`Youknowwhattheysay？Themoonandtheweathermaychangetogether，butthechangeofthemoonwon'tchangetheweather。'
　　`Isthatit？'saidBirkin。`Ihadn'theardit。'
　　Therewasapause。ThenBirkinsaid:
　　`AmIhinderingyou？IcalledtoseeUrsula，really。Issheathome？'
　　`Idon'tbelievesheis。Ibelieveshe'sgonetothelibrary。I'lljustsee。'
　　Birkincouldhearhimenquiringinthedining—room。
　　`No，'hesaid，comingback。`Butshewon'tbelong。Youwantedtospeaktoher？'
　　Birkinlookedacrossattheothermanwithcuriouscalm，cleareyes。
　　`Asamatteroffact，'hesaid，`Iwantedtoaskhertomarryme。'
　　Apointoflightcameonthegolden—browneyesoftheelderman。
　　`O—oh？'hesaid，lookingatBirkin，thendroppinghiseyesbeforethecalm，steadilywatchinglookoftheother:`Wassheexpectingyouthen？'
　　`No，'saidBirkin。
　　`No？Ididn'tknowanythingofthissortwasonfoot——'Brangwensmiledawkwardly。
　　Birkinlookedbackathim，andsaidtohimself:`Iwonderwhyitshouldbe"onfoot"！'Aloudhesaid:
　　`No，it'sperhapsrathersudden。'Atwhich，thinkingofhisrelationshipwithUrsula，headded——`butIdon'tknow——'
　　`Quitesudden，isit？Oh！'saidBrangwen，ratherbaffledandannoyed。
　　`Inoneway，'repliedBirkin，`——notinanother。'
　　Therewasamoment'spause，afterwhichBrangwensaid:
　　`Well，shepleasesherself——'
　　`Ohyes！'saidBirkin，calmly。
　　AvibrationcameintoBrangwen'sstrongvoice，ashereplied:
　　`ThoughIshouldn'twanthertobeintoobigahurry，either。It'snogoodlookingroundafterwards，whenit'stoolate。'
　　`Oh，itneedneverbetoolate，'saidBirkin，`asfarasthatgoes。'
　　`Howdoyoumean？'askedthefather。
　　`Ifonerepentsbeingmarried，themarriageisatanend，'saidBirkin。
　　`Youthinkso？'
　　`Yes。'
　　`Ay，wellthatmaybeyourwayoflookingatit。'
　　Birkin，insilence，thoughttohimself:`Soitmay。Asforyourwayoflookingatit，WilliamBrangwen，itneedsalittleexplaining。'
　　`Isuppose，'saidBrangwen，`youknowwhatsortofpeopleweare？Whatsortofabringing—upshe'shad？'
　　`"She"，'thoughtBirkintohimself，rememberinghischildhood'scorrections，`isthecat'smother。'
　　`DoIknowwhatsortofabringing—upshe'shad？'hesaidaloud。
　　HeseemedtoannoyBrangwenintentionally。
　　`Well，'hesaid，`she'shadeverythingthat'srightforagirltohave——asfaraspossible，asfaraswecouldgiveither。'
　　`I'msureshehas，'saidBirkin，whichcausedaperilousfull—stop。
　　Thefatherwasbecomingexasperated。TherewassomethingnaturallyirritanttohiminBirkin'smerepresence。
　　`AndIdon'twanttoseehergoingbackonitall，'hesaid，inaclangingvoice。
　　`Why？'saidBirkin。
　　ThismonosyllableexplodedinBrangwen'sbrainlikeashot。
　　`Why！Idon'tbelieveinyournew—fangledwaysandnew—fangledideas——inandoutlikeafroginagallipot。Itwouldneverdoforme。'
　　Birkinwatchedhimwithsteadyemotionlesseyes。Theradicalantagnoisminthetwomenwasrousing。
　　`Yes，butaremywaysandideasnew—fangled？'askedBirkin。
　　`Arethey？'Brangwencaughthimselfup。`I'mnotspeakingofyouinparticular，'hesaid。`WhatImeanisthatmychildrenhavebeenbroughtuptothinkanddoaccordingtothereligionIwasbroughtupinmyself，andIdon'twanttoseethemgoingawayfromthat。'
　　Therewasadangerouspause。
　　`Andbeyondthat——？'askedBirkin。
　　Thefatherhesitated，hewasinanastyposition。
