despise life! But it isn't all religious fervour or the apathy of people
who're too poor to mind whether they live or die. Marsh and Galway and
Mineely are moved by a sort of nationalistic ecstasy ... Marsh and
Galway more than Mineely, I think, because there's a bitterness in him
that isn't in them. They think of Ireland first, and he thinks of
starving workmen first. They're Ireland mad. They really don't value
their lives a happorth. They'd love to be martyrised for Ireland. It's a
kind of lust, Gilbert. They get a sensual look on their faces ... almost
... when they talk of dying for Ireland."

"It's a little silly of us English people who love life so much to try
and govern a people like that," said Gilbert.

2

Much had happened to them in the two years that had elapsed since the
day on which Gilbert carried Henry off to Dublin. The Bloomsbury
household had come to an end. Suddenly and, as it seemed to them,
inexplicably, Mrs. Clutters had died. It had never occurred to any of
them that Mrs. Clutters could die. They seldom saw her. The kitchen was
her domain, and Magnolia was her messenger. If they had any preferences
or prejudices concerning food, they made them known to Magnolia, and
Magnolia made them known to Mrs. Clutters. Ninian returning home in an
epicurean mood, might announce that he had seen mushrooms in a
greengrocer's window. "Magnolia," he would say, "let there be
mushrooms!" and Magnolia would answer, "Yes, sir, certainly, sir!" and
behold in the morning there would be mushrooms for breakfast. Or Gilbert
would give their opinion of a dish. "Magnolia, we do not like scrambled
eggs. We like our eggs boiled, fried, poached, beaten up in milk, Mr.
Graham even likes them raw, but none of us like them scrambled!..." and
Magnolia would say, "Yes, sir, certainly, sir!" and so scrambled eggs
ceased to be seen on their breakfast table. Magnolia always said, "Yes,
sir, certainly, sir!" If they had informed her that the Judgment Day was
to begin that afternoon at three o'clock, Magnolia, they felt sure,
would say, "Yes, sir, certainly, sir!" and go on with her work.... There
seemed to be no adequate excuse for Mrs. Clutters' death ... "an'
everythink goin' on so nice an' all!" as Magnolia said ... and yet she
had died. There had been delay in serving breakfast, and Roger, anxious
to catch a train, had been impatient.

"Magnolia!" he shouted from the door, "Magnolia!"

"Yes, sir!" Magnolia answered in an