But I
don't expect _you_ to agree with me!"
She pressed Rachel's shoulder.
"Um-m-m--" she went on quoting--
Unrest which men miscall delight--
"When you're my age you'll see that the world is _crammed_ with
delightful things. I think young people make such a mistake about
that--not letting themselves be happy. I sometimes think that happiness
is the only thing that counts. I don't know you well enough to say, but
I should guess you might be a little inclined to--when one's young and
attractive--I'm going to say it!--_every_thing's at one's feet." She
glanced round as much as to say, "not only a few stuffy books and Bach."
"I long to ask questions," she continued. "You interest me so much. If
I'm impertinent, you must just box my ears."
"And I--I want to ask questions," said Rachel with such earnestness that
Mrs. Dalloway had to check her smile.
"D'you mind if we walk?" she said. "The air's so delicious."
She snuffed it like a racehorse as they shut the door and stood on deck.
"Isn't it good to be alive?" she exclaimed, and drew Rachel's arm within
hers.
"Look, look! How exquisite!"
The shores of Portugal were beginning to lose their substance; but
the land was still the land, though at a great distance. They could
distinguish the little towns that were sprinkled in the folds of the
hills, and the smoke rising faintly.
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