　　`Eh？Whatdoyoumean？AllIwanttosayisthatmydaughter'——hetailedoffintosilence，overcomebyfutility。Heknewthatinsomewayhewasoffthetrack。
　　`Ofcourse，'saidBirkin，`Idon'twanttohurtanybodyorinfluenceanybody。Ursuladoesexactlyasshepleases。'
　　Therewasacompletesilence，becauseoftheutterfailureinmutualunderstanding。Birkinfeltbored。Herfatherwasnotacoherenthumanbeing，hewasaroomfulofoldechoes。Theeyesoftheyoungermanrestedonthefaceoftheelder。Brangwenlookedup，andsawBirkinlookingathim。Hisfacewascoveredwithinarticulateangerandhumiliationandsenseofinferiorityinstrength。
　　`Andasforbeliefs，that'sonething，'hesaid。`ButI'dratherseemydaughtersdeadtomorrowthanthattheyshouldbeatthebeckandcallofthefirstmanthatlikestocomeandwhistleforthem。'
　　AqueerpainfullightcameintoBirkin'seyes。
　　`Astothat，'hesaid，`Ionlyknowthatit'smuchmorelikelythatit'sIwhoamatthebeckandcallofthewoman，thansheatmine。'
　　Againtherewasapause。Thefatherwassomewhatbewildered。
　　`Iknow，'hesaid，`she'llpleaseherself——shealwayshasdone。I'vedonemybestforthem，butthatdoesn'tmatter。They'vegotthemselvestoplease，andiftheycanhelpitthey'llpleasenobodybutthemselves。
　　Butshe'sarighttoconsiderhermother，andmeaswell——'
　　Brangwenwasthinkinghisownthoughts。
　　`AndItellyouthismuch，Iwouldratherburythem，thanseethemgettingintoalotofloosewayssuchasyouseeeverywherenowadays。I'dratherburythem——'
　　`Yesbut，yousee，'saidBirkinslowly，ratherwearily，boredagainbythisnewturn，`theywon'tgiveeitheryouormethechancetoburythem，becausethey'renottobeburied。'
　　Brangwenlookedathiminasuddenflareofimpotentanger。
　　`Now，MrBirkin，'hesaid，`Idon'tknowwhatyou'vecomeherefor，andIdon'tknowwhatyou'reaskingfor。Butmydaughtersaremydaughters——andit'smybusinesstolookafterthemwhileIcan。'
　　Birkin'sbrowsknittedsuddenly，hiseyesconcentratedinmockery。Butheremainedperfectlystiffandstill。Therewasapause。
　　`I'venothingagainstyourmarryingUrsula，'Brangwenbeganatlength。
　　`It'sgotnothingtodowithme，she'lldoasshelikes，meornome。'
　　Birkinturnedaway，lookingoutofthewindowandlettinggohisconsciousness。
　　Afterall，whatgoodwasthis？Itwashopelesstokeepitup。HewouldsitontillUrsulacamehome，thenspeaktoher，thengoaway。Hewouldnotaccepttroubleatthehandsofherfather。Itwasallunnecessary，andhehimselfneednothaveprovokedit。
　　Thetwomensatincompletesilence，Birkinalmostunconsciousofhisownwhereabouts。Hehadcometoaskhertomarryhim——wellthen，hewouldwaiton，andaskher。Asforwhatshesaid，whethersheacceptedornot，hedidnotthinkaboutit。Hewouldsaywhathehadcometosay，andthatwasallhewasconsciousof。Heacceptedthecompleteinsignificanceofthishousehold，forhim。Buteverythingnowwasasiffated。Hecouldseeonethingahead，andnomore。Fromtherest，hewasabsolvedentirelyforthetimebeing。Ithadtobelefttofateandchancetoresolvetheissues。
　　Atlengththeyheardthegate。Theysawhercomingupthestepswithabundleofbooksunderherarm。Herfacewasbrightandabstractedasusual，withtheabstraction，thatlookofbeingnotquitethere，notquitepresenttothefactsofreality，thatgalledherfathersomuch。
　　Shehadamaddeningfacultyofassumingalightofherown，whichexcludedthereality，andwithinwhichshelookedradiantasifinsunshine。
