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TO THE LIGHTHOUSEon from one to another with an extraordinary liltand exhilaration beside the reef. On the left a row ofrocks showed brown through the water which thinnedand became greener and on one, a higher rock, awave incessantly broke and spurted a little column ofdrops which fell down in a shower. One could hearthe slap of the water and the patter of falling dropsand a kind of hushing and hissing sound from thewaves rolling and gambolling and slapping the rocksas if they were wild creatures who were perfectly freeand tossed and tumbled and sported like this for ever.

Now they could see two men on the Lighthouse,watching them and making ready to meet them.

Mr. Ramsay buttoned his coat, and turned up histrousers. He took the large, badly packed, brown pa-per parcel which Nancy had got ready and sat withit on his knee. Thus in complete readiness to land hesat looking back at the island. With his long-sightedeyes perhaps he could see the dwindled leaf-like shapestanding on end on a plate of gold quite clearly. Whatcould he see? Cam wondered. It was all a blur to herWhat was he thinking now? she wondered. What wasit he sought, so fixedly, so intently, so silently? Theywatched him, both of them, sitting bare-headed withhis parcel on his knee staring and staring at the frailblue shape which seemed like the vapour of somethingthat had burnt itself away. What do you want? theyboth wanted to ask. They both wanted to say, Askus anything and we will give it you. But he did notask them anything. He sat and looked at the islandand he might be thinking, We perished, each alone, orhe might be thinking, I have reached it. I have foundit, but he said nothing.240