Geraldwincedinspirit，seeinghersobeautifulandunknown。Shewaswearingasoftbluedress，andherstockingswereofdarkred。
　　Winifredadvancedwithodd，statelyformality。
　　`Wearesogladyou'vecomeback，'shesaid。`Theseareyourflowers。'
　　Shepresentedthebouquet。
　　`Mine！'criedGudrun。Shewassuspendedforamoment，thenavividflushwentoverher，shewasasifblindedforamomentwithaflameofpleasure。
　　Thenhereyes，strangeandflaming，liftedandlookedatthefather，andatGerald。AndagainGeraldshrankinspirit，asifitwouldbemorethanhecouldbear，asherhot，exposedeyesrestedonhim。Therewassomethingsorevealed，shewasrevealedbeyondbearing，tohiseyes。Heturnedhisfaceaside。Andhefelthewouldnotbeabletoaverther。Andhewrithedundertheimprisonment。
　　Gudrunputherfaceintotheflowers。
　　`Buthowbeautifultheyare！'shesaid，inamuffledvoice。Then，withastrange，suddenlyrevealedpassion，shestoopedandkissedWinifred。
　　MrCrichwentforwardwithhishandheldouttoher。
　　`Iwasafraidyouweregoingtorunawayfromus，'hesaid，playfully。
　　Gudrunlookedupathimwithaluminous，roguish，unknownface。
　　`Really！'shereplied。`No，Ididn'twanttostayinLondon。'HervoiceseemedtoimplythatshewasgladtogetbacktoShortlands，hertonewaswarmandsubtlycaressing。
　　`Thatisagoodthing，'smiledthefather。`Youseeyouareverywelcomehereamongus。'
　　Gudrunonlylookedintohisfacewithdark—blue，warm，shyeyes。Shewasunconsciouslycarriedawaybyherownpower。
　　`Andyoulookasifyoucamehomeineverypossibletriumph，'MrCrichcontinued，holdingherhand。
　　`No，'shesaid，glowingstrangely。`Ihaven'thadanytriumphtillI
　　camehere。'
　　`Ah，come，come！We'renotgoingtohearanyofthosetales。Haven'twereadnoticesinthenewspaper，Gerald？'
　　`Youcameoffprettywell，'saidGeraldtoher，shakinghands。`Didyousellanything？'
　　`No，'shesaid，`notmuch。'
　　`Justaswell，'hesaid。
　　Shewonderedwhathemeant。Butshewasallaglowwithherreception，carriedawaybythislittleflatteringceremonialonherbehalf。
　　`Winifred，'saidthefather，`haveyouapairofshoesforMissBrangwen？
　　Youhadbetterchangeatonce——'
　　Gudrunwentoutwithherbouquetinherhand。
　　`Quitearemarkableyoungwoman，'saidthefathertoGerald，whenshehadgone。
　　`Yes，'repliedGeraldbriefly，asifhedidnotliketheobservation。
　　MrCrichlikedGudruntositwithhimforhalfanhour。Usuallyhewasashyandwretched，withallthelifegnawedoutofhim。Butassoonasherallied，helikedtomakebelievethathewasjustasbefore，quitewellandinthemidstoflife——notoftheouterworld，butinthemidstofastrongessentiallife。Andtothisbelief，Gudruncontributedperfectly。
　　Withher，hecouldgetbystimulationthoseprecioushalf—hoursofstrengthandexaltationandpurefreedom，whenheseemedtolivemorethanhehadeverlived。
　　Shecametohimashelayproppedupinthelibrary。Hisfacewaslikeyellowwax，hiseyesdarkened，asitweresightless。Hisblackbeard，nowstreakedwithgrey，seemedtospringoutofthewaxyfleshofacorpse。
　　Yettheatmosphereabouthimwasenergeticandplayful。Gudrunsubscribedtothis，perfectly。Toherfancy，hewasjustanordinaryman。Onlyhisratherterribleappearancewasphotographeduponhersoul，awaybeneathherconsciousness。Sheknewthat，inspiteofhisplayfulness，hiseyescouldnotchangefromtheirdarkenedvacancy，theyweretheeyesofamanwhoisdead。
