Foolishly, she had set them opposite each
other. He read one of them every six months, he said. It must have happened
then, thought Mrs Ramsay; they are engaged.
Perhaps the others were saying
somethinginteresting?
For if he said a thing, it would make all the
difference.
It is roasting meat till it is likeleather. It
was necessary now to carry everything a step further.
Yes; Minta should look at her; PaulRayley
should look at her.
Obviously, not, unless it were a much older
man, like William Bankes.
And as he held it in thepalm of his hand
before her, he felt, She knows all about it.
Theywere talking about wages and
unemployment.
It is roasting meat till it is
likeleather.
He never seemed for a moment to think, But
howdoes this affect me?
How dried up they did become, to be
sure.
Nothing need be said;nothing could be said.
She liked him for being so angry with Paul and Minta.
And Lily,she thought, putting her napkin
beside her plate, she always has somejoke of her own. That was his way
oflooking, different from hers.
No, not tomorrow, she said, but soon, she
promised him; the next fineday.
Obviously, not, unless it were a much older
man, like William Bankes. Shetucked her napkin under the edge of her
plate.
He smiled the most exquisite smile, veiled by
memory, tinged by dreams.
Their eyes met for a second; but they didnot
want to speak to each other.