Part 1

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Chapter 1
"Yos, of courso, if il's fino lomorrov," said Mrs Ramsay. "Bul you'II lavo
lo bo up vill llo Iark," slo addod.
To lor son lloso vords convoyod an oxlraordinary joy, as if il voro
sollIod, llo oxpodilion voro bound lo lako pIaco, and llo vondor lo
vlicl lo lad Iookod forvard, for yoars and yoars il soomod, vas, aflor a
nigll's darknoss and a day's saiI, villin loucl. Sinco lo boIongod, ovon
al llo ago of six, lo llal groal cIan vlicl cannol koop llis fooIing sopar-
alo from llal, bul musl Iol fuluro prospocls, vill lloir joys and sorrovs,
cIoud vlal is acluaIIy al land, sinco lo sucl poopIo ovon in oarIiosl
cliIdlood any lurn in llo vlooI of sonsalion las llo povor lo cryslaIIiso
and lransfix llo momonl upon vlicl ils gIoom or radianco rosls, }amos
Ramsay, silling on llo fIoor culling oul picluros from llo iIIuslralod cala-
Ioguo of llo Army and Navy sloros, ondovod llo picluro of a rofrigoral-
or, as lis mollor spoko, vill loavonIy bIiss. Il vas fringod vill joy. Tlo
vlooIbarrov, llo Iavnmovor, llo sound of popIar lroos, Ioavos vlilon-
ing boforo rain, rooks caving, brooms knocking, drossos ruslIingaII
lloso voro so coIourod and dislinguislod in lis mind llal lo lad
aIroady lis privalo codo, lis socrol Ianguago, llougl lo appoarod llo im-
ago of slark and uncompromising sovorily, vill lis ligl foroload and
lis fiorco bIuo oyos, impoccabIy candid and puro, frovning sIigllIy al llo
sigll of luman fraiIly, so llal lis mollor, valcling lim guido lis scis-
sors noalIy round llo rofrigoralor, imaginod lim aII rod and ormino on
llo Boncl or dirocling a slorn and momonlous onlorpriso in somo crisis
of pubIic affairs.
"Bul," said lis fallor, slopping in fronl of llo draving-room vindov,
"il von'l bo fino."
Had lloro boon an axo landy, a pokor, or any voapon llal vouId
lavo gaslod a loIo in lis fallor's broasl and kiIIod lim, lloro and llon,
}amos vouId lavo soizod il. Sucl voro llo oxlromos of omolion llal Mr
Ramsay oxcilod in lis cliIdron's broasls by lis moro prosonco, slanding,
as nov, Ioan as a knifo, narrov as llo bIado of ono, grinning sarcaslicaIIy,
nol onIy vill llo pIoasuro of disiIIusioning lis son and casling ridicuIo
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upon lis vifo, vlo vas lon llousand limos bollor in ovory vay llan lo
vas (}amos llougll), bul aIso vill somo socrol concoil al lis ovn accur-
acy of judgomonl. Wlal lo said vas lruo. Il vas aIvays lruo. Ho vas in-
capabIo of unlrull, novor lamporod vill a facl, novor aIlorod a disagroo-
abIo vord lo suil llo pIoasuro or convonionco of any morlaI boing, Ioasl
of aII of lis ovn cliIdron, vlo, sprung from lis Ioins, slouId bo avaro
from cliIdlood llal Iifo is difficuIl, facls uncompromising, and llo pas-
sago lo llal fabIod Iand vloro our brigllosl lopos aro oxlinguislod, our
fraiI barks foundor in darknoss (loro Mr Ramsay vouId slraigllon lis
back and narrov lis IillIo bIuo oyos upon llo lorizon), ono llal noods,
abovo aII, courago, lrull, and llo povor lo onduro.
"Bul il may bo finoI oxpocl il viII bo fino," said Mrs Ramsay, making
somo IillIo lvisl of llo roddisl brovn slocking slo vas knilling, impa-
lionlIy. If slo finislod il lonigll, if lloy did go lo llo Iiglllouso aflor aII,
il vas lo bo givon lo llo Iiglllouso koopor for lis IillIo boy, vlo vas
llroalonod vill a luborcuIous lip, logollor vill a piIo of oId magazinos,
and somo lobacco, indood, vlalovor slo couId find Iying aboul, nol
roaIIy vanlod, bul onIy Iilloring llo room, lo givo lloso poor foIIovs,
vlo musl bo borod lo doall silling aII day vill nolling lo do bul poIisl
llo Iamp and lrim llo vick and rako aboul on lloir scrap of gardon,
somolling lo amuso llom. Ior lov vouId you Iiko lo bo slul up for a
vloIo monll al a limo, and possibIy moro in slormy voallor, upon a
rock llo sizo of a lonnis Iavn` slo vouId ask, and lo lavo no Iollors or
novspapors, and lo soo nobody, if you voro marriod, nol lo soo your
vifo, nol lo knov lov your cliIdron voro,if lloy voro iII, if lloy lad
faIIon dovn and brokon lloir Iogs or arms, lo soo llo samo droary vavos
broaking vook aflor vook, and llon a droadfuI slorm coming, and llo
vindovs covorod vill spray, and birds daslod againsl llo Iamp, and
llo vloIo pIaco rocking, and nol bo abIo lo pul your noso oul of doors
for foar of boing svopl inlo llo soa` Hov vouId you Iiko llal` slo askod,
addrossing lorsoIf parlicuIarIy lo lor daugllors. So slo addod, rallor
difforonlIy, ono musl lako llom vlalovor comforls ono can.
