`Wasitgoodforyou？'
　　Gerald'seyesnarroweduglily。Schoolhadbeentorturetohim。Yethehadnotquestionedwhetheroneshouldgothroughthistorture。Heseemedtobelieveineducationthroughsubjectionandtorment。
　　`Ihateditatthetime，butIcanseeitwasnecessary，'hesaid。`Itbroughtmeintolineabit——andyoucan'tliveunlessyoudocomeintolinesomewhere。'
　　`Well，'saidBirkin，`Ibegintothinkthatyoucan'tliveunlessyoukeepentirelyoutoftheline。It'snogoodtryingtotoetheline，whenyouroneimpulseistosmashuptheline。Winnieisaspecialnature，andforspecialnaturesyoumustgiveaspecialworld。'
　　`Yes，butwhere'syourspecialworld？'saidGerald。
　　`Makeit。Insteadofchoppingyourselfdowntofittheworld，choptheworlddowntofityourself。Asamatteroffact，twoexceptionalpeoplemakeanotherworld。YouandI，wemakeanother，separateworld。Youdon'twantaworldsameasyourbrothers—in—law。It'sjustthespecialqualityyouvalue。Doyouwanttobenormalorordinary！It'salie。Youwanttobefreeandextraordinary，inanextraordinaryworldofliberty。'
　　GeraldlookedatBirkinwithsubtleeyesofknowledge。Buthewouldneveropenlyadmitwhathefelt。HeknewmorethanBirkin，inonedirection——muchmore。Andthisgavehimhisgentlelovefortheotherman，asifBirkinwereinsomewayyoung，innocent，child—like:soamazinglyclever，butincurablyinnocent。
　　`Yetyouaresobanalastoconsidermechieflyafreak，'saidBirkinpointedly。
　　`Afreak！'exclaimedGerald，startled。Andhisfaceopenedsuddenly，asiflightedwithsimplicity，aswhenafloweropensoutofthecunningbud。`No——Ineverconsideryouafreak。'Andhewatchedtheothermanwithstrangeeyes，thatBirkincouldnotunderstand。`Ifeel，'Geraldcontinued，`thatthereisalwaysanelementofuncertaintyaboutyou——perhapsyouareuncertainaboutyourself。ButI'mneversureofyou。Youcangoawayandchangeaseasilyasifyouhadnosoul。'
　　HelookedatBirkinwithpenetratingeyes。Birkinwasamazed。Hethoughthehadallthesoulintheworld。Hestaredinamazement。AndGerald，watching，sawtheamazingattractivegoodlinessofhiseyes，ayoung，spontaneousgoodnessthatattractedtheothermaninfinitely，yetfilledhimwithbitterchagrin，becausehemistrusteditsomuch。HeknewBirkincoulddowithouthim——couldforget，andnotsuffer。ThiswasalwayspresentinGerald'sconsciousness，fillinghimwithbitterunbelief:thisconsciousnessoftheyoung，animal—likespontaneityofdetachment。Itseemedalmostlikehypocrisyandlying，sometimes，oh，often，onBirkin'spart，totalksodeeplyandimportantly。
　　QuiteotherthingsweregoingthroughBirkin'smind。Suddenlyhesawhimselfconfrontedwithanotherproblem——theproblemofloveandeternalconjunctionbetweentwomen。Ofcoursethiswasnecessary——ithadbeenanecessityinsidehimselfallhislife——toloveamanpurelyandfully。
　　OfcoursehehadbeenlovingGeraldallalong，andallalongdenyingit。
　　Helayinthebedandwondered，whilsthisfriendsatbesidehim，lostinbrooding。Eachmanwasgoneinhisownthoughts。
　　`YouknowhowtheoldGermanknightsusedtoswearaBlutbruderschaft，'
　　hesaidtoGerald，withquiteanewhappyactivityinhiseyes。
　　`Makealittlewoundintheirarms，andrubeachother'sbloodintothecut？'saidGerald。
