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TO THE LIGHTHOUSEtook to itself and treasured up like the air whichheld the smoke of the steamer, her thoughts, herimaginations, her desires. What did the hedgemean to her, what did the garden mean toher, what did it mean to her when a wavebroke? (Lily looked up, as she had seen Mrs.Ramsay look up; she too heard a wave falling onthe beach.) And then what stirred and trembledin her mind when the children cried, "How'sthat? How's that?" cricketing? She would stopknitting for a second. She would look intent.Then she would lapse again, and suddenly Mr.Ramsay stopped dead in his pacing in front of her,and some curious shock passed through her andseemed to rock her in profound agitation on itsbreast when stopping there he stood over her,and looked down at her. Lily could see him.He stretched out his hand and raised her fromher chair. It seemed somehow as if he had doneit before; as if he had once bent in the same wayand raised her from a boat which, lying a fewinches off some island, had required that the ladiesshould thus be helped on shore by the gentlemen.An old-fashioned scene that was, which required,very nearly, crinolines and peg-top trousers.Letting herself be helped by him, Mrs. Ramsayhad thought (Lily supposed) the time has comenow; Yes, she would say it now. Yes, she would304