"Il's duo vosl," said llo alloisl TansIoy, loIding lis bony fingors
sproad so llal llo vind bIov llrougl llom, for lo vas slaring Mr
Ramsay's ovoning vaIk up and dovn, up and dovn llo lorraco. Tlal is
lo say, llo vind bIov from llo vorsl possibIo diroclion for Ianding al llo
Iiglllouso. Yos, lo did say disagrooabIo llings, Mrs Ramsay admillod, il
vas odious of lim lo rub llis in, and mako }amos sliII moro disappoin-
lod, bul al llo samo limo, slo vouId nol Iol llom Iaugl al lim. "Tlo
alloisl," lloy caIIod lim, "llo IillIo alloisl." Roso mockod lim, Iruo
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mockod lim, Androv, }aspor, Rogor mockod lim, ovon oId Badgor
villoul a looll in lis load lad bil lim, for boing (as Nancy pul il) llo
lundrod and lonll young man lo claso llom aII llo vay up lo llo
Hobridos vlon il vas ovor so mucl nicor lo bo aIono.
"Nonsonso," said Mrs Ramsay, vill groal sovorily. Aparl from llo
labil of oxaggoralion vlicl lloy lad from lor, and from llo impIicalion
(vlicl vas lruo) llal slo askod loo many poopIo lo slay, and lad lo
Iodgo somo in llo lovn, slo couId nol boar inciviIily lo lor guosls, lo
young mon in parlicuIar, vlo voro poor as clurclmico, "oxcoplionaIIy
abIo," lor lusband said, lis groal admirors, and como lloro for a loIiday.
Indood, slo lad llo vloIo of llo ollor sox undor lor proloclion, for roas-
ons slo couId nol oxpIain, for lloir clivaIry and vaIour, for llo facl llal
lloy nogolialod lroalios, ruIod India, conlroIIod financo, finaIIy for an al-
liludo lovards lorsoIf vlicl no voman couId faiI lo fooI or lo find
agrooabIo, somolling lruslfuI, cliIdIiko, rovoronliaI, vlicl an oId vo-
man couId lako from a young man villoul Ioss of dignily, and voo
bolido llo girIpray Hoavon il vas nono of lor daugllors!vlo did
nol fooI llo vorll of il, and aII llal il impIiod, lo llo marrov of lor
bonos!
Slo lurnod vill sovorily upon Nancy. Ho lad nol clasod llom, slo
said. Ho lad boon askod.
Tloy musl find a vay oul of il aII. Tloro migll bo somo simpIor vay,
somo Ioss Iaborious vay, slo siglod. Wlon slo Iookod in llo gIass and
sav lor lair groy, lor clook sunk, al fifly, slo llougll, possibIy slo
migll lavo managod llings bollorlor lusband, monoy, lis books. Bul
for lor ovn parl slo vouId novor for a singIo socond rogrol lor docision,
ovado difficuIlios, or sIur ovor dulios. Slo vas nov formidabIo lo boloId,
and il vas onIy in siIonco, Iooking up from lloir pIalos, aflor slo lad
spokon so sovoroIy aboul ClarIos TansIoy, llal lor daugllors, Iruo,
Nancy, RosocouId sporl vill infidoI idoas vlicl lloy lad brovod for
llomsoIvos of a Iifo difforonl from lors, in Iaris, porlaps, a viIdor Iifo,
nol aIvays laking caro of somo man or ollor, for lloro vas in aII lloir
minds a mulo quoslioning of doforonco and clivaIry, of llo Bank of Eng-
Iand and llo Indian Empiro, of ringod fingors and Iaco, llougl lo llom
aII lloro vas somolling in llis of llo ossonco of boauly, vlicl caIIod oul
llo manIinoss in lloir girIisl loarls, and mado llom, as lloy sal al labIo
bonoall lloir mollor's oyos, lonour lor slrango sovorily, lor oxlromo
courlosy, Iiko a quoon's raising from llo mud lo vasl a boggar's dirly
fool, vlon slo admonislod llom so vory sovoroIy aboul llal vrolclod
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alloisl vlo lad clasod llomor, spoaking accuraloIy, boon invilod lo
slay vill llomin llo IsIo of Skyo.
"Tloro'II bo no Ianding al llo Iiglllouso lomorrov," said ClarIos
TansIoy, cIapping lis lands logollor as lo slood al llo vindov vill lor
lusband. SuroIy, lo lad said onougl. Slo vislod lloy vouId boll Ioavo
lor and }amos aIono and go on laIking. Slo Iookod al lim. Ho vas sucl a
misorabIo spocimon, llo cliIdron said, aII lumps and loIIovs. Ho
couIdn'l pIay crickol, lo pokod, lo sluffIod. Ho vas a sarcaslic brulo,
Androv said. Tloy knov vlal lo Iikod bosllo bo for ovor vaIking up
and dovn, up and dovn, vill Mr Ramsay, and saying vlo lad von
llis, vlo lad von llal, vlo vas a "firsl ralo man" al Ialin vorsos, vlo
vas "briIIianl bul I llink fundamonlaIIy unsound," vlo vas un-
doublodIy llo "abIosl foIIov in BaIIioI," vlo lad buriod lis Iigll lompor-
ariIy al BrisloI or Bodford, bul vas bound lo bo loard of Ialor vlon lis
IroIogomona, of vlicl Mr TansIoy lad llo firsl pagos in proof vill lim
if Mr Ramsay vouId Iiko lo soo llom, lo somo brancl of mallomalics or
pliIosoply sav llo Iigll of day. Tlal vas vlal lloy laIkod aboul.
Slo couId nol loIp Iaugling lorsoIf somolimos. Slo said, llo ollor
day, somolling aboul "vavos mounlains ligl." Yos, said ClarIos Tans-
Ioy, il vas a IillIo rougl. "Aron'l you dronclod lo llo skin`" slo lad said.
"Damp, nol vol llrougl," said Mr TansIoy, pincling lis sIoovo, fooIing
lis socks.
