TO   THE   LIGHTHOUSE
wondered. And thinking what a chance it was
for Minta and Paul and Lily to see her, and
feeling what an extraordinary stroke of fortune it
was for her to have her, and how she would never
grow up and never leave home, she said, like a child,
" We thought of going down to the beach to
watch the waves."
Instantly, for no reason at all, Mrs. Ramsay
became like a girl of twenty, full of gaiety. A
mood of revelry suddenly took possession of her.
Of course they must go; of course they must go,
she cried, laughing; and running down the last
three or four steps quickly, she began turning
from one to the other and laughing and drawing
Minta's wrap round her and saying she only
wished she could come too, and would they be
very late, and had any of them got a watch?
" Yes, Paul has," said Minta.   Paul slipped a
beautiful gold watch out of a little wash-leather
case to show her.   And as he held it in the palm
of his hand before her, he felt " She knows all
about it.    I need not say anything."    He was
saying to her as he showed her the watch, "I've
done it, Mrs. Ramsay.   I owe it all to you."   Ani\
seeing the gold watch lying in his hand, Mrs\
Ramsay felt. How extraordinarily lucky Minta^
is!   She is marrying a man who has a gold watch1
in a wash-leather bag!
180