　　`Ah，thisisMissBrangwen，'hesaid，suddenlyrousingassheentered，announcedbytheman—servant。`Thomas，putMissBrangwenachairhere——
　　that'sright。'Helookedathersoft，freshfacewithpleasure。Itgavehimtheillusionoflife。`Now，youwillhaveaglassofsherryandalittlepieceofcake。Thomas——'
　　`Nothankyou，'saidGudrun。Andassoonasshehadsaidit，herheartsankhorribly。Thesickmanseemedtofallintoagapofdeath，athercontradiction。Sheoughttoplayuptohim，nottocontravenehim。Inaninstantshewassmilingherratherroguishsmile。
　　`Idon'tlikesherryverymuch，'shesaid。`ButIlikealmostanythingelse。'
　　Thesickmancaughtatthisstrawinstantly。
　　`Notsherry！No！Somethingelse！Whatthen？Whatisthere，Thomas？'
　　`Portwine——curacao——'
　　`Iwouldlovesomecuracao——'saidGudrun，lookingatthesickmanconfidingly。
　　`Youwould。WellthenThomas，curacao——andalittlecake，orabiscuit？'
　　`Abiscuit，'saidGudrun。Shedidnotwantanything，butshewaswise。
　　`Yes。'
　　Hewaitedtillshewassettledwithherlittleglassandherbiscuit。
　　Thenhewassatisfied。
　　`Youhaveheardtheplan，'hesaidwithsomeexcitement，`forastudioforWinifred，overthestables？'
　　`No！'exclaimedGudrun，inmockwonder。
　　`Oh！——IthoughtWinniewroteittoyou，inherletter！'
　　`Oh——yes——ofcourse。ButIthoughtperhapsitwasonlyherownlittleidea——'Gudrunsmiledsubtly，indulgently。Thesickmansmiledalso，elated。
　　`Ohno。Itisarealproject。Thereisagoodroomundertheroofofthestables——withslopingrafters。Wehadthoughtofconvertingitintoastudio。'
　　`Howverynicethatwouldbe！'criedGudrun，withexcitedwarmth。
　　Thethoughtoftheraftersstirredher。
　　`Youthinkitwould？Well，itcanbedone。'
　　`ButhowperfectlysplendidforWinifred！Ofcourse，itisjustwhatisneeded，ifsheistoworkatallseriously。Onemusthaveone'sworkshop，otherwiseoneneverceasestobeanamateur。'
　　`Isthatso？Yes。Ofcourse，IshouldlikeyoutoshareitwithWinifred。'
　　`Thankyousomuch。'
　　Gudrunknewallthesethingsalready，butshemustlookshyandverygrateful，asifovercome。
　　`Ofcourse，whatIshouldlikebest，wouldbeifyoucouldgiveupyourworkattheGrammarSchool，andjustavailyourselfofthestudio，andworkthere——well，asmuchoraslittleasyouliked——'
　　HelookedatGudrunwithdark，vacanteyes。Shelookedbackathimasiffullofgratitude。Thesephrasesofadyingmanweresocompleteandnatural，cominglikeechoesthroughhisdeadmouth。
　　`Andastoyourearnings——youdon'tmindtakingfrommewhatyouhavetakenfromtheEducationCommittee，doyou？Idon'twantyoutobealoser。'
　　`Oh，'saidGudrun，`ifIcanhavethestudioandworkthere，Icanearnmoneyenough，reallyIcan。'
　　`Well，'hesaid，pleasedtobethebenefactor，`wecanseeaboutallthat。Youwouldn'tmindspendingyourdayshere？'
　　`Iftherewereastudiotoworkin，'saidGudrun，`Icouldaskfornothingbetter。'
　　`Isthatso？'
　　Hewasreallyverypleased。Butalreadyhewasgettingtired。Shecouldseethegrey，awfulsemi—consciousnessofmerepainanddissolutioncomingoverhimagain，thetorturecomingintothevacancyofhisdarkenedeyes。
　　Itwasnotoveryet，thisprocessofdeath。Sherosesoftlysaying:
　　`Perhapsyouwillsleep。ImustlookforWinifred。'