　　Theyheardhergointothedining—room，anddropherarmfulofbooksonthetable。
　　`DidyoubringmethatGirl'sOwn？'criedRosalind。
　　`Yes，Ibroughtit。ButIforgotwhichoneitwasyouwanted。'
　　`Youwould，'criedRosalindangrily。`It'srightforawonder。'
　　Thentheyheardhersaysomethinginaloweredtone。
　　`Where？'criedUrsula。
　　Againhersister'svoicewasmuffled。
　　Brangwenopenedthedoor，andcalled，inhisstrong，brazenvoice:
　　`Ursula。'
　　Sheappearedinamoment，wearingherhat。
　　`Ohhowdoyoudo！'shecried，seeingBirkin，andalldazzledasiftakenbysurprise。Hewonderedather，knowingshewasawareofhispresence。
　　Shehadherqueer，radiant，breathlessmanner，asifconfusedbytheactualworld，unrealtoit，havingacompletebrightworldofherselfalone。
　　`HaveIinterruptedaconversation？'sheasked。
　　`No，onlyacompletesilence，'saidBirkin。
　　`Oh，'saidUrsula，vaguely，absent。Theirpresencewasnotvitaltoher，shewaswithheld，shedidnottakethemin。Itwasasubtleinsultthatneverfailedtoexasperateherfather。
　　`MrBirkincametospeaktoyou，nottome，'saidherfather。
　　`Oh，didhe！'sheexclaimedvaguely，asifitdidnotconcernher。Then，recollectingherself，sheturnedtohimratherradiantly，butstillquitesuperficially，andsaid:`Wasitanythingspecial？'
　　`Ihopeso，'hesaid，ironically。
　　`——Toproposetoyou，accordingtoallaccounts，'saidherfather。
　　`Oh，'saidUrsula。
　　`Oh，'mockedherfather，imitatingher。`Haveyounothingmoretosay？'
　　Shewincedasifviolated。
　　`Didyoureallycometoproposetome？'sheaskedofBirkin，asifitwereajoke。
　　`Yes，'hesaid。`IsupposeIcametopropose。'Heseemedtofightshyofthelastword。
　　`Didyou？'shecried，withhervagueradiance。Hemighthavebeensayinganythingwhatsoever。Sheseemedpleased。
　　`Yes，'heanswered。`Iwantedto——Iwantedyoutoagreetomarryme。'
　　Shelookedathim。Hiseyeswereflickeringwithmixedlights，wantingsomethingofher，yetnotwantingit。Sheshrankalittle，asifshewereexposedtohiseyes，andasifitwereapaintoher。Shedarkened，hersoulcloudedover，sheturnedaside。Shehadbeendrivenoutofherownradiant，singleworld。Andshedreadedcontact，itwasalmostunnaturaltoheratthesetimes。
　　`Yes，'shesaidvaguely，inadoubting，absentvoice。
　　Birkin'sheartcontractedswiftly，inasuddenfireofbitterness。Itallmeantnothingtoher。Hehadbeenmistakenagain。Shewasinsomeself—satisfiedworldofherown。Heandhishopeswereaccidentals，violationstoher。
　　Itdroveherfathertoapitchofmadexasperation。Hehadhadtoputupwiththisallhislife，fromher。
　　`Well，whatdoyousay？'hecried。
　　Shewinced。Thensheglanceddownatherfather，half—frightened，andshesaid:
　　`Ididn'tspeak，didI？'asifshewereafraidshemighthavecommittedherself。
　　`No，'saidherfather，exasperated。`Butyouneedn'tlooklikeanidiot。
　　You'vegotyourwits，haven'tyou？'
　　Sheebbedawayinsilenthostility。
　　`I'vegotmywits，whatdoesthatmean？'sherepeated，inasullenvoiceofantagonism。
　　`Youheardwhatwasaskedyou，didn'tyou？'criedherfatherinanger。
　　`OfcourseIheard。'
　　`Wellthen，can'tyouanswer？'thunderedherfather。
　　`WhyshouldI？'
　　Attheimpertinenceofthisretort，hewentstiff。Buthesaidnothing。
　　`No，'saidBirkin，tohelpouttheoccasion，`there'snoneedtoansweratonce。Youcansaywhenyoulike。'
　　Hereyesflashedwithapowerfullight。
