TO THE LIGHTHOUSEconversation? But, she thought, screwing upher Chinese eyes, and remembering how hesneered at women, "can't paint, can't write",why should I help him to relieve himself?There is a code of behaviour she knew, whoseseventh article (it may be) says that on occasionsof this sort it behoves the woman, whateverher own occupation may be, to go to the helpof the young man opposite so that he mayexpose and relieve the thigh bones, the ribs, ofhis vanity, of his urgent desire to assert himself;as indeed it is their duty, she reflected, in herold maidenly fairness, to help us, suppose theTube were to burst into flames. Then, shethought, I should certainly expect Mr. Tansleyto get me out. But how would it be, she thought,if neither of us did either of these things? So shesat there smiling."You're not planning to go to the Lighthouse,are you, Lily?" said Mrs. Ramsay. "Rememberpoor Mr. Langley; he had been round the worlddozens of times, but he told me he never sufferedas he did when my husband took him there. Areyou a good sailor, Mr. Tansley?" she asked.Mr. Tansley raised a hammer: swung it highin air; but realising, as it descended, that he couldnot smite that butterfly with such an instrumentas this, said only that he had never been sick in142