That was what she wanted—the asperity in his voice reproving her.

　　If he says it's wrong to be pessimistic probably it is wrong, she thought;the marriage will turn out all right.

　　"No," she said, flattening the stocking out upon her knee, "I shan't finishit."And what then? For she felt that he was still looking at her, but that hislook had changed. He wanted something—wanted the thing she alwaysfound it so difficult to give him; wanted her to tell him that she lovedhim. And that, no, she could not do. He found talking so much easierthan she did. He could say things—she never could. So naturally it wasalways he that said the things, and then for some reason he would mindthis suddenly, and would reproach her. A heartless woman he calledher; she never told him that she loved him. But it was not so—it was notso. It was only that she never could say what she felt. Was there nocrumb on his coat? Nothing she could do for him? Getting up, she stoodat the window with the reddish-brown stocking in her hands, partly toturn away from him, partly because she remembered how beautiful it oftenis—the sea at night. But she knew that he had turned his head as sheturned; he was watching her. She knew that he was thinking, You aremore beautiful than ever. And she felt herself very beautiful. Will younot tell me just for once that you love me? He was thinking that, for hewas roused, what with Minta and his book, and its being the end of theday and their having quarrelled about going to the Lighthouse. But shecould not do it; she could not say it. Then, knowing that he was watchingher, instead of saying anything she turned, holding her stocking, andlooked at him. And as she looked at him she began to smile, for thoughshe had not said a word, he knew, of course he knew, that she loved him.

　　He could not deny it. And smiling she looked out of the window andsaid (thinking to herself, Nothing on earth can equal this happiness)—"Yes, you were right. It's going to be wet tomorrow. You won't be ableto go." And she looked at him smiling. For she had triumphed again. Shehad not said it: yet he knew.

"Well, we must wait for the future to show," said Mr Bankes, coming infrom the terrace.

　　"It's almost too dark to see," said Andrew, coming up from the beach.

　　"One can hardly tell which is the sea and which is the land," said Prue.

　　"Do we leave that light burning?" said Lily as they took their coats offindoors.