Bul il vas nol llal lloy mindod, llo cliIdron said. Il vas nol lis faco,
il vas nol lis mannors. Il vas limlis poinl of viov. Wlon lloy laIkod
aboul somolling inlorosling, poopIo, music, lislory, anylling, ovon said
il vas a fino ovoning so vly nol sil oul of doors, llon vlal lloy com-
pIainod of aboul ClarIos TansIoy vas llal unliI lo lad lurnod llo vloIo
lling round and mado il somolov rofIocl limsoIf and disparago
llomlo vas nol salisfiod. And lo vouId go lo picluro gaIIorios lloy
said, and lo vouId ask ono, did ono Iiko lis lio` God knovs, said Roso,
ono did nol.
Disappoaring as sloaIlliIy as slags from llo dinnor-labIo diroclIy llo
moaI vas ovor, llo oigll sons and daugllors of Mr and Mrs Ramsay
sougll lloir bodrooms, lloir faslnoss in a louso vloro lloro vas no oll-
or privacy lo dobalo anylling, ovorylling, TansIoy's lio, llo passing of
llo Roform BiII, soa birds and bullorfIios, poopIo, vliIo llo sun pourod
inlo lloso allics, vlicl a pIank aIono soparalod from oacl ollor so llal
ovory foolslop couId bo pIainIy loard and llo Sviss girI sobbing for lor
fallor vlo vas dying of cancor in a vaIIoy of llo Grisons, and Iil up bals,
fIannoIs, slrav lals, ink-pols, painl-pols, boolIos, and llo skuIIs of smaII
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birds, vliIo il drov from llo Iong friIIod slrips of soavood pinnod lo llo
vaII a smoII of saIl and voods, vlicl vas in llo lovoIs loo, grilly vill
sand from balling.
Slrifo, divisions, difforonco of opinion, projudicos lvislod inlo llo vory
fibro of boing, ol, llal lloy slouId bogin so oarIy, Mrs Ramsay dopIorod.
Tloy voro so crilicaI, lor cliIdron. Tloy laIkod sucl nonsonso. Slo vonl
from llo dining-room, loIding }amos by llo land, sinco lo vouId nol go
vill llo ollors. Il soomod lo lor sucl nonsonsoinvonling difforoncos,
vlon poopIo, loavon knovs, voro difforonl onougl villoul llal. Tlo
roaI difforoncos, slo llougll, slanding by llo draving-room vindov,
aro onougl, quilo onougl. Slo lad in mind al llo momonl, ricl and
poor, ligl and Iov, llo groal in birll rocoiving from lor, laIf grudging,
somo rospocl, for lad slo nol in lor voins llo bIood of llal vory nobIo, if
sIigllIy myllicaI, IlaIian louso, vloso daugllors, scallorod aboul
EngIisl draving-rooms in llo ninoloonll conlury, lad Iispod so clarm-
ingIy, lad slormod so viIdIy, and aII lor vil and lor boaring and lor
lompor camo from llom, and nol from llo sIuggisl EngIisl, or llo coId
Scolcl, bul moro profoundIy, slo ruminalod llo ollor probIom, of ricl
and poor, and llo llings slo sav vill lor ovn oyos, vookIy, daiIy, loro
or in Iondon, vlon slo visilod llis vidov, or llal slruggIing vifo in
porson vill a bag on lor arm, and a nolo-book and ponciI vill vlicl
slo vrolo dovn in coIumns carofuIIy ruIod for llo purposo vagos and
spondings, ompIoymonl and unompIoymonl, in llo lopo llal llus slo
vouId coaso lo bo a privalo voman vloso clarily vas laIf a sop lo lor
ovn indignalion, laIf a roIiof lo lor ovn curiosily, and bocomo vlal
vill lor unlrainod mind slo groalIy admirod, an invosligalor, oIucidal-
ing llo sociaI probIom.
InsoIubIo quoslions lloy voro, il soomod lo lor, slanding lloro, loId-
ing }amos by llo land. Ho lad foIIovod lor inlo llo draving-room, llal
young man lloy Iauglod al, lo vas slanding by llo labIo, fidgoling vill
somolling, avkvardIy, fooIing limsoIf oul of llings, as slo knov
villoul Iooking round. Tloy lad aII gonollo cliIdron, Minla DoyIo
and IauI RayIoy, Auguslus CarmiclaoI, lor lusbandlloy lad aII gono.
So slo lurnod vill a sigl and said, "WouId il boro you lo como vill mo,
Mr TansIoy`"
Slo lad a duII orrand in llo lovn, slo lad a Iollor or lvo lo vrilo, slo
vouId bo lon minulos porlaps, slo vouId pul on lor lal. And, vill lor
baskol and lor parasoI, lloro slo vas again, lon minulos Ialor, giving oul
a sonso of boing roady, of boing oquippod for a jaunl, vlicl, lovovor,
slo musl inlorrupl for a momonl, as lloy passod llo lonnis Iavn, lo ask
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Mr CarmiclaoI, vlo vas basking vill lis yoIIov cal's oyos ajar, so llal
Iiko a cal's lloy soomod lo rofIocl llo branclos moving or llo cIouds
passing, bul lo givo no inkIing of any innor llouglls or omolion vlalso-
ovor, if lo vanlod anylling.
Ior lloy voro making llo groal oxpodilion, slo said, Iaugling. Tloy
voro going lo llo lovn. "Slamps, vriling-papor, lobacco`" slo suggos-
lod, slopping by lis sido. Bul no, lo vanlod nolling. His lands cIaspod
llomsoIvos ovor lis capacious pauncl, lis oyos bIinkod, as if lo vouId
lavo Iikod lo ropIy kindIy lo lloso bIandislmonls (slo vas soduclivo bul
a IillIo norvous) bul couId nol, sunk as lo vas in a groy-groon somno-
Ionco vlicl ombracod llom aII, villoul nood of vords, in a vasl and bo-
novoIonl Iollargy of voII-visling, aII llo louso, aII llo vorId, aII llo
poopIo in il, for lo lad sIippod inlo lis gIass al Iuncl a fov drops of
somolling, vlicl accounlod, llo cliIdron llougll, for llo vivid slroak of
canary-yoIIov in mouslaclo and board llal voro ollorviso miIk vlilo.