　　`WhyshouldIsayanything？'shecried。`Youdothisoffyourownbat，ithasnothingtodowithme。Whydoyoubothwanttobullyme？'
　　`Bullyyou！Bullyyou！'criedherfather，inbitter，rancorousanger。
　　`Bullyyou！Why，it'sapityyoucan'tbebulliedintosomesenseanddecency。
　　Bullyyou！You'llseetothat，youself—willedcreature。'
　　Shestoodsuspendedinthemiddleoftheroom，herfaceglimmeringanddangerous。Shewassetinsatisfieddefiance。Birkinlookedupather。
　　Hetoowasangry。
　　`Butnoneisbullyingyou，'hesaid，inaverysoftdangerousvoicealso。
　　`Ohyes，'shecried。`Youbothwanttoforcemeintosomething。'
　　`Thatisanillusionofyours，'hesaidironically。
　　`Illusion！'criedherfather。`Aself—opinionatedfool，that'swhatsheis。'
　　Birkinrose，saying:
　　`However，we'llleaveitforthetimebeing。'
　　Andwithoutanotherword，hewalkedoutofthehouse。
　　`Youfool！Youfool！'herfathercriedtoher，withextremebitterness。
　　Shelefttheroom，andwentupstairs，singingtoherself。Butshewasterriblyfluttered，asaftersomedreadfulfight。Fromherwindow，shecouldseeBirkingoinguptheroad。Hewentinsuchablithedriftofrage，thathermindwonderedoverhim。Hewasridiculous，butshewasafraidofhim。
　　Shewasasifescapedfromsomedanger。
　　Herfathersatbelow，powerlessinhumiliationandchagrin。Itwasasifhewerepossessedwithallthedevils，afteroneoftheseunaccountableconflictswithUrsula。Hehatedherasifhisonlyrealitywereinhatinghertothelastdegree。Hehadallhellinhisheart。Buthewentaway，toescapehimself。Heknewhemustdespair，yield，giveintodespair，andhavedone。
　　Ursula'sfaceclosed，shecompletedherselfagainstthemall。Recoilinguponherself，shebecamehardandself—completed，likeajewel。Shewasbrightandinvulnerable，quitefreeandhappy，perfectlyliberatedinherself—possession。Herfatherhadtolearnnottoseeherblitheobliviousness，oritwouldhavesenthimmad。Shewassoradiantwithallthings，inherpossessionofperfecthostility。
　　Shewouldgoonnowfordayslikethis，inthisbrightfrankstateofseeminglypurespontaneity，soessentiallyobliviousoftheexistenceofanythingbutherself，butsoreadyandfacileinherinterest。Ahitwasabitterthingforamantobenearher，andherfathercursedhisfatherhood。
　　Buthemustlearnnottoseeher，nottoknow。
　　Shewasperfectlystableinresistancewhenshewasinthisstate:sobrightandradiantandattractiveinherpureopposition，soverypure，andyetmistrustedbyeverybody，dislikedoneveryhand。Itwashervoice，curiouslyclearandrepellent，thatgaveheraway。OnlyGudrunwasinaccordwithher。Itwasatthesetimesthattheintimacybetweenthetwosisterswasmostcomplete，asiftheirintelligencewereone。Theyfeltastrong，brightbondofunderstandingbetweenthem，surpassingeverythingelse。
　　Andduringallthesedaysofblindbrightabstractionandintimacyofhistwodaughters，thefatherseemedtobreatheanairofdeath，asifheweredestroyedinhisverybeing。Hewasirritabletomadness，hecouldnotrest，hisdaughtersseemedtobedestroyinghim。Buthewasinarticulateandhelplessagainstthem。Hewasforcedtobreathetheairofhisowndeath。Hecursedtheminhissoul，andonlywanted，thattheyshouldberemovedfromhim。
　　Theycontinuedradiantintheireasyfemaletranscendancy，beautifultolookat。Theyexchangedconfidences，theywereintimateintheirrevelationstothelastdegree，givingeachotheratlasteverysecret。Theywithheldnothing，theytoldeverything，tilltheywereovertheborderofevil。
