'But how long do they leave men on a Light-house?’ she asked. He told her. He was amazinglywell informed. And as he was grateful, and as heliked her, and as he was beginning to enjoy himself,so now, Mrs Ramsay thought, she could return tothat dream land, that unreal but fascinating place,the Mannings’ drawing-room at Marlow twenty yearsago; where one moved about without haste oranxiety, for there was no future to worry about. Sheknew what had happened to them, what to her. Itwas like reading a good book again, for she knew theend of that story, since it had happened twenty yearsago, and life, which shot down even from this dining-room table in cascades, heaven knows where, wassealed up there, and lay, like a lake, placidly betweenits banks. He said they had built a billiard room—was it possible? Would William go on talking aboutthe Mannings? She wanted him to. But no—forsome reason he was no longer in the mood. Shetried. He did not respond. She could not forcehim. She was disappointed.