　　`Yes——andsweartobetruetoeachother，ofoneblood，alltheirlives。Thatiswhatweoughttodo。Nowounds，thatisobsolete。Butweoughttosweartoloveeachother，youandI，implicitly，andperfectly，finally，withoutanypossibilityofgoingbackonit。'
　　HelookedatGeraldwithclear，happyeyesofdiscovery。Geraldlookeddownathim，attracted，sodeeplybondagedinfascinatedattraction，thathewasmistrustful，resentingthebondage，hatingtheattraction。
　　`Wewillsweartoeachother，oneday，shallwe？'pleadedBirkin。`Wewillsweartostandbyeachother——betruetoeachother——ultimately——infallibly——giventoeachother，organically——withoutpossibilityoftakingback。'
　　Birkinsoughthardtoexpresshimself。ButGeraldhardlylistened。Hisfaceshonewithacertainluminouspleasure。Hewaspleased。Buthekepthisreserve。Heheldhimselfback。
　　`Shallwesweartoeachother，oneday？'saidBirkin，puttingouthishandtowardsGerald。
　　Geraldjusttouchedtheextendedfine，livinghand，asifwithheldandafraid。
　　`We'llleaveittillIunderstanditbetter，'hesaid，inavoiceofexcuse。
　　Birkinwatchedhim。Alittlesharpdisappointment，perhapsatouchofcontemptcameintohisheart。
　　`Yes，'hesaid。`Youmusttellmewhatyouthink，later。YouknowwhatImean？Notsloppyemotionalism。Animpersonalunionthatleavesonefree。'
　　Theylapsedbothintosilence。BirkinwaslookingatGeraldallthetime。Heseemednowtosee，notthephysical，animalman，whichheusuallysawinGerald，andwhichusuallyhelikedsomuch，butthemanhimself，complete，andasiffated，doomed，limited。ThisstrangesenseoffatalityinGerald，asifhewerelimitedtooneformofexistence，oneknowledge，oneactivity，asortoffatalhalfness，whichtohimselfseemedwholeness，alwaysovercameBirkinaftertheirmomentsofpassionateapproach，andfilledhimwithasortofcontempt，orboredom。ItwastheinsistenceonthelimitationwhichsoboredBirkininGerald。Geraldcouldneverflyawayfromhimself，inrealindifferentgaiety。Hehadaclog，asortofmonomania。
　　Therewassilenceforatime。ThenBirkinsaid，inalightertone，lettingthestressofthecontactpass:
　　`Can'tyougetagoodgovernessforWinifred？——somebodyexceptional？'
　　`HermioneRoddicesuggestedweshouldaskGudruntoteachhertodrawandtomodelinclay。YouknowWinnieisastonishinglycleverwiththatplasticinestuff。Hermionedeclaressheisanartist。'Geraldspokeintheusualanimated，chattymanner，asifnothingunusualhadpassed。ButBirkin'smannerwasfullofreminder。
　　`Really！Ididn'tknowthat。Ohwellthen，ifGudrunwouldteachher，itwouldbeperfect——couldn'tbeanythingbetter——ifWinifredisanartist。BecauseGudrunsomewhereisone。Andeverytrueartististhesalvationofeveryother。'
　　`Ithoughttheygotonsobadly，asarule。'
　　`Perhaps。Butonlyartistsproduceforeachothertheworldthatisfittolivein。IfyoucanarrangethatforWinifred，itisperfect。'
　　`Butyouthinkshewouldn'tcome？'
