THE WINDOWemigrating. They were talking about wages and unem-ployment. The young man was abusing the govern-ment. William Bankes, thinking what a relief it was tocatch on to something of this sort when private lifewas disagreeable, heard him say something about‘one of the most scandalous acts of the present govern-ment’. Lily was listening; Mrs. Ramsay was listening;they were all listening. But already bored, Lily feltthat something was lacking; Mr. Bankes felt that some-thing was lacking. Pulling her shawl round her, Mrs.Ramsay felt that something was lacking. All of thembending themselves to listen thought, ‘Pray heaventhat the inside of my mind may not be exposed,’ foreach thought, ‘The others are feeling this. They areoutraged and indignant with the government aboutthe fishermen. Whereas, I feel nothing at all.’ Butperhaps, thought Mr. Bankes, as he looked at Mr.Tansley, here is the man. One was always waiting forthe man. There was always a chance. At any momentthe leader might arise; the man of genius, in politicsas in anything else. Probably he will be extremely dis-agreeable to us old fogies, thought Mr. Bankes, doinghis best to make allowances, for he knew by some cu-rious physical sensation, as of nerves erect in his spine,that he was jealous, for himself partly, partly moreprobably for his work, for his point of view, for hisscience; and therefore he was not entirely open-mind-ed or altogether fair, for Mr. Tansley seemed to besaying, You have wasted your lives. You are all ofyou wrong. Poor old fogies, you’re hopelessly behindthe times. He seemed to be rather cocksure, this youngman; and his manners were bad. But Mr. Bankesbade himself observe, he had courage; he had ability;8 - L.113
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