　　Shewentout，tellingthenursethatshehadlefthim。Daybydaythetissueofthesickmanwasfurtherandfurtherreduced，nearerandnearertheprocesscame，towardsthelastknotwhichheldthehumanbeinginitsunity。Butthisknotwashardandunrelaxed，thewillofthedyingmannevergaveway。Hemightbedeadinnine—tenths，yettheremainingtenthremainedunchanged，tillittoowastornapart。Withhiswillheheldtheunitofhimselffirm，butthecircleofhispowerwaseverandeverreduced，itwouldbereducedtoapointatlast，thensweptaway。
　　Toadheretolife，hemustadheretohumanrelationships，andhecaughtateverystraw。Winifred，thebutler，thenurse，Gudrun，thesewerethepeoplewhomeantalltohim，intheselastresources。Gerald，inhisfather'spresence，stiffenedwithrepulsion。Itwasso，toalessdegree，withalltheotherchildrenexceptWinifred。Theycouldnotseeanythingbutthedeath，whentheylookedattheirfather。Itwasasifsomesubterraneandislikeovercamethem。Theycouldnotseethefamiliarface，hearthefamiliarvoice。Theywereoverwhelmedbytheantipathyofvisibleandaudibledeath。
　　Geraldcouldnotbreatheinhisfather'spresence。Hemustgetoutatonce。
　　Andso，inthesameway，thefathercouldnotbearthepresenceofhisson。Itsentafinalirritationthroughthesoulofthedyingman。
　　Thestudiowasmadeready，GudrunandWinifredmovedin。Theyenjoyedsomuchtheorderingandtheappointingofit。Andnowtheyneedhardlybeinthehouseatall。Theyhadtheirmealsinthestudio，theylivedtheresafely。Forthehousewasbecomingdreadful。Thereweretwonursesinwhite，flittingsilentlyabout，likeheraldsofdeath。Thefatherwasconfinedtohisbed，therewasacomeandgoofsotto—vocesistersandbrothersandchildren。
　　Winifredwasherfather'sconstantvisitor。Everymorning，afterbreakfast，shewentintohisroomwhenhewaswashedandproppedupinbed，tospendhalfanhourwithhim。
　　`Areyoubetter，Daddie？'sheaskedhiminvariably。
　　Andinvariablyheanswered:
　　`Yes，IthinkI'malittlebetter，pet。'
　　Sheheldhishandinbothherown，lovinglyandprotectively。Andthiswasverydeartohim。
　　Sheraninagainasaruleatlunchtime，totellhimthecourseofevents，andeveryevening，whenthecurtainsweredrawn，andhisroomwascosy，shespentalongtimewithhim。Gudrunwasgonehome，Winifredwasaloneinthehouse:shelikedbesttobewithherfather。Theytalkedandprattledatrandom，healwaysasifhewerewell，justthesameaswhenhewasgoingabout。SothatWinifred，withachild'ssubtleinstinctforavoidingthepainfulthings，behavedasifnothingseriouswasthematter。
　　Instinctively，shewithheldherattention，andwashappy。Yetinherremotersoul，sheknewaswellastheadultsknew:perhapsbetter。
　　Herfatherwasquitewellinhismake—beliefwithher。Butwhenshewentaway，herelapsedunderthemiseryofhisdissolution。Butstilltherewerethesebrightmoments，thoughashisstrengthwaned，hisfacultyforattentiongrewweaker，andthenursehadtosendWinifredaway，tosavehimfromexhaustion。
　　Heneveradmittedthathewasgoingtodie。Heknewitwasso，heknewitwastheend。Yeteventohimselfhedidnotadmitit。Hehatedthefact，mortally。Hiswillwasrigid。Hecouldnotbearbeingovercomebydeath。
　　Forhim，therewasnodeath。Andyet，attimes，hefeltagreatneedtocryoutandtowailandcomplain。HewouldhavelikedtocryaloudtoGerald，sothathissonshouldbehorrifiedoutofhiscomposure。Geraldwasinstinctivelyawareofthis，andherecoiled，toavoidanysuchthing。Thisuncleannessofdeathrepelledhimtoomuch。Oneshoulddiequickly，liketheRomans，oneshouldbemasterofone'sfateindyingasinliving。Hewasconvulsedintheclaspofthisdeathofhisfather's，asinthecoilsofthegreatserpentofLaocoon。Thegreatserpenthadgotthefather，andthesonwasdraggedintotheembraceofhorrifyingdeathalongwithhim。Heresistedalways。Andinsomestrangeway，hewasatowerofstrengthtohisfather。
