THE LIGHTHOUSE

them on from one to another with an extraordinary
lilt and exhilaration beside the reef. On the left a
row of rocks showed brown through the water
which thinned and became greener and on one, a
higher rock, a wave incessantly broke and spurted
a little column of drops which fell down in a
shower. One could hear the slap of the water and
the patter of falling drops and a kind of hushing
and hissing sound from the waves rolling and
gambolling and slapping the rocks as if they were
wild creatures who were perfectly free and 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
his trousers. He took the large, badly packed,
brown paper parcel which Nancy had got ready
and sat with it on his knee. Thus in complete
readiness to land he sat looking back at the island.
With his long-sighted eyes perhaps he could see
the dwindled leaf-like shape standing on end on a
plate of gold quite clearly. What could he see?
Cam wondered. It was all a blur to her. What
was he thinking now? she wondered. What was
it he sought, so fixedly, so intently, so silently?
They watched him, both of them, sitting bare-
headed with his parcel on his knee staring and
staring at the frail blue shape which seemed like