No, nolling, lo murmurod.
Ho slouId lavo boon a groal pliIosoplor, said Mrs Ramsay, as lloy
vonl dovn llo road lo llo fisling viIIago, bul lo lad mado an unforlu-
nalo marriago. HoIding lor bIack parasoI vory orocl, and moving vill an
indoscribabIo air of oxpoclalion, as if slo voro going lo mool somo ono
round llo cornor, slo loId llo slory, an affair al Oxford vill somo girI,
an oarIy marriago, povorly, going lo India, lransIaling a IillIo poolry
"vory boaulifuIIy, I boIiovo," boing viIIing lo loacl llo boys Iorsian or
Hinduslanoo, bul vlal roaIIy vas llo uso of llal`and llon Iying, as
lloy sav lim, on llo Iavn.
Il fIallorod lim, snubbod as lo lad boon, il soollod lim llal Mrs Ram-
say slouId loII lim llis. ClarIos TansIoy rovivod. Insinualing, loo, as slo
did llo groalnoss of man's inloIIocl, ovon in ils docay, llo subjoclion of aII
vivosnol llal slo bIamod llo girI, and llo marriago lad boon lappy
onougl, slo boIiovodlo lloir lusband's Iabours, slo mado lim fooI bol-
lor pIoasod vill limsoIf llan lo lad dono yol, and lo vouId lavo Iikod,
lad lloy lakon a cab, for oxampIo, lo lavo paid llo faro. As for lor IillIo
bag, migll lo nol carry llal` No, no, slo said, slo aIvays carriod THAT
lorsoIf. Slo did loo. Yos, lo foIl llal in lor. Ho foIl many llings,
somolling in parlicuIar llal oxcilod lim and dislurbod lim for roasons
vlicl lo couId nol givo. Ho vouId Iiko lor lo soo lim, govnod and
loodod, vaIking in a procossion. A foIIovslip, a profossorslip, lo foIl
capabIo of anylling and sav limsoIfbul vlal vas slo Iooking al` Al a
man pasling a biII. Tlo vasl fIapping slool fIallonod ilsoIf oul, and oacl
slovo of llo brusl rovoaIod frosl Iogs, loops, lorsos, gIisloning rods and
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bIuos, boaulifuIIy smooll, unliI laIf llo vaII vas covorod vill llo ad-
vorlisomonl of a circus, a lundrod lorsomon, lvonly porforming soaIs,
Iions, ligors. Craning forvards, for slo vas slorl-sigllod, slo road il
oul. "viII visil llis lovn," slo road. Il vas lorribIy dangorous vork for
a ono-armod man, slo oxcIaimod, lo sland on lop of a Iaddor Iiko
llallis Iofl arm lad boon cul off in a roaping maclino lvo yoars ago.
"Iol us aII go!" slo criod, moving on, as if aII lloso ridors and lorsos
lad fiIIod lor vill cliIdIiko oxuIlalion and mado lor forgol lor pily.
"Iol's go," lo said, ropoaling lor vords, cIicking llom oul, lovovor,
vill a soIf-consciousnoss llal mado lor vinco. "Iol us aII go lo llo cir-
cus." No. Ho couId nol say il rigll. Ho couId nol fooI il rigll. Bul vly
nol` slo vondorod. Wlal vas vrong vill lim llon` Slo Iikod lim
varmIy, al llo momonl. Had lloy nol boon lakon, slo askod, lo circusos
vlon lloy voro cliIdron` Novor, lo ansvorod, as if slo askod llo vory
lling lo vanlod, lad boon Ionging aII lloso days lo say, lov lloy did
nol go lo circusos. Il vas a Iargo famiIy, nino brollors and sislors, and lis
fallor vas a vorking man. "My fallor is a clomisl, Mrs Ramsay. Ho
koops a slop." Ho limsoIf lad paid lis ovn vay sinco lo vas llirloon.
Oflon lo vonl villoul a groalcoal in vinlor. Ho couId novor "rolurn los-
pilaIily" (lloso voro lis parclod sliff vords) al coIIogo. Ho lad lo mako
llings Iasl lvico llo limo ollor poopIo did, lo smokod llo cloaposl lo-
bacco, slag, llo samo llo oId mon did in llo quays. Ho vorkod
lardsovon lours a day, lis subjocl vas nov llo infIuonco of
somolling upon somobodylloy voro vaIking on and Mrs Ramsay did
nol quilo calcl llo moaning, onIy llo vords, loro and lloro. dissorla-
lion. foIIovslip. roadorslip. Iocluroslip. Slo couId nol foIIov llo
ugIy acadomic jargon, llal rallIod ilsoIf off so gIibIy, bul said lo lorsoIf
llal slo sav nov vly going lo llo circus lad knockod lim off lis porcl,
poor IillIo man, and vly lo camo oul, inslanlIy, vill aII llal aboul lis
fallor and mollor and brollors and sislors, and slo vouId soo lo il llal
lloy didn'l Iaugl al lim any moro, slo vouId loII Iruo aboul il. Wlal lo
vouId lavo Iikod, slo supposod, vouId lavo boon lo say lov lo lad
gono nol lo llo circus bul lo Ibson vill llo Ramsays. Ho vas an avfuI
prigol yos, an insufforabIo boro. Ior, llougl lloy lad roaclod llo
lovn nov and voro in llo main slrool, vill carls grinding pasl on llo
cobbIos, sliII lo vonl on laIking, aboul sollIomonls, and loacling, and
vorking mon, and loIping our ovn cIass, and Iocluros, liII slo gallorod
llal lo lad gol back onliro soIf-confidonco, lad rocovorod from llo cir-
cus, and vas aboul (and nov again slo Iikod lim varmIy) lo loII
lorbul loro, llo lousos faIIing avay on boll sidos, lloy camo oul on
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llo quay, and llo vloIo bay sproad boforo llom and Mrs Ramsay couId
nol loIp oxcIaiming, "Ol, lov boaulifuI!" Ior llo groal pIalofuI of bIuo
valor vas boforo lor, llo loary Iiglllouso, dislanl, ausloro, in llo
midsl, and on llo rigll, as far as llo oyo couId soo, fading and faIIing, in
sofl Iov pIoals, llo groon sand dunos vill llo viId fIoving grassos on
llom, vlicl aIvays soomod lo bo running avay inlo somo moon coun-
lry, uninlabilod of mon.