　　ThelasttimethedyingmanaskedtoseeGudrunhewasgreywithneardeath。Yethemustseesomeone，hemust，intheintervalsofconsciousness，catchintoconnectionwiththelivingworld，lestheshouldhavetoaccepthisownsituation。Fortunatelyhewasmostofhistimedazedandhalfgone。
　　Andhespentmanyhoursdimlythinkingofthepast，asitwere，dimlyre—livinghisoldexperiences。Butthereweretimeseventotheendwhenhewascapableofrealisingwhatwashappeningtohiminthepresent，thedeaththatwasonhim。Andthesewerethetimeswhenhecalledinoutsidehelp，nomatterwhose。Fortorealisethisdeaththathewasdyingwasadeathbeyonddeath，nevertobeborne。Itwasanadmissionnevertobemade。
　　Gudrunwasshockedbyhisappearance，andbythedarkened，almostdisintegratedeyes，thatstillwereunconqueredandfirm。
　　`Well，'hesaidinhisweakenedvoice，`andhowareyouandWinifredgettingon？'
　　`Oh，verywellindeed，'repliedGudrun。
　　Therewereslightdeadgapsintheconversation，asiftheideascalledupwereonlyelusivestrawsfloatingonthedarkchaosofthesickman'sdying。
　　`Thestudioanswersallright？'hesaid。
　　`Splendid。Itcouldn'tbemorebeautifulandperfect，'saidGudrun。
　　Shewaitedforwhathewouldsaynext。
　　`AndyouthinkWinifredhasthemakingsofasculptor？'
　　Itwasstrangehowhollowthewordswere，meaningless。
　　`I'msureshehas。Shewilldogoodthingsoneday。'
　　`Ah！Thenherlifewon'tbealtogetherwasted，youthink？'
　　Gudrunwasrathersurprised。
　　`Sureitwon't！'sheexclaimedsoftly。
　　`That'sright。'
　　AgainGudrunwaitedforwhathewouldsay。
　　`Youfindlifepleasant，itisgoodtolive，isn'tit？'heasked，withapitifulfaintsmilethatwasalmosttoomuchforGudrun。
　　`Yes，'shesmiled——shewouldlieatrandom——`IgetaprettygoodtimeIbelieve。'
　　`That'sright。Ahappynatureisagreatasset。'
　　AgainGudrunsmiled，thoughhersoulwasdrywithrepulsion。Didonehavetodielikethis——havingthelifeextractedforciblyfromone，whilstonesmiledandmadeconversationtotheend？Wastherenootherway？Mustonegothroughallthehorrorofthisvictoryoverdeath，thetriumphoftheintegralwill，thatwouldnotbebrokentillitdisappearedutterly？
　　Onemust，itwastheonlyway。Sheadmiredtheself—possessionandthecontrolofthedyingmanexceedingly。Butsheloathedthedeathitself。
　　Shewasgladtheeverydayworldheldgood，andsheneednotrecogniseanythingbeyond。
　　`Youarequiteallrighthere？——nothingwecandoforyou？——nothingyoufindwronginyourposition？'
　　`Exceptthatyouaretoogoodtome，'saidGudrun。
　　`Ah，well，thefaultofthatlieswithyourself，'hesaid，andhefeltalittleexultation，thathehadmadethisspeech。
　　Hewasstillsostrongandliving！Butthenauseaofdeathbegantocreepbackonhim，inreaction。
　　Gudrunwentaway，backtoWinifred。Mademoisellehadleft，GudrunstayedagooddealatShortlands，andatutorcameintocarryonWinifred'seducation。
　　Buthedidnotliveinthehouse，hewasconnectedwiththeGrammarSchool。
