Personally," she continued, breaking into a smile, "I think it's worth it; I don't mind being kissed; I'm rather jealous, I believe, that Mr.Dalloway kissed you and didn't kiss me.

Though," she added, "he bored me considerably." But Rachel did not return the smile or dismiss the whole affair, as Helen meant her to.

Her mind was working very quickly, inconsistently and painfully.

Helen's words hewed down great blocks which had stood there always, and the light which came in was cold.

After sitting for a time with fixed eyes, she burst out: "So that's why I can't walk alone!" By this new light she saw her life for the first time a creeping hedged-in thing, driven cautiously between high walls, here turned aside, there plunged in darkness, made dull and crippled for ever--her life that was the only chance she had--a thousand words and actions became plain to her.
"Because men are brutes! I hate men!" she exclaimed.
"I thought you said you liked him ?" said Helen.
"I liked him, and I liked being kissed," she answered, as if that only added more difficulties to her problem.
Helen was surprised to see how genuine both shock and problem were, but she could think of no way of easing the difficulty except by going on talking.