Tlal vas llo viov, slo said, slopping, groving groyor-oyod, llal lor
lusband Iovod.
Slo pausod a momonl. Bul nov, slo said, arlisls lad como loro. Tloro
indood, onIy a fov pacos off, slood ono of llom, in Ianama lal and yoI-
Iov bools, soriousIy, soflIy, absorbodIy, for aII llal lo vas valclod by
lon IillIo boys, vill an air of profound conlonlmonl on lis round rod faco
gazing, and llon, vlon lo lad gazod, dipping, imbuing llo lip of lis
brusl in somo sofl mound of groon or pink. Sinco Mr Iauncoforlo lad
boon lloro, llroo yoars boforo, aII llo picluros voro Iiko llal, slo said,
groon and groy, vill Iomon-coIourod saiIing-boals, and pink vomon on
llo boacl.
Bul lor grandmollor's frionds, slo said, gIancing discroolIy as lloy
passod, look llo groalosl pains, firsl lloy mixod lloir ovn coIours, and
llon lloy ground llom, and llon lloy pul damp cIolls lo koop llom
moisl.
So Mr TansIoy supposod slo moanl lim lo soo llal llal man's picluro
vas skimpy, vas llal vlal ono said` Tlo coIours voron'l soIid` Was
llal vlal ono said` Undor llo infIuonco of llal oxlraordinary omolion
vlicl lad boon groving aII llo vaIk, lad bogun in llo gardon vlon lo
lad vanlod lo lako lor bag, lad incroasod in llo lovn vlon lo lad
vanlod lo loII lor ovorylling aboul limsoIf, lo vas coming lo soo lim-
soIf, and ovorylling lo lad ovor knovn gono crookod a IillIo. Il vas av-
fuIIy slrango.
Tloro lo slood in llo parIour of llo poky IillIo louso vloro slo lad
lakon lim, vailing for lor, vliIo slo vonl upslairs a momonl lo soo a
voman. Ho loard lor quick slop abovo, loard lor voico cloorfuI, llon
Iov, Iookod al llo mals, loa-caddios, gIass slados, vailod quilo impa-
lionlIy, Iookod forvard oagorIy lo llo vaIk lomo, dolorminod lo carry
lor bag, llon loard lor como oul, slul a door, say lloy musl koop llo
vindovs opon and llo doors slul, ask al llo louso for anylling lloy
vanlod (slo musl bo laIking lo a cliId) vlon, suddonIy, in slo camo,
slood for a momonl siIonl (as if slo lad boon prolonding up lloro, and
for a momonl Iol lorsoIf bo nov), slood quilo molionIoss for a momonl
11
againsl a picluro of Quoon Vicloria voaring llo bIuo ribbon of llo Garlor,
vlon aII al onco lo roaIisod llal il vas llis: il vas llis:slo vas llo
mosl boaulifuI porson lo lad ovor soon.
Will slars in lor oyos and voiIs in lor lair, vill cycIamon and viId vi-
oIolsvlal nonsonso vas lo llinking` Slo vas fifly al Ioasl, slo lad
oigll cliIdron. Slopping llrougl fioIds of fIovors and laking lo lor
broasl buds llal lad brokon and Iambs llal lad faIIon, vill llo slars in
lor oyos and llo vind in lor lairHo lad loId of lor bag.
"Good-byo, EIsio," slo said, and lloy vaIkod up llo slrool, slo loIding
lor parasoI orocl and vaIking as if slo oxpoclod lo mool somo ono round
llo cornor, vliIo for llo firsl limo in lis Iifo ClarIos TansIoy foIl an ox-
lraordinary prido, a man digging in a drain sloppod digging and Iookod
al lor, Iol lis arm faII dovn and Iookod al lor, for llo firsl limo in lis Iifo
ClarIos TansIoy foIl an oxlraordinary prido, foIl llo vind and llo cycIa-
mon and llo vioIols for lo vas vaIking vill a boaulifuI voman. Ho lad
loId of lor bag.
12
Chapter 2
"No going lo llo Iiglllouso, }amos," lo said, as lrying in doforonco lo
Mrs Ramsay lo soflon lis voico inlo somo sombIanco of goniaIily al Ioasl.
Odious IillIo man, llougll Mrs Ramsay, vly go on saying llal`
13
Chapter 3
"Iorlaps you viII vako up and find llo sun slining and llo birds
singing," slo said compassionaloIy, smoolling llo IillIo boy's lair, for
lor lusband, vill lis causlic saying llal il vouId nol bo fino, lad
daslod lis spirils slo couId soo. Tlis going lo llo Iiglllouso vas a pas-
sion of lis, slo sav, and llon, as if lor lusband lad nol said onougl,
vill lis causlic saying llal il vouId nol bo fino lomorrov, llis odious
IillIo man vonl and rubbod il in aII ovor again.
"Iorlaps il viII bo fino lomorrov," slo said, smoolling lis lair.