　　Oneday，GudrunwastodrivewithWinifredandGeraldandBirkintotown，inthecar。Itwasadark，showeryday。WinifredandGudrunwerereadyandwaitingatthedoor。Winifredwasveryquiet，butGudrunhadnotnoticed。Suddenlythechildasked，inavoiceofunconcern:
　　`Doyouthinkmyfather'sgoingtodie，MissBrangwen？'
　　Gudrunstarted。
　　`Idon'tknow，'shereplied。
　　`Don'tyoutruly？'
　　`Nobodyknowsforcertain。Hemaydie，ofcourse。'
　　Thechildponderedafewmoments，thensheasked:
　　`Butdoyouthinkhewilldie？'
　　Itwasputalmostlikeaquestioningeographyorscience，insistent，asifshewouldforceanadmissionfromtheadult。Thewatchful，slightlytriumphantchildwasalmostdiabolical。
　　`DoIthinkhewilldie？'repeatedGudrun。`Yes，Ido。'
　　ButWinifred'slargeeyeswerefixedonher，andthegirldidnotmove。
　　`Heisveryill，'saidGudrun。
　　AsmallsmilecameoverWinifred'sface，subtleandsceptical。
　　`Idon'tbelievehewill，'thechildasserted，mockingly，andshemovedawayintothedrive。Gudrunwatchedtheisolatedfigure，andherheartstoodstill。Winifredwasplayingwithalittlerivuletofwater，absorbedlyasifnothinghadbeensaid。
　　`I'vemadeaproperdam，'shesaid，outofthemoistdistance。
　　Geraldcametothedoorfromoutofthehallbehind。
　　`Itisjustaswellshedoesn'tchoosetobelieveit，'hesaid。
　　Gudrunlookedathim。Theireyesmet;andtheyexchangedasardonicunderstanding。
　　`Justaswell，'saidGudrun。
　　Helookedatheragain，andafireflickeredupinhiseyes。
　　`BesttodancewhileRomeburns，sinceitmustburn，don'tyouthink？'
　　hesaid。
　　Shewasrathertakenaback。But，gatheringherselftogether，shereplied:
　　`Oh——betterdancethanwail，certainly。'
　　`SoIthink。'
　　Andtheybothfeltthesubterraneandesiretoletgo，toflingawayeverything，andlapseintoasheerunrestraint，brutalandlicentious。
　　AstrangeblackpassionsurgeduppureinGudrun。Shefeltstrong。Shefeltherhandssostrong，asifshecouldteartheworldasunderwiththem。
　　SherememberedtheabandonmentsofRomanlicence，andherheartgrewhot。
　　Sheknewshewantedthisherselfalso——orsomething，somethingequivalent。
　　Ah，ifthatwhichwasunknownandsuppressedinherwereonceletloose，whatanorgiasticandsatisfyingeventitwouldbe。Andshewantedit，shetrembledslightlyfromtheproximityoftheman，whostoodjustbehindher，suggestiveofthesameblacklicentiousnessthatroseinherself。
　　Shewanteditwithhim，thisunacknowledgedfrenzy。Foramomenttheclearperceptionofthispreoccupiedher，distinctandperfectinitsfinalreality。
　　Thensheshutitoffcompletely，saying:
　　`WemightaswellgodowntothelodgeafterWinifred——wecangetinthecarethere。'
　　`Sowecan，'heanswered，goingwithher。
　　TheyfoundWinifredatthelodgeadmiringthelitterofpurebredwhitepuppies。Thegirllookedup，andtherewasaratherugly，unseeingcastinhereyesassheturnedtoGeraldandGudrun。Shedidnotwanttoseethem。
　　`Look！'shecried。`Threenewpuppies！Marshallsaysthisoneseemsperfect。Isn'titasweetling？Butitisn'tsoniceasitsmother。'Sheturnedtocaressthefinewhitebull—terrierbitchthatstooduneasilynearher。
　　`MydearestLadyCrich，'shesaid，`youarebeautifulasanangelonearth。Angel——angel——don'tyouthinkshe'sgoodenoughandbeautifulenoughtogotoheaven，Gudrun？Theywillbeinheaven，won'tthey——andespeciallymydarlingLadyCrich！MrsMarshall，Isay！'
　　`Yes，MissWinifred？'saidthewoman，appearingatthedoor。
　　`OhdocