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THE WINDOWnot matter whose, and Paul and Minta would carryit on when she was dead.

She turned the handle, firmly, lest it shouldsqueak, and went in, pursing her lips slightly, asif to remind herself that she must not speak aloud.But directly she came in she saw, with annoyance,that the precaution was not needed. The childrenwere not asleep. It was most annoying. Mildredshould be more careful. There was James wideawake and Cam sitting bolt upright, and Mildredout of bed in her bare feet, and it was almost elevenand they were all talking. What was the matter?It was that horrid skull again. She had told Mildredto move it, but Mildred, of course, had forgotten,and now there was Cam wide awake, and Jameswide awake quarrelling when they ought to havebeen asleep hours ago. What had possessed Edwardto send them this horrid skull? She had been so fool-ish as to let them nail it up there. It was nailed fast,Mildred said, and Cam couldn’t go to sleep with itin the room, and James screamed if she touched it.

Then Cam must go to sleep (it had great hornssaid Cam)—must go to sleep and dream of lovelypalaces, said Mrs. Ramsay, sitting down on thebed by her side. She could see the horns, Cam said,all over the room. It was true. Wherever they put171