Virginia Woolf

The Voyage Out Virginia Woolf

As the streets that lead from the Strand to the Embankment are very narrow, it is betternot to walk down them arm-in-arm. If you persist, lawyers' clerks will have to make flyingleaps into the mud; young lady typists will have to fidget behind you. In the streets ofLondon where beauty goes unregarded, eccentricity must pay the penalty, and it is betternot to be very tall, to wear a long blue cloak, or to beat the air with your left hand. One afternoon in the beginning of October when the traffic was becoming brisk a tallman strode along the edge of the pavement with a lady on his arm. Angry glances struckupon their backs. The small, agitated figures-for in comparison with this couple mostpeople looked small-decorated with fountain pens, and burdened with despatch-boxes, had appointments to keep, and drew a weekly salary, so that there was some reason for theunfriendly stare which was bestowed upon Mr. Ambrose's height and upon Mrs. Ambrose'scloak. But some enchantment had put both man and woman beyond the reach of maliceand unpopularity. In his case one might guess from the moving lips that it was thought; andin hers from the eyes fixed stonily straight in front of her at a level above the eyes of mostthat it was sorrow. It was only by scorning all she met that she kept herself from tears, andthe friction of people brushing past her was evidently painful. After watching the traffic onthe Embankment for a minute or two with a stoical gaze she twitched her husband's sleeve, and they crossed between the swift discharge of motor cars. When they were safe on thefurther side, she gently withdrew her arm from his, allowing her mouth at the same time torelax, to tremble; then tears rolled down, and leaning her elbows on the balustrade, sheshielded her face from the curious. Mr. Ambrose attempted consolation; he patted hershoulder; but she showed no signs of admitting him, and feeling it awkward to stand besidea grief that was greater than his, he crossed his arms behind him, and took a turn along thepavemen