　　`Idon'tknow。Gudrunisratherself—opinionated。Shewon'tgocheapanywhere。Orifshedoes，she'llprettysoontakeherselfback。Sowhethershewouldcondescendtodoprivateteaching，particularlyhere，inBeldover，Idon'tknow。Butitwouldbejustthething。Winifredhasgotaspecialnature。Andifyoucanputintoherwaythemeansofbeingself—sufficient，thatisthebestthingpossible。She'llnevergetonwiththeordinarylife。Youfinditdifficultenoughyourself，andsheisseveralskinsthinnerthanyouare。Itisawfultothinkwhatherlifewillbelikeunlessshedoesfindameansofexpression，somewayoffulfilment。Youcanseewhatmereleavingittofatebrings。Youcanseehowmuchmarriageistobetrustedto——lookatyourownmother。'
　　`Doyouthinkmotherisabnormal？'
　　`No！Ithinksheonlywantedsomethingmore，orotherthanthecommonrunoflife。Andnotgettingit，shehasgonewrongperhaps。'
　　`Afterproducingabroodofwrongchildren，'saidGeraldgloomily。
　　`Nomorewrongthananyoftherestofus，'Birkinreplied。`Themostnormalpeoplehavetheworstsubterraneanselves，takethemonebyone。'
　　`SometimesIthinkitisacursetobealive，'saidGeraldwithsuddenimpotentanger。
　　`Well，'saidBirkin，`whynot！Letitbeacursesometimestobealive——atothertimesitisanythingbutacurse。You'vegotplentyofzestinitreally。'
　　`Lessthanyou'dthink，'saidGerald，revealingastrangepovertyinhislookattheotherman。
　　Therewassilence，eachthinkinghisownthoughts。
　　`Idon'tseewhatshehastodistinguishbetweenteachingattheGrammarSchool，andcomingtoteachWin，'saidGerald。
　　`Thedifferencebetweenapublicservantandaprivateone。Theonlynoblemantoday，kingandonlyaristocrat，isthepublic，thepublic。Youarequitewillingtoservethepublic——buttobeaprivatetutor——'
　　`Idon'twanttoserveeither——'
　　`No！AndGudrunwillprobablyfeelthesame。'
　　Geraldthoughtforafewminutes。Thenhesaid:
　　`Atallevents，fatherwon'tmakeherfeellikeaprivateservant。Hewillbefussyandgreatfulenough。'
　　`Soheought。Andsooughtallofyou。DoyouthinkyoucanhireawomanlikeGudrunBrangwenwithmoney？Sheisyourequallikeanything——probablyyoursuperior。'
　　`Isshe？'saidGerald。
　　`Yes，andifyouhaven'tthegutstoknowit，Ihopeshe'llleaveyoutoyourowndevices。'
　　`Nevertheless，'saidGerald，`ifsheismyequal，Iwishsheweren'tateacher，becauseIdon'tthinkteachersasarulearemyequal。'
　　`NordoI，damnthem。ButamIateacherbecauseIteach，oraparsonbecauseIpreach？'
　　Geraldlaughed。Hewasalwaysuneasyonthisscore。Hedidnotwanttoclaimsocialsuperiority，yethewouldnotclaimintrinsicpersonalsuperiority，becausehewouldneverbasehisstandardofvaluesonpurebeing。Sohewobbleduponatacitassumptionofsocialstanding。No，Birkinwantedhimtoacceptthefactofintrinsicdifferencebetweenhumanbeings，whichhedidnotintendtoaccept。Itwasagainsthissocialhonour，hisprinciple。Herosetogo。
　　`I'vebeenneglectingmybusinessallthiswhile，'hesaidsmiling。
　　`Ioughttohaveremindedyoubefore，'Birkinreplied，laughingandmocking。
　　`Iknewyou'dsaysomethinglikethat，'laughedGerald，ratheruneasily。
　　`Didyou？'
　　`Yes，Rupert。Itwouldn'tdoforusalltobelikeyouare——weshouldsoonbeinthecart。WhenIamabovetheworld，Ishallignoreallbusinesses。'
　　`Ofcourse，we'renotinthecartnow，'saidBirkin，satirically。
　　`Notasmuchasyoumakeout。Atanyrate，wehaveenoughtoeatanddrink——'
　　`Andbesatisfied，'addedBirkin。
　　GeraldcamenearthebedandstoodlookingdownatBirkinwhosethroatwasexposed，whosetossedhairfellattractivelyonthewarmbrow，abovetheeyesthatweresounchallengedandstillinthesatiricalface。Gerald，full—limbedandturgidwithenergy，stoodunwillingtogo，hewasheldbythepresenceoftheotherman。Hehadnotthepowertogoaway。
　　`So，'saidBirkin。`Good—bye。'Andhereachedouthishandfromunderthebed—clothes，smilingwithaglimmeringlook。
　　`Good—bye，'saidGerald，takingthewarmhandofhisfriendinafirmgrasp。`Ishallcomeagain。Imissyoudownatthemill。'
　　`I'llbethereinafewdays，'saidBirkin。
　　Theeyesofthetwomenmetagain。Gerald's，thatwerekeenasahawk's，weresuffusednowwithwarmlightandwithunadmittedlove，Birkinlookedbackasoutofadarkness，unsoundedandunknown，yetwithakindofwarmth，thatseemedtoflowoverGerald'sbrainlikeafertilesleep。
　　`Good—byethen。There'snothingIcandoforyou？'
　　`Nothing，thanks。'
　　Birkinwatchedtheblack—clothedformoftheothermanmoveoutofthedoor，thebrightheadwasgone，heturnedovertosleep。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter17CHAPTERXVIITheIndustrialMagnateINBELDOVER，therewasbothforUrsulaandforGudrunaninterval。ItseemedtoUrsulaasifBirkinhadgoneoutofherforthetime，hehadlosthissignificance，hescarcelymatteredinherworld。Shehadherownfriends，herownactivities，herownlife。Sheturnedbacktotheoldwayswithzest，awayfromhim。
　　AndGudrun，afterfeelingeverymomentinallherveinsconsciousofGeraldCrich，connectedevenphysicallywithhim，wasnowalmostindifferenttothethoughtofhim。Shewasnursingnewschemesforgoingawayandtryinganewformoflife。Allthetime，therewassomethinginherurginghertoavoidthefinalestablishingofarelationshipwithGerald。Shefeltitwouldbewiserandbettertohavenomorethanacasualacquaintancewithhim。
　　ShehadaschemeforgoingtoStPetersburg，whereshehadafriendwhowasasculptorlikeherself，andwholivedwithawealthyRussianwhosehobbywasjewel—making。Theemotional，ratherrootlesslifeoftheRussiansappealedtoher。ShedidnotwanttogotoParis。Pariswasdry，andessentiallyboring。ShewouldliketogotoRome，Munich，Vienna，ortoStPetersburgorMoscow。ShehadafriendinStPetersburgandafriendinMunich。Toeachoftheseshewrote，askingaboutrooms。
　　Shehadacertainamountofmoney。Shehadcomehomepartlytosave，andnowshehadsoldseveralpiecesofwork，shehadbeenpraisedinvariousshows。Sheknewshecouldbecomequitethe`go'ifshewenttoLondon。
　　ButsheknewLondon，shewantedsomethingelse。Shehadseventypounds，ofwhichnobodyknewanything。Shewouldmovesoon，assoonassheheardfromherfriends。Hernature，inspiteofherapparentplacidityandcalm，wasprofoundlyrestless。
　　ThesistershappenedtocallinacottageinWilleyGreentobuyhoney。
　　MrsKirk，astout，pale，sharp—nosedwoman，sly，honied，withsomethingshrewishandcat—likebeneath，askedthegirlsintohertoocosy，tootidykitchen。Therewasacat—likecomfortandcleanlinesseverywhere。
　　`Yes，MissBrangwen，'shesaid，inherslightlywhining，insinuatingvoice，`andhowdoyoulikebeingbackintheoldplace，then？'
　　Gudrun，whomsheaddressed，hatedheratonce。
　　`Idon'tcareforit，'sherepliedabruptly。
　　`Youdon't？Ay，well，IsupposeyoufoundadifferencefromLondon。
　　Youlikelife，andbig，grandplaces。SomeofushastobecontentwithWilleyGreenandBeldover。AndwhatdoyouthinkofourGrammarSchool，asthere'ssomuchtalkabout？'
　　`WhatdoIthinkofit？'Gudrunlookedroundatherslowly。`Doyoumean，doIthinkit'sagoodschool？'
　　`Yes。Whatisyouropinionofit？'
　　"Idothinkit'sagoodschool。'
　　Gudrunwasverycoldandrepelling。Sheknewthecommonpeoplehatedtheschool。
　　`Ay，youdo，then！I'veheardsomuch，onewayandtheother。It'snicetoknowwhatthosethat'sinitfeel。Butopinionsvary，don'tthey？MrCrichupatHighcloseisallforit。Ay，poorman，I'mafraidhe'snotlongforthisworld。He'sverypoorly。'
　　`Isheworse？'askedUrsula。
　　`Eh，yes——sincetheylostMissDiana。He'sgoneofftoashadow。Poorman，he'shadaworldoftrouble。'
　　`Hashe？'askedGudrun，faintlyironic。
　　`Hehas，aworldoftrouble。Andasniceandkindagentlemanaseveryoucouldwishtomeet。Hischildrendon'ttakeafterhim。'
　　`Isupposetheytakeaftertheirmother？'saidUrsula。
　　`Inmanyways。'MrsKrikloweredhervoicealittle。`Shewasaproudhaughtyladywhenshecameintotheseparts——myword，shewasthat！Shemustn'tbelookedat，anditwasworthyourlifetospeaktoher。'Thewomanmadeadry，slyface。
　　`Didyouknowherwhenshewasfirstmarried？'
　　`Yes，Iknewher。Inursedthreeofherchildren。Andproperlittleterrorstheywere，littlefiends——thatGeraldwasademonifevertherewasone，aproperdemon，ay，atsixmonthsold。'Acuriousmalicious，slytonecameintothewoman'svoice。
　　`Really，'saidGudrun。
　　`Thatwilful，masterful——he'dmasteredonenurseatsixmonths。Kick，andscream，andstrugglelikeademon。Many'sthetimeI'vepinchedhislittlebottomforhim，whenhewasachildinarms。Ay，andhe'dhavebeenbetterifhe'dhaditpinchedoftener。Butshewouldn'thavethemcorrected——no—o，wouldn'thearofit。IcanremembertherowsshehadwithMrCrich，myword。Whenhe'dgotworkedup，properlyworkeduptillhecouldstandnomore，he'dlockthestudydoorandwhipthem。Butshepacedupanddownallthewhilelikeatigeroutside，likeatiger，withverymurderinherface。Shehadafacethatcouldlookdeath。Andwhenthedoorwasopened，she'dgoinwithherhandslifted——"Whathaveyoubeendoingtomychildren，youcoward。"Shewaslikeoneoutofhermind。I
　　believehewasfrightenedofher;hehadtobedrivenmadbeforehe'dliftafinger。Didn'ttheservantshavealifeofit！Anddidn'tweusedtobethankfulwhenoneofthemcaughtit。Theywerethetormentofyourlife。'
　　`Really！'saidGudrun。
　　`Ineverypossibleway。Ifyouwouldn'tletthemsmashtheirpotsonthetable，ifyouwouldn'tletthemdragthekittenaboutwithastringrounditsneck，ifyouwouldn'tgivethemwhatevertheyaskedfor，everymortalthing——thentherewasashineon，andtheirmothercominginasking——"What'sthematterwithhim？Whathaveyoudonetohim？Whatisit，Darling？"Andthenshe'dturnonyouasifshe'dtrampleyouunderherfeet。Butshedidn'ttrampleonme。Iwastheonlyonethatcoulddoanythingwithherdemons——forshewasn'tgoingtobebotheredwiththemherself。
