Волны

           Wearebecomepartofthatunfeelinguniversethatsleepswhenweareatourquickestandburnsredwhenwelieasleep.Wehaverenouncedourstationandlienowflat,witheredandhowsoonforgotten!UponwhichIsawanexpressioninthetailoftheeyeofthehairdresserasifsomethinginterestedhiminthestreet.

           ’Whatinterestedthehairdresser?Whatdidthehairdresserseeinthestreet?ItisthusthatIamrecalled.(ForIamnomystic;somethingalwaysplucksatme--curiosity,envy,admiration,interestinhairdressersandthelikebringmetothesurface.)WhilehebrushedtheflufffrommycoatItookpainstoassuremyselfofhisidentity,andthen,swingingmystick,IwentintotheStrand,andevokedtoserveasoppositetomyselfthefigureofRhoda,alwayssofurtive,alwayswithfearinhereyes,alwaysseekingsomepillarinthedesert,tofindwhichshehadgone;shehadkilledherself."Wait,"Isaid,puttingmyarminimagination(thusweconsortwithourfriends)throughherarm."Waituntiltheseomnibuseshavegoneby.Donotcrosssodangerously.Thesemenareyourbrothers."InpersuadingherIwasalsopersuadingmyownsoul.Forthisisnotonelife;nordoIalwaysknowifIammanorwoman,BernardorNeville,Louis,Susan,Jinny,orRhoda--sostrangeisthecontactofonewithanother.