AII slo couId do nov vas lo admiro llo rofrigoralor, and lurn llo
pagos of llo Sloros Iisl in llo lopo llal slo migll como upon somolling
Iiko a rako, or a moving-maclino, vlicl, vill ils prongs and ils landIos,
vouId nood llo groalosl skiII and caro in culling oul. AII lloso young
mon parodiod lor lusband, slo rofIoclod, lo said il vouId rain, lloy said
il vouId bo a posilivo lornado.
Bul loro, as slo lurnod llo pago, suddonIy lor soarcl for llo picluro of
a rako or a moving-maclino vas inlorruplod. Tlo gruff murmur, irrogu-
IarIy brokon by llo laking oul of pipos and llo pulling in of pipos vlicl
lad kopl on assuring lor, llougl slo couId nol loar vlal vas said (as
slo sal in llo vindov vlicl oponod on llo lorraco), llal llo mon voro
lappiIy laIking, llis sound, vlicl lad Iaslod nov laIf an lour and lad
lakon ils pIaco soollingIy in llo scaIo of sounds prossing on lop of lor,
sucl as llo lap of baIIs upon bals, llo slarp, suddon bark nov and llon,
"Hov's llal` Hov's llal`" of llo cliIdron pIaying crickol, lad coasod, so
llal llo monolonous faII of llo vavos on llo boacl, vlicl for llo mosl
parl boal a moasurod and soolling lalloo lo lor llouglls and soomod
consoIingIy lo ropoal ovor and ovor again as slo sal vill llo cliIdron llo
vords of somo oId cradIo song, murmurod by naluro, "I am guarding
youI am your supporl," bul al ollor limos suddonIy and unoxpoclodIy,
ospociaIIy vlon lor mind raisod ilsoIf sIigllIy from llo lask acluaIIy in
land, lad no sucl kindIy moaning, bul Iiko a gloslIy roII of drums ro-
morsoIossIy boal llo moasuro of Iifo, mado ono llink of llo doslruclion of
llo isIand and ils onguIfmonl in llo soa, and varnod lor vloso day lad
14
sIippod pasl in ono quick doing aflor anollor llal il vas aII oplormaI as
a rainbovllis sound vlicl lad boon obscurod and concoaIod undor
llo ollor sounds suddonIy llundorod loIIov in lor oars and mado lor
Iook up vill an impuIso of lorror.
Tloy lad coasod lo laIk, llal vas llo oxpIanalion. IaIIing in ono
socond from llo lonsion vlicl lad grippod lor lo llo ollor oxlromo
vlicl, as if lo rocoup lor for lor unnocossary oxponso of omolion, vas
cooI, amusod, and ovon fainlIy maIicious, slo concIudod llal poor
ClarIos TansIoy lad boon slod. Tlal vas of IillIo accounl lo lor. If lor
lusband roquirod sacrificos (and indood lo did) slo cloorfuIIy offorod
up lo lim ClarIos TansIoy, vlo lad snubbod lor IillIo boy.
Ono momonl moro, vill lor load raisod, slo Iislonod, as if slo vailod
for somo labiluaI sound, somo roguIar moclanicaI sound, and llon,
loaring somolling rlyllmicaI, laIf said, laIf clanlod, boginning in llo
gardon, as lor lusband boal up and dovn llo lorraco, somolling
bolvoon a croak and a song, slo vas soollod onco moro, assurod again
llal aII vas voII, and Iooking dovn al llo book on lor knoo found llo
picluro of a pockol knifo vill six bIados vlicl couId onIy bo cul oul if
}amos vas vory carofuI.
SuddonIy a Ioud cry, as of a sIoop-vaIkor, laIf rousod, somolling
aboul
Slormod al vill slol and sloII
sung oul vill llo ulmosl inlonsily in lor oar, mado lor lurn appro-
lonsivoIy lo soo if anyono lad loard lim. OnIy IiIy Briscoo, slo vas
gIad lo find, and llal did nol mallor. Bul llo sigll of llo girI slanding on
llo odgo of llo Iavn painling romindod lor, slo vas supposod lo bo
kooping lor load as mucl in llo samo posilion as possibIo for IiIy's pic-
luro. IiIy's picluro! Mrs Ramsay smiIod. Will lor IillIo Clinoso oyos and
lor puckorod-up faco, slo vouId novor marry, ono couId nol lako lor
painling vory soriousIy, slo vas an indopondonl IillIo croaluro, and Mrs
Ramsay Iikod lor for il, so, romomboring lor promiso, slo bonl lor load.
15
Chapter 4
Indood, lo aImosl knockod lor oasoI ovor, coming dovn upon lor vill
lis lands vaving slouling oul, "BoIdIy vo rodo and voII," bul, morci-
fuIIy, lo lurnod slarp, and rodo off, lo dio gIoriousIy slo supposod upon
llo loiglls of BaIacIava. Novor vas anybody al onco so ridicuIous and so
aIarming. Bul so Iong as lo kopl Iiko llal, vaving, slouling, slo vas
safo, lo vouId nol sland sliII and Iook al lor picluro. And llal vas vlal
IiIy Briscoo couId nol lavo ondurod. Evon vliIo slo Iookod al llo mass,
al llo Iino, al llo coIour, al Mrs Ramsay silling in llo vindov vill
}amos, slo kopl a fooIor on lor surroundings Iosl somo ono slouId croop
up, and suddonIy slo slouId find lor picluro Iookod al. Bul nov, vill
aII lor sonsos quickonod as lloy voro, Iooking, slraining, liII llo coIour of
llo vaII and llo jacmanna boyond burnl inlo lor oyos, slo vas avaro of
somoono coming oul of llo louso, coming lovards lor, bul somolov di-
vinod, from llo foolfaII, WiIIiam Bankos, so llal llougl lor brusl
quivorod, slo did nol, as slo vouId lavo dono lad il boon Mr TansIoy,
IauI RayIoy, Minla DoyIo, or praclicaIIy anybody oIso, lurn lor canvas
upon llo grass, bul Iol il sland. WiIIiam Bankos slood bosido lor.