　　No，shetooknotroubleforthem。Buttheymustjusthavetheirway，theymustn'tbespokento。AndMasterGeraldwasthebeauty。Ileftwhenhewasayearandahalf，Icouldstandnomore。ButIpinchedhislittlebottomforhimwhenhewasinarms，Idid，whentherewasnoholdinghim，andI'mnotsorryIdid——'
　　Gudrunwentawayinfuryandloathing。Thephrase，`Ipinchedhislittlebottomforhim，'sentherintoawhite，stonyfury。Shecouldnotbearit，shewantedtohavethewomantakenoutatonceandstrangled。Andyettherethephrasewaslodgedinhermindforever，beyondescape。Shefelt，oneday，shewouldhavetotellhim，toseehowhetookit。Andsheloathedherselfforthethought。
　　ButatShortlandsthelife—longstrugglewascomingtoaclose。Thefatherwasillandwasgoingtodie。Hehadbadinternalpains，whichtookawayallhisattentivelife，andlefthimwithonlyavestigeofhisconsciousness。
　　Moreandmoreasilencecameoverhim，hewaslessandlessacutelyawareofhissurroundings。Thepainseemedtoabsorbhisactivity。Heknewitwasthere，heknewitwouldcomeagain。Itwaslikesomethinglurkinginthedarknesswithinhim。Andhehadnotthepower，orthewill，toseekitoutandtoknowit。Thereitremainedinthedarkness，thegreatpain，tearinghimattimes，andthenbeingsilent。Andwhenittorehimhecrouchedinsilentsubjectionunderit，andwhenitlefthimaloneagain，herefusedtoknowofit。Itwaswithinthedarkness，letitremainunknown。Soheneveradmittedit，exceptinasecretcornerofhimself，whereallhisnever—revealedfearsandsecretswereaccumulated。Fortherest，hehadapain，itwentaway，itmadenodifference。Itevenstimulatedhim，excitedhim。
　　Butitgraduallyabsorbedhislife。Graduallyitdrewawayallhispotentiality，itbledhimintothedark，itweanedhimoflifeanddrewhimawayintothedarkness。Andinthistwilightofhislifelittleremainedvisibletohim。Thebusiness，hiswork，thatwasgoneentirely。Hispublicinterestshaddisappearedasiftheyhadneverbeen。Evenhisfamilyhadbecomeextraneoustohim，hecouldonlyremember，insomeslightnon—essentialpartofhimself，thatsuchandsuchwerehischildren。Butitwashistoricalfact，notvitaltohim。Hehadtomakeanefforttoknowtheirrelationtohim。Evenhiswifebarelyexisted。Sheindeedwaslikethedarkness，likethepainwithinhim。Bysomestrangeassociation，thedarknessthatcontainedthepainandthedarknessthatcontainedhiswifewereidentical。Allhisthoughtsandunderstandingsbecameblurredandfused，andnowhiswifeandtheconsumingpainwerethesamedarksecretpoweragainsthim，thatheneverfaced。
　　Heneverdrovethedreadoutofitslairwithinhim。Heonlyknewthattherewasadarkplace，andsomethinginhabitingthisdarknesswhichissuedfromtimetotimeandrenthim。Buthedarednotpenetrateanddrivethebeastintotheopen。Hehadratherignoreitsexistence。Only，inhisvagueway，thedreadwashiswife，thedestroyer，anditwasthepain，thedestruction，adarknesswhichwasoneandboth。
　　Heveryrarelysawhiswife。Shekeptherroom。Onlyoccasionallyshecameforth，withherheadstretchedforward，andinherlow，possessedvoice，sheaskedhimhowhewas。Andheansweredher，inthehabitofmorethanthirtyyears:`Well，Idon'tthinkI'manytheworse，dear。'Buthewasfrightenedofher，underneaththissafeguardofhabit，frightenedalmosttothevergeofdeath。
　　Butallhislife，hehadbeensoconstanttohislights，hehadneverbrokendown。Hewoulddieevennowwithoutbreakingdown，withoutknowingwhathisfeelingswere，towardsher。Allhislife，hehadsaid:`PoorChristiana，shehassuchastrongtemper。'Withunbrokenwill，hehadstoodbythispositionwithregardtoher，hehadsubstitutedpityforallhishostility，pityhadbeenhisshieldandhissafeguard，andhisinfallibleweapon。
　　Andstill，inhisconsciousness，hewassorryforher，hernaturewassoviolentandsoimpatient。
　　Butnowhispity，withhislife，waswearingthin，andthedreadalmostamountingtohorror，wasrisingintobeing。Butbeforethearmourofhispityreallybroke，hewoulddie，asaninsectwhenitsshelliscracked。
　　Thiswashisfinalresource。Otherswouldliveon，andknowthelivingdeath，theensuingprocessofhopelesschaos。Hewouldnot。Hedenieddeathitsvictory。
　　Hehadbeensoconstanttohislights，soconstanttocharity，andtohisloveforhisneighbour。Perhapshehadlovedhisneighbourevenbetterthanhimself——whichisgoingonefurtherthanthecommandment。Always，thisflamehadburnedinhisheart，sustaininghimthrougheverything，thewelfareofthepeople。Hewasalargeemployeroflabour，hewasagreatmine—owner。Andhehadneverlostthisfromhisheart，thatinChristhewasonewithhisworkmen。Nay，hehadfeltinferiortothem，asiftheythroughpovertyandlabourwerenearertoGodthanhe。Hehadalwaystheunacknowledgedbelief，thatitwashisworkmen，theminers，whoheldintheirhandsthemeansofsalvation。TomovenearertoGod，hemustmovetowardshisminers，hislifemustgravitatetowardstheirs。Theywere，unconsciously，hisidol，hisGodmademanifest。Inthemheworshippedthehighest，thegreat，sympathetic，mindlessGodheadofhumanity。
　　Andallthewhile，hiswifehadopposedhimlikeoneofthegreatdemonsofhell。Strange，likeabirdofprey，withthefascinatingbeautyandabstractionofahawk，shehadbeatagainstthebarsofhisphilanthropy，andlikeahawkinacage，shehadsunkintosilence。Byforceofcircumstance，becausealltheworldcombinedtomakethecageunbreakable，hehadbeentoostrongforher，hehadkeptherprisoner。Andbecauseshewashisprisoner，hispassionforherhadalwaysremainedkeenasdeath。Hehadalwayslovedher，lovedherwithintensity。Withinthecage，shewasdeniednothing，shewasgivenalllicence。
　　Butshehadgonealmostmad。Ofwildandoverweeningtemper，shecouldnotbearthehumiliationofherhusband'ssoft，half—appealingkindnesstoeverybody。Hewasnotdeceivedbythepoor。Heknewtheycameandspongedonhim，andwhinedtohim，theworsesort;themajority，luckilyforhim，weremuchtooproudtoaskforanything，muchtooindependenttocomeknockingathisdoor。ButinBeldover，aseverywhereelse，therewerethewhining，parasitic，foulhumanbeingswhocomecrawlingaftercharity，andfeedingonthelivingbodyofthepubliclikelice。AkindoffirewouldgooverChristianaCrich'sbrain，asshesawtwomorepale—faced，creepingwomeninobjectionableblackclothes，cringinglugubriouslyupthedrivetothedoor。Shewantedtosetthedogsonthem，`HiRip！HiRing！Ranger！At'emboys，set'emoff。'ButCrowther，thebutler，withalltherestoftheservants，wasMrCrich'sman。Nevertheless，whenherhusbandwasaway，shewouldcomedownlikeawolfonthecrawlingsupplicants;
