnewspapers，sothatRichardwillhavearealholidaythistime。Spainwasn’taholiday……
　　“Youcoward！“saidRichard，almostfillingtheroomwithhissturdyfigure。
　　“Ididmydutyatdinner！“criedClarissa。
　　“You’veletyourselfinfortheGreekalphabet，anyhow。“
　　“Oh，mydear！Who_is_Ambrose？“
　　“IgatherthathewasaCambridgedon；livesinLondonnow，andeditsclassics。“
　　“Didyoueverseesuchasetofcranks？ThewomanaskedmeifI
　　thoughtherhusbandlookedlikeagentleman！“
　　“Itwashardtokeeptheballrollingatdinner，certainly，“
　　saidRichard。“Whyisitthatthewomen，inthatclass，aresomuchqueererthanthemen？“
　　“They’renothalfbad-looking，really——only——they’resoodd！“
　　Theybothlaughed，thinkingofthesamethings，sothattherewasnoneedtocomparetheirimpressions。
　　“IseeIshallhavequitealottosaytoVinrace，“saidRichard。
　　“HeknowsSuttonandallthatset。Hecantellmeagooddealabouttheconditionsofship-buildingintheNorth。“
　　“Oh，I’mglad。Themenalways_are_somuchbetterthanthewomen。“
　　“Onealwayshassomethingtosaytoamancertainly，“saidRichard。
　　“ButI’venodoubtyou’llchatterawayfastenoughaboutthebabies，Clarice。“
　　“Hasshegotchildren？Shedoesn’tlooklikeitsomehow。“
　　“Two。Aboyandgirl。“
　　ApangofenvyshotthroughMrs。Dalloway’sheart。
　　“We_must_haveason，Dick，“shesaid。
　　“GoodLord，whatopportunitiestherearenowforyoungmen！“
　　saidDalloway，forhistalkhadsethimthinking。“Idon’tsupposethere’sbeensogoodanopeningsincethedaysofPitt。“
　　“Andit’syours！“saidClarissa。
　　“Tobealeaderofmen，“Richardsoliloquised。“It’safinecareer。
　　MyGod——whatacareer！“
　　Thechestslowlycurvedbeneathhiswaistcoat。
　　“D’youknow，Dick，Ican’thelpthinkingofEngland，“saidhiswifemeditatively，leaningherheadagainsthischest。“Beingonthisshipseemstomakeitsomuchmorevivid——whatitreallymeanstobeEnglish。Onethinksofallwe’vedone，andournavies，andthepeopleinIndiaandAfrica，andhowwe’vegoneoncenturyaftercentury，sendingoutboysfromlittlecountryvillages——
　　andofmenlikeyou，Dick，anditmakesonefeelasifonecouldn’tbear_not_tobeEnglish！ThinkofthelightburningovertheHouse，Dick！WhenIstoodondeckjustnowIseemedtoseeit。
　　It’swhatonemeansbyLondon。“
　　“It’sthecontinuity，“saidRichardsententiously。AvisionofEnglishhistory，KingfollowingKing，PrimeMinisterPrimeMinister，andLawLawhadcomeoverhimwhilehiswifespoke。Heranhismindalongthelineofconservativepolicy，whichwentsteadilyfromLordSalisburytoAlfred，andgraduallyenclosed，asthoughitwerealassothatopenedandcaughtthings，enormouschunksofthehabitableglobe。
　　“It’stakenalongtime，butwe’veprettynearlydoneit，“hesaid；
　　“itremainstoconsolidate。“
　　“Andthesepeopledon’tseeit！“Clarissaexclaimed。
　　“Ittakesallsortstomakeaworld，“saidherhusband。“Therewouldneverbeagovernmentifthereweren’tanopposition。“
　　“Dick，you’rebetterthanIam，“saidClarissa。“Youseeround，whereIonlysee_there_。“Shepressedapointonthebackofhishand。
　　“That’smybusiness，asItriedtoexplainatdinner。“
　　“WhatIlikeaboutyou，Dick，“shecontinued，“isthatyou’realwaysthesame，andI’macreatureofmoods。“
　　“You’reaprettycreature，anyhow，“hesaid，gazingatherwithdeepereyes。
　　“Youthinkso，doyou？Thenkissme。“
　　Hekissedherpassionately，sothatherhalf-writtenletterslidtotheground。Pickingitup，hereaditwithoutaskingleave。
　　“Where’syourpen？“hesaid；andaddedinhislittlemasculinehand:
　　R。D。_loquitur_:Claricehasomittedtotellyouthatshelookedexceedinglyprettyatdinner，andmadeaconquestbywhichshehasboundherselftolearntheGreekalphabet。Iwilltakethisoccasionofaddingthatwearebothenjoyingourselvesintheseoutlandishparts，andonlywishforthepresenceofourfriendsyourselfandJohn，towittomakethetripperfectlyenjoyableasitpromisestobeinstructive