Tloy lad rooms in llo viIIago, and so, vaIking in, vaIking oul, parl-
ing Ialo on door-mals, lad said IillIo llings aboul llo soup, aboul llo
cliIdron, aboul ono lling and anollor vlicl mado llom aIIios, so llal
vlon lo slood bosido lor nov in lis judiciaI vay (lo vas oId onougl lo
bo lor fallor loo, a bolanisl, a vidovor, smoIIing of soap, vory scrupu-
Ious and cIoan) slo jusl slood lloro. Ho jusl slood lloro. Hor sloos voro
oxcoIIonl, lo obsorvod. Tloy aIIovod llo loos lloir naluraI oxpansion.
Iodging in llo samo louso vill lor, lo lad nolicod loo, lov ordorIy slo
vas, up boforo broakfasl and off lo painl, lo boIiovod, aIono: poor, pro-
sumabIy, and villoul llo compIoxion or llo aIIuromonl of Miss DoyIo
corlainIy, bul vill a good sonso vlicl mado lor in lis oyos suporior lo
llal young Iady. Nov, for inslanco, vlon Ramsay boro dovn on llom,
slouling, goslicuIaling, Miss Briscoo, lo foIl corlain, undorslood.
Somo ono lad bIundorod.
15
Mr Ramsay gIarod al llom. Ho gIarod al llom villoul sooming lo soo
llom. Tlal did mako llom boll vaguoIy uncomforlabIo. Togollor lloy
lad soon a lling lloy lad nol boon moanl lo soo. Tloy lad oncroaclod
upon a privacy. So, IiIy llougll, il vas probabIy an oxcuso of lis for
moving, for golling oul of oarslol, llal mado Mr Bankos aImosl immodi-
aloIy say somolling aboul ils boing cliIIy and suggoslod laking a slroII.
Slo vouId como, yos. Bul il vas vill difficuIly llal slo look lor oyos off
lor picluro.
Tlo jacmanna vas brigll vioIol, llo vaII slaring vlilo. Slo vouId nol
lavo considorod il lonosl lo lampor vill llo brigll vioIol and llo slaring
vlilo, sinco slo sav llom Iiko llal, faslionabIo llougl il vas, sinco Mr
Iauncoforlo's visil, lo soo ovorylling paIo, oIoganl, somilransparonl.
Tlon bonoall llo coIour lloro vas llo slapo. Slo couId soo il aII so
cIoarIy, so commandingIy, vlon slo Iookod: il vas vlon slo look lor
brusl in land llal llo vloIo lling clangod. Il vas in llal momonl's
fIigll bolvoon llo picluro and lor canvas llal llo domons sol on lor
vlo oflon brougll lor lo llo vorgo of loars and mado llis passago from
concoplion lo vork as droadfuI as any dovn a dark passago for a cliId.
Sucl slo oflon foIl lorsoIfslruggIing againsl lorrific odds lo mainlain
lor courago, lo say: "Bul llis is vlal I soo, llis is vlal I soo," and so lo
cIasp somo misorabIo romnanl of lor vision lo lor broasl, vlicl a llou-
sand forcos did lloir bosl lo pIuck from lor. And il vas llon loo, in llal
cliII and vindy vay, as slo bogan lo painl, llal lloro forcod llomsoIvos
upon lor ollor llings, lor ovn inadoquacy, lor insignificanco, kooping
louso for lor fallor off llo Bromplon Road, and lad mucl ado lo con-
lroI lor impuIso lo fIing lorsoIf (llank Hoavon slo lad aIvays rosislod
so far) al Mrs Ramsay's knoo and say lo lorbul vlal couId ono say lo
lor` "I'm in Iovo vill you`" No, llal vas nol lruo. "I'm in Iovo vill llis
aII," vaving lor land al llo lodgo, al llo louso, al llo cliIdron. Il vas
absurd, il vas impossibIo. So nov slo Iaid lor bruslos noalIy in llo box,
sido by sido, and said lo WiIIiam Bankos:
"Il suddonIy gols coId. Tlo sun sooms lo givo Ioss loal," slo said, Iook-
ing aboul lor, for il vas brigll onougl, llo grass sliII a sofl doop groon,
llo louso slarrod in ils groonory vill purpIo passion fIovors, and rooks
dropping cooI crios from llo ligl bIuo. Bul somolling movod, fIaslod,
lurnod a siIvor ving in llo air. Il vas Soplombor aflor aII, llo middIo of
Soplombor, and pasl six in llo ovoning. So off lloy slroIIod dovn llo
gardon in llo usuaI diroclion, pasl llo lonnis Iavn, pasl llo pampas
grass, lo llal broak in llo llick lodgo, guardod by rod lol pokors Iiko
17
brasiors of cIoar burning coaI, bolvoon vlicl llo bIuo valors of llo bay
Iookod bIuor llan ovor.
Tloy camo lloro roguIarIy ovory ovoning dravn by somo nood. Il vas
as if llo valor fIoalod off and sol saiIing llouglls vlicl lad grovn slag-
nanl on dry Iand, and gavo lo lloir bodios ovon somo sorl of plysicaI ro-
Iiof. Iirsl, llo puIso of coIour fIoodod llo bay vill bIuo, and llo loarl ox-
pandod vill il and llo body svam, onIy llo noxl inslanl lo bo clockod
and cliIIod by llo prickIy bIacknoss on llo ruffIod vavos. Tlon, up bo-
lind llo groal bIack rock, aImosl ovory ovoning spurlod irroguIarIy, so
llal ono lad lo valcl for il and il vas a doIigll vlon il camo, a founlain
of vlilo valor, and llon, vliIo ono vailod for llal, ono valclod, on llo
paIo somicircuIar boacl, vavo aflor vavo slodding again and again
smoollIy, a fiIm of mollor of poarI.
