TO THE LIGHTHOUSE ^

Lily Briscoe, who wondered why such conceal-
ments should be necessary; why he needed always
praise; why so brave a man in thought should be
so timid in life; how strangely he was venerable
and laughable at one and the same time.

Teaching and preaching is beyond human
power, Lily suspected. (She was putting away
her things). If you are exalted you must somehow
come a cropper. Mrs. Ramsay gave him what
he asked too easily. Then the change must be so
upsetting, Lily said. He comes in from his
books and finds us all playing games and talking
nonsense. Imagine what a change from the things
he thinks about, she said.

He was bearing down upon them. Now he
stopped dead and stood looking in silence at the
sea. Now he had turned away again.

9

Yes, Mr. Bankes said, watching him go. It
was a thousand pities. (Lily had said something
about his frightening her—he changed from one
mood to another so suddenly.) Yes, said Mr,
Bankes, it was a thousand pities that Ramsay
could not behave a little more like other people.
(For he liked Lily Briscoe; he could discuss
Ramsay with her quite openly.) It was for that
74