Mrs Dalloway was hosting a party that evening and she didn’t want her guests to see her old, balding cushion on her sofa. That would not give a good impression. She decided to give away her old cushion to Mrs Walker.

“Take it away! Give it to Mrs Walker with my compliments! Take it away!” she cried.

Just after the second world war, it might have been acceptable to gift away old household items like a worn cushion. Now, charity expects brand new items to do the receiver justice. It would be an act of humiliation to gift old things.

This is my copy of Mrs Dalloway:

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The main book review is at https://booksreviewsandmore.com/why-does-peter-walsh-have-an-axe-to-grind-with-clarissa-dalloway/