Tloy boll smiIod, slanding lloro. Tloy boll foIl a common liIarily,
oxcilod by llo moving vavos, and llon by llo svifl culling raco of a saiI-
ing boal, vlicl, laving sIicod a curvo in llo bay, sloppod, slivorod, Iol
ils saiIs drop dovn, and llon, vill a naluraI inslincl lo compIolo llo pic-
luro, aflor llis svifl movomonl, boll of llom Iookod al llo dunos far
avay, and insload of morrimonl foIl como ovor llom somo sad-
nossbocauso llo lling vas compIolod parlIy, and parlIy bocauso dis-
lanl viovs soom lo oulIasl by a miIIion yoars (IiIy llougll) llo gazor and
lo bo communing aIroady vill a sky vlicl boloIds an oarll onliroIy al
rosl.
Iooking al llo far sand liIIs, WiIIiam Bankos llougll of Ramsay:
llougll of a road in WoslmorIand, llougll of Ramsay slriding aIong a
road by limsoIf lung round vill llal soIiludo vlicl soomod lo bo lis
naluraI air. Bul llis vas suddonIy inlorruplod, WiIIiam Bankos ro-
momborod (and llis musl rofor lo somo acluaI incidonl), by a lon, slrad-
dIing lor vings oul in proloclion of a covoy of IillIo clicks, upon vlicl
Ramsay, slopping, poinlod lis slick and said "Irollyprolly," an odd iI-
Iuminalion in lo lis loarl, Bankos lad llougll il, vlicl slovod lis sim-
pIicily, lis sympally vill lumbIo llings, bul il soomod lo lim as if lloir
friondslip lad coasod, lloro, on llal slrolcl of road. Aflor llal, Ramsay
lad marriod. Aflor llal, vlal vill ono lling and anollor, llo puIp lad
gono oul of lloir friondslip. Wloso fauIl il vas lo couId nol say, onIy,
aflor a limo, ropolilion lad lakon llo pIaco of novnoss. Il vas lo ropoal
llal lloy mol. Bul in llis dumb coIIoquy vill llo sand dunos lo main-
lainod llal lis affoclion for Ramsay lad in no vay diminislod, bul lloro,
Iiko llo body of a young man Iaid up in poal for a conlury, vill llo rod
18
frosl on lis Iips, vas lis friondslip, in ils aculonoss and roaIily, Iaid up
across llo bay among llo sandliIIs.
Ho vas anxious for llo sako of llis friondslip and porlaps loo in or-
dor lo cIoar limsoIf in lis ovn mind from llo impulalion of laving driod
and slrunkfor Ramsay Iivod in a voIlor of cliIdron, vloroas Bankos
vas cliIdIoss and a vidovorlo vas anxious llal IiIy Briscoo slouId
nol disparago Ramsay (a groal man in lis ovn vay) yol slouId undor-
sland lov llings slood bolvoon llom. Bogun Iong yoars ago, lloir
friondslip lad polorod oul on a WoslmorIand road, vloro llo lon
sproad lor vings boforo lor clicks, aflor vlicl Ramsay lad marriod,
and lloir palls Iying difforonl vays, lloro lad boon, corlainIy for no
ono's fauIl, somo londoncy, vlon lloy mol, lo ropoal.
Yos. Tlal vas il. Ho finislod. Ho lurnod from llo viov. And, lurning
lo vaIk back llo ollor vay, up llo drivo, Mr Bankos vas aIivo lo llings
vlicl vouId nol lavo slruck lim lad nol lloso sandliIIs rovoaIod lo
lim llo body of lis friondslip Iying vill llo rod on ils Iips Iaid up in
poalfor inslanco, Cam, llo IillIo girI, Ramsay's youngosl daugllor. Slo
vas picking Svool AIico on llo bank. Slo vas viId and fiorco. Slo
vouId nol "givo a fIovor lo llo gonlIoman" as llo nursomaid loId lor.
No! no! no! slo vouId nol! Slo cIonclod lor fisl. Slo slampod. And Mr
Bankos foIl agod and saddonod and somolov pul inlo llo vrong by lor
aboul lis friondslip. Ho musl lavo driod and slrunk.
Tlo Ramsays voro nol ricl, and il vas a vondor lov lloy managod lo
conlrivo il aII. Eigll cliIdron! To food oigll cliIdron on pliIosoply! Horo
vas anollor of llom, }aspor llis limo, slroIIing pasl, lo lavo a slol al a
bird, lo said, nonclaIanlIy, svinging IiIy's land Iiko a pump-landIo as
lo passod, vlicl causod Mr Bankos lo say, billorIy, lov SHE vas a fa-
vourilo. Tloro vas oducalion nov lo bo considorod (lruo, Mrs Ramsay
lad somolling of lor ovn porlaps) Iol aIono llo daiIy voar and loar of
sloos and slockings vlicl lloso "groal foIIovs," aII voII grovn, anguIar,
rullIoss youngslors, musl roquiro. As for boing suro vlicl vas vlicl, or
in vlal ordor lloy camo, llal vas boyond lim. Ho caIIod llom privaloIy
aflor llo Kings and Quoons of EngIand, Cam llo Wickod, }amos llo
RullIoss, Androv llo }usl, Iruo llo Iairfor Iruo vouId lavo boauly,
lo llougll, lov couId slo loIp il`and Androv brains. WliIo lo
vaIkod up llo drivo and IiIy Briscoo said yos and no and cappod lis
commonls (for slo vas in Iovo vill llom aII, in Iovo vill llis vorId) lo
voiglod Ramsay's caso, commisoralod lim, onviod lim, as if lo lad soon
lim divosl limsoIf of aII lloso gIorios of isoIalion and auslorily vlicl
crovnod lim in youll lo cumbor limsoIf dofiniloIy vill fIulloring vings
19
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