　　Andtheyarmedeachotherwithknowledge，theyextractedthesubtlestflavoursfromtheappleofknowledge。Itwascurioushowtheirknowledgewascomplementary，thatofeachtothatoftheother。
　　Ursulasawhermenassons，pitiedtheiryearningandadmiredtheircourage，andwonderedoverthemasamotherwondersoverherchild，withacertaindelightintheirnovelty。ButtoGudrun，theyweretheoppositecamp。Shefearedthemanddespisedthem，andrespectedtheiractivitiesevenovermuch。
　　`Ofcourse，'shesaideasily，`thereisaqualityoflifeinBirkinwhichisquiteremarkable。Thereisanextraordinaryrichspringoflifeinhim，reallyamazing，thewayhecangivehimselftothings。Buttherearesomanythingsinlifethathesimplydoesn'tknow。Eitherheisnotawareoftheirexistenceatall，orhedismissesthemasmerelynegligible——thingswhicharevitaltotheotherperson。Inaway，heisnotcleverenough，heistoointenseinspots。'
　　`Yes，'criedUrsula，`toomuchofapreacher。Heisreallyapriest。'
　　`Exactly！Hecan'thearwhatanybodyelsehastosay——hesimplycannothear。Hisownvoiceissoloud。'
　　`Yes。Hecriesyoudown。'
　　`Hecriesyoudown，'repeatedGudrun。`Andbymereforceofviolence。
　　Andofcourseitishopeless。Nobodyisconvincedbyviolence。Itmakestalkingtohimimpossible——andlivingwithhimIshouldthinkwouldbemorethanimpossible。'
　　`Youdon'tthinkonecouldlivewithhim'askedUrsula。
　　`Ithinkitwouldbetoowearing，tooexhausting。Onewouldbeshouteddowneverytime，andrushedintohiswaywithoutanychoice。Hewouldwanttocontrolyouentirely。Hecannotallowthatthereisanyothermindthanhisown。Andthentherealclumsinessofhismindisitslackofself—criticism。
　　No，Ithinkitwouldbeperfectlyintolerable。'
　　`Yes，'assentedUrsulavaguely。SheonlyhalfagreedwithGudrun。`Thenuisanceis，'shesaid，`thatonewouldfindalmostanymanintolerableafterafortnight。'
　　`It'sperfectlydreadful，'saidGudrun。`ButBirkin——heistoopositive。
　　Hecouldn'tbearitifyoucalledyoursoulyourown。Ofhimthatisstrictlytrue。'
　　`Yes，'saidUrsula。`Youmusthavehissoul。'
　　`Exactly！Andwhatcanyouconceivemoredeadly？'Thiswasallsotrue，thatUrsulafeltjarredtothebottomofhersoulwithuglydistaste。
　　Shewenton，withthediscordjarringandjoltingthroughher，inthemostbarrenofmisery。
　　ThentherestartedarevulsionfromGudrun。Shefinishedlifeoffsothoroughly，shemadethingssouglyandsofinal。Asamatteroffact，evenifitwereasGudrunsaid，aboutBirkin，otherthingsweretrueaswell。ButGudrunwoulddrawtwolinesunderhimandcrosshimoutlikeanaccountthatissettled。Therehewas，summedup，paidfor，settled，donewith。Anditwassuchalie。ThisfinalityofGudrun's，thisdispatchingofpeopleandthingsinasentence，itwasallsuchalie。Ursulabegantorevoltfromhersister。
　　Onedayastheywerewalkingalongthelane，theysawarobinsittingonthetoptwigofabush，singingshrilly。Thesistersstoodtolookathim。AnironicalsmileflickeredonGudrun'sface。
　　`Doesn'thefeelimportant？'smiledGudrun。
　　`Doesn'the！'exclaimedUrsula，withalittleironicalgrimace。`Isn'thealittleLloydGeorgeoftheair！'
　　`Isn'the！LittleLloydGeorgeoftheair！That'sjustwhattheyare，'
　　criedGudrunindelight。Thenfordays，Ursulasawthepersistent，obtrusivebirdsasstout，shortpoliticiansliftinguptheirvoicesfromtheplatform，littlemenwhomustmakethemselvesheardatanycost。
