- We begin this section in Louis's mind. He appears to be working in his office and contemplating how his life has taken shape as a "full-grown man" (6b.2). He describes his daily routines and the office where he works.
- Louis claims to have achieved a certain stature, standing among men such as Chatham, Pitt, Burke, and Sir Robert Peel, thus "expunging" the stains and embarrassments of the past (good grief, he's still thinking about his accent) (6b.4).
- He also thinks about when he used to sit around in restaurants reading poetry, indicating there is a tension between his desire to express himself and create and the bustle and commitments of his professional life.
- Louis thinks about the fine things that will come his way through his work (e.g., a house in Surrey), but he also notes that he retains an attic room from which he can still people-watch. He says that Rhoda sometimes comes there because they are lovers. Oooh, that's a bit of juicy gossip.
- Now he's thinking about Percival, Susan, and Neville. He also thinks about his identity, you know, because he's a character in this novel. That's just what they do.
- Now, because it's 6 p.m., Louis is leaving the office and making some conversation with Miss Johnson along the way. As he goes, he thinks about his attraction to other corners of London (i.e., public-houses by the river) and how he must remind himself of his work in order to regain his "sanity" (6b.9).
- Suddenly we're with Susan, who is sitting by the fire in her house and reflecting upon the passing of time. She repeatedly implores an unnamed person to sleep and sings to him/her.
- Then, she reflects on how she has changed, and it appears she's trying to sing her baby to sleep (6b.12).
- Next, she provides details about her daily life around the house. She must not be getting out much, because she says she can only tell what season it is by whether there is steam or frost on the window. That doesn't sound like the Susan from earlier in the book, who so enjoyed being outside.
- Apparently, Susan has gotten super domestic, and she describes all the intense protective feelings she has toward her child. She goes into some detail imagining the life he will have.
- She then resumes thinking about how her life has taken shape and her daily routines. She notes being "glutted with natural happiness" (6b.15) and thinks about all the kids and grocery items (no joke—she mentions hams and onions, among others) that are in her future.
- Now we're with Jinny, who appears to be chatting with someone for the first time and doing some people-watching. She reflects a bit about herself, noting that she is now past 30 and still not settling too long anywhere in particular (or with anyone in particular). When she raises her arm, men still come running.
- She continues people-watching, claiming to know all kinds of random things about the people who surround her—for example, she claims one is a judge and another shot his governess through the heart when he was younger. The person she's sitting with also tells her things about the people who surround them. It is unclear whether they are making this stuff up, Bernard-style, or they actually know these things. She thinks about what's in store for the people she's watching.
- Also, Jinny reflects on the difficulty she experiences in taking all her observations and distilling them into something else, making the curious statement "I cannot tell you if life is this or that" (6b.21).
- She then says that her body, which has been her "companion," beckons her (6b.21). Wait, was she talking to herself that whole time? She's confused about whether she raised her arm or made some other kind of signal, but it appears someone is now following her. She goes outside into the night.
- This pursuit continues, and Jinny says it is as if the "beasts of the forest were all hunting." Suddenly, one such beast "pierces" and "is driven deep within" her (6b.22). Since we're pretty sure a Kodiak grizzly bear is not actually chasing her, we have to assume this is a metaphor for something else…
- Woolf cuts out before things can get too graphic, and now we're back with Neville, who's staring at a clock and thinking about how time passes.
- He then addresses some unnamed person (what is with these people not introducing us properly to their guests?) who's sitting there with him. He indicates that being there with this person "is all" (6b.24).
- He describes the effect this person has on him, noting the "splendour" that lives gain "under the eyes of love" (6b.24). Whoa, Neville's in love again. Neville describes the day he just spent with this person, from breakfast to walking around together. Aww, that sounds sweet.
- Now he's remembering thinking of Percival during this walk, which prompted him to think, "For ever and ever, I swore" (6b.25). Hmm, was he feeling a bit disloyal? This thought prompted him to clutch his new companion's hand, but the companion then left, leaving Neville to wonder if he would ever return (we think Neville might have some abandonment issues). Luckily, we learn this new lover did return later. Huzzah for love.
- Neville then proceeds to reflect upon how he and his lover spend their time together and the way they communicate. He compares himself to his new companion and other individuals (including Louis). He is also careful to point out the uniqueness and particularity of his companion, emphasizing the lover's importance to Neville.
- Not one to let an "Aww" moment like that linger, Neville then imagines what would happen if his companion someday left and didn't come around again or was caught checking out other people.
- In such instances, Neville says he would go and find another companion. For now, however, he implies that he wants to stop time from marching on and beckons his companion to come closer.