　　`Whatdoyoupeoplewant？Thereisnothingforyouhere。Youhavenobusinessonthedriveatall。Simpson，drivethemawayandletnomoreofthemthroughthegate。'
　　Theservantshadtoobeyher。Andshewouldstandwatchingwithaneyeliketheeagle's，whilstthegroominclumsyconfusiondrovethelugubriouspersonsdownthedrive，asiftheywererustyfowls，scuttlingbeforehim。
　　Buttheylearnedtoknow，fromthelodge—keeper，whenMrsCrichwasaway，andtheytimedtheirvisits。Howmanytimes，inthefirstyears，wouldCrowtherknocksoftlyatthedoor:`Persontoseeyou，sir。'
　　`Whatname？'
　　`Grocock，sir。'
　　`Whatdotheywant？'Thequestionwashalfimpatient，halfgratified。
　　Helikedhearingappealstohischarity。
　　`Aboutachild，sir。'
　　`Showthemintothelibrary，andtellthemtheyshouldn'tcomeaftereleveno'clockinthemorning。'
　　`Whydoyougetupfromdinner？——sendthemoff，'hiswifewouldsayabruptly。
　　`Oh，Ican'tdothat。It'snotroublejusttohearwhattheyhavetosay。'
　　`Howmanymorehavebeenheretoday？Whydon'tyouestablishopenhouseforthem？Theywouldsoonoustmeandthechildren。'
　　`Youknowdear，itdoesn'thurtmetohearwhattheyhavetosay。Andiftheyreallyareintrouble——well，itismydutytohelpthemoutofit。'
　　`It'syourdutytoinvitealltheratsintheworldtognawatyourbones。'
　　`Come，Christiana，itisn'tlikethat。Don'tbeuncharitable。'
　　Butshesuddenlysweptoutoftheroom，andouttothestudy。Theresatthemeagrecharity—seekers，lookingasiftheywereatthedoctor's。
　　`MrCrichcan'tseeyou。Hecan'tseeyouatthishour。Doyouthinkheisyourproperty，thatyoucancomewheneveryoulike？Youmustgoaway，thereisnothingforyouhere。'
　　Thepoorpeopleroseinconfusion。ButMrCrich，paleandblack—beardedanddeprecating，camebehindher，saying:
　　`Yes，Idon'tlikeyoucomingaslateasthis。I'llhearanyofyouinthemorningpartoftheday，butIcan'treallydowithyouafter。What'samissthen，Gittens。HowisyourMissis？'
　　`Why，she'ssunkverylow，MesterCrich，she'sa'mostgone，sheis——'
　　Sometimes，itseemedtoMrsCrichasifherhusbandweresomesubtlefuneralbird，feedingonthemiseriesofthepeople。Itseemedtoherhewasneversatisfiedunlesstherewassomesordidtalebeingpouredouttohim，whichhedrankinwithasortofmournful，sympatheticsatisfaction。
　　Hewouldhavenoraisond'etreiftherewerenolugubriousmiseriesintheworld，asanundertakerwouldhavenomeaningiftherewerenofunerals。
　　MrsCrichrecoiledbackuponherself，sherecoiledawayfromthisworldofcreepingdemocracy。Abandoftight，balefulexclusionfastenedroundherheart，herisolationwasfierceandhard，herantagonismwaspassivebutterriblypure，likethatofahawkinacage。Astheyearswenton，shelostmoreandmorecountoftheworld，sheseemedraptinsomeglitteringabstraction，almostpurelyunconscious。Shewouldwanderaboutthehouseandaboutthesurroundingcountry，staringkeenlyandseeingnothing。Sherarelyspoke，shehadnoconnectionwiththeworld。Andshedidnoteventhink。Shewasconsumedinafiercetensionofopposition，likethenegativepoleofamagnet。