　　Butevenfromthistherecametherevulsion。Someyellowhammerssuddenlyshotalongtheroadinfrontofher。Andtheylookedtohersouncannyandinhuman，likeflaringyellowbarbsshootingthroughtheaironsomeweird，livingerrand，thatshesaidtoherself:`Afterall，itisimpudencetocallthemlittleLloydGeorges。Theyarereallyunknowntous，theyaretheunknownforces。Itisimpudencetolookatthemasiftheywerethesameashumanbeings。Theyareofanotherworld。Howstupidanthropomorphismis！Gudrunisreallyimpudent，insolent，makingherselfthemeasureofeverything，makingeverythingcomedowntohumanstandards。Rupertisquiteright，humanbeingsareboring，paintingtheuniversewiththeirownimage。
　　Theuniverseisnon—human，thankGod。'Itseemedtoherirreverence，destructiveofalltruelife，tomakelittleLloydGeorgesofthebirds。Itwassuchalietowardstherobins，andsuchadefamation。Yetshehaddoneitherself。
　　ButunderGudrun'sinfluence:sosheexoneratedherself。
　　SoshewithdrewawayfromGudrunandfromthatwhichshestoodfor，sheturnedinspirittowardsBirkinagain。Shehadnotseenhimsincethefiascoofhisproposal。Shedidnotwantto，becauseshedidnotwantthequestionofheracceptancethrustuponher。SheknewwhatBirkinmeantwhenheaskedhertomarryhim;vaguely，withoutputtingitintospeech，sheknew。Sheknewwhatkindoflove，whatkindofsurrenderhewanted。
　　Andshewasnotatallsurethatthiswasthekindoflovethatsheherselfwanted。Shewasnotatallsurethatitwasthismutualunisoninseparatenessthatshewanted。Shewantedunspeakableintimacies。Shewantedtohavehim，utterly，finallytohavehimasherown，oh，sounspeakably，inintimacy。
　　Todrinkhimdown——ah，likealife—draught。Shemadegreatprofessions，toherself，ofherwillingnesstowarmhisfoot—solesbetweenherbreasts，afterthefashionofthenauseousMeredithpoem。Butonlyonconditionthathe，herlover，lovedherabsolutely，withcompleteself—abandon。Andsubtlyenough，sheknewhewouldneverabandonhimselffinallytoher。Hedidnotbelieveinfinalself—abandonment。Hesaiditopenly。Itwashischallenge。Shewaspreparedtofighthimforit。Forshebelievedinanabsolutesurrendertolove。Shebelievedthatlovefarsurpassedtheindividual。Hesaidtheindividualwasmorethanlove，orthananyrelationship。Forhim，thebright，singlesoulacceptedloveasoneofitsconditions，aconditionofitsownequilibrium。Shebelievedthatlovewaseverything。Manmustrenderhimselfuptoher。Hemustbequaffedtothedregsbyher。Lethimbehermanutterly，andsheinreturnwouldbehishumbleslave——whethershewanteditornot。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter20CHAPTERXXGladiatorialAFTERthefiascooftheproposal，BirkinhadhurriedblindlyawayfromBeldover，inawhirloffury。Hefelthehadbeenacompletefool，thatthewholescenehadbeenafarceofthefirstwater。Butthatdidnottroublehimatall。Hewasdeeply，mockinglyangrythatUrsulapersistedalwaysinthisoldcry:`Whydoyouwanttobullyme？'andinherbright，insolentabstraction。
　　HewentstraighttoShortlands。TherehefoundGeraldstandingwithhisbacktothefire，inthelibrary，asmotionlessasamanis，whoiscompletelyandemptilyrestless，utterlyhollow。Hehaddonealltheworkhewantedtodo——andnowtherewasnothing。Hecouldgooutinthecar，hecouldruntotown。Buthedidnotwanttogooutinthecar，hedidnotwanttoruntotown，hedidnotwanttocallontheThirlbys。Hewassuspendedmotionless，inanagonyofinertia，likeamachinethatiswithoutpower。
