TO THE LIGHTHOUSEof a tennis lawn? she would ask; and to have noletters or newspapers, and to see nobody; if youwere married, not to see your wife, not to know howyour children were,—if they were ill, if they hadfallen down and broken their legs or arms; to see thesame dreary waves breaking week after week, andthen a dreadful storm coming, and the windows cov-ered with spray, and birds dashed against the lamp,and the whole place rocking, and not be able toput your nose out of doors for fear of being sweptinto the sea? How would you like that? she asked,addressing herself particularly to her daughters.So she added, rather differently, one must take themwhatever comforts one can.

"It's due west," said the atheist Tansley, holdinghis bony fingers spread so that the wind blewthrough them, for he was sharing Mr. Ramsay'sevening walk up and down, up and down the terrace.That is to say, the wind blew from the worst pos-sible direction for landing at the Lighthouse. Yes,he did say disagreeable things, Mrs. Ramsay ad-mitted; it was odious of him to rub this in, andmake James still more disappointed; but at the sametime, she would not let them laugh at him. "Theatheist," they called him; "the little atheist." Rosemocked him; Prue mocked him; Andrew, Jasper,Roger mocked him; even old Badger without a12
Resize Images  

Select Pane

Berg Materials
 

View Pane