Pleasure Reading (p.117-155)

Elizabeth and Miss Kilman went to the shop where the latter bought a horrible skirt and after that they visited a cafe where they usually had a cup of tea. Miss Kilman was always complaining of her wretched life. She was a poor hystory teacher who was fired from her previous job during the war and who was kindly employed by Mr Dalloway for his daughter. Miss Kilman took offence at Elizabeth's mother and other women of such sort. She hated them for their false prosperity, their luxurious and successful lives and for that the destiny pampered them but not her. Elizabeth was her only hope of better life. Therefore she became very much attached to her.  But Kilman's complaints bothered Elizabeth. She respected her teacher for her wisdom but she disapproved Kilman's attitude to herself.

Miss Kilman wanted Elizabeth not to visit the party organized by her mother, nevertheless Elizabeth went.

Meanwhile, Lucrezia together with her husband Septimus had unusually good time in their home spending it for the making hats. Septimus for a while became as he was during their meeting. He helped Lucrezia, joked and amused her. Lucrezia couldn't believe her happiness. But all her happiness collapsed when Doctor Doum came. Lucrezia didn't want him to enter and tried to stop him. Septimus panicked. He jumped out of the window in horror and died.

Peter Walsh constantly thought about Mrs. Dalloway. He didn't know what to do: whether he go to her party or not. In the hotel Walsh received a letter from Mrs. Dalloway. But he still was in doubt. Eventually he  decided to go.