　　ThiswasverybittertoGerald，whohadneverknownwhatboredomwas，whohadgonefromactivitytoactivity，neverataloss。Now，gradually，everythingseemedtobestoppinginhim。Hedidnotwantanymoretodothethingsthatoffered。Somethingdeadwithinhimjustrefusedtorespondtoanysuggestion。Hecastoverinhismind，whatitwouldbepossibletodo，tosavehimselffromthismiseryofnothingness，relievethestressofthishollowness。Andtherewereonlythreethingsleft，thatwouldrousehim，makehimlive。Onewastodrinkorsmokehashish，theotherwastobesoothedbyBirkin，andthethirdwaswomen。Andtherewasno—oneforthemomenttodrinkwith。Norwasthereawoman。AndheknewBirkinwasout。Sotherewasnothingtodobuttobearthestressofhisownemptiness。
　　WhenhesawBirkinhisfacelitupinasudden，wonderfulsmile。
　　`ByGod，Rupert，'hesaid，`I'djustcometotheconclusionthatnothingintheworldmatteredexceptsomebodytotaketheedgeoffone'sbeingalone:therightsomebody。'
　　Thesmileinhiseyeswasveryastonishing，ashelookedattheotherman。Itwasthepuregleamofrelief。Hisfacewaspallidandevenhaggard。
　　`Therightwoman，Isupposeyoumean，'saidBirkinspitefully。
　　`Ofcourse，forchoice。Failingthat，anamusingman。'
　　Helaughedashesaidit。Birkinsatdownnearthefire。
　　`Whatwereyoudoing？'heasked。
　　`I？Nothing。I'minabadwayjustnow，everything'sonedge，andI
　　canneitherworknorplay。Idon'tknowwhetherit'sasignofoldage，I'msure。'
　　`Youmeanyouarebored？'
　　`Bored，Idon'tknow。Ican'tapplymyself。AndIfeelthedeviliseitherverypresentinsideme，ordead。'
　　Birkinglancedupandlookedinhiseyes。
　　`Youshouldtryhittingsomething，'hesaid。
　　Geraldsmiled。
　　`Perhaps，'hesaid。`Solongasitwassomethingworthhitting。'
　　`Quite！'saidBirkin，inhissoftvoice。Therewasalongpauseduringwhicheachcouldfeelthepresenceoftheother。
　　`Onehastowait，'saidBirkin。
　　`AhGod！Waiting！Whatarewewaitingfor？'
　　`SomeoldJohnnysaystherearethreecuresforennui，sleep，drink，andtravel，'saidBirkin。
　　`Allcoldeggs，'saidGerald。`Insleep，youdream，indrinkyoucurse，andintravelyouyellataporter。No，workandlovearethetwo。Whenyou'renotatworkyoushouldbeinlove。'
　　`Beitthen，'saidBirkin。
　　`Givemetheobject，'saidGerald。`Thepossibilitiesofloveexhaustthemselves。'
　　`Dothey？Andthenwhat？'
　　`Thenyoudie，'saidGerald。
　　`Soyouought，'saidBirkin。
　　`Idon'tseeit，'repliedGerald。Hetookhishandsoutofhistrouserspockets，andreachedforacigarette。Hewastenseandnervous。Helitthecigaretteoveralamp，reachingforwardanddrawingsteadily。Hewasdressedfordinner，asusualintheevening，althoughhewasalone。
　　`There'sathirdoneeventoyourtwo，'saidBirkin。`Work，love，andfighting。Youforgetthefight。'
　　`IsupposeIdo，'saidGerald。`Didyoueverdoanyboxing——？'
　　`No，Idon'tthinkIdid，'saidBirkin。
　　`Ay——'Geraldliftedhisheadandblewthesmokeslowlyintotheair。
　　`Why？'saidBirkin。
　　`Nothing。Ithoughtwemighthavearound。Itisperhapstrue，thatIwantsomethingtohit。It'sasuggestion。'
　　`Soyouthinkyoumightaswellhitme？'saidBirkin。
　　`You？Well！Perhaps——！Inafriendlykindofway，ofcourse。'
　　`Quite！'saidBirkin，bitingly。