Life seemed to hold infinite possibilities she had never guessed at.

She leant upon the rail and looked over the troubled grey waters, where the sunlight was fitfully scattered upon the crests of the waves, until she was cold and absolutely calm again.

Nevertheless something wonderful had happened.
At dinner, however, she did not feel exalted, but merely uncomfortable, as if she and Richard had seen something together which is hidden in ordinary life, so that they did not like to look at each other.

Richard slid his eyes over her uneasily once, and never looked at her again.
Formal platitudes were manufactured with effort, but Willoughby was kindled.
"Beef for Mr.Dalloway!" he shouted.

"Come now--after that walk you're at the beef stage, Dalloway!" Wonderful masculine stories followed about Bright and Disraeli and coalition governments, wonderful stories which made the people at the dinner-table seem featureless and small.