There they lived, shewent on, the old man, the
woman and the boy. The stars seemed very permanent, veryunchanging. Dalloway
introduced them, saying you will like him.
Gilbert gave me a most interestingaccount of the
history of Venice. So she picked up the tennis balland hurled it back. I plucked
upcourage and talked to Gilbert at last.
She sat there dabbing her eyeswith her pocket
handkerchief.
Then she made a movement, as if she swung something
into position.
No doubt MissMiller was thinking of that, too. That
is a Richard Serle buried in the Cathedral.
And he had always beenvery proud to be her husband.
She was wearing the little black coat andskirt that seemed the uniform of her
profession. And he had always beenvery proud to be her husband.
I plucked upcourage and talked to Gilbert at last.
Because if there hadnt been a telescope, she laughed, Ishouldnt be sitting here now.
She seemed for amoment not to understand. Hadnt she enough to do looking after him,
afterher home?
He smiled; he accepted it; he crossed his knees the
other way about. So it seemed that every Wednesday she went to Whitechapel. But
Iremember a coat of arms over the door; and books, old books,
gonemouldy.
When I think of it, I can hardly bear to go
onliving in such luxury.
This, she thought, is the greatest of marvels; the
supreme achievementof the human race.
Now all he had to do was to give herthe brooch his
wife had left her. She had, he supposed, other clothes upon which a pearl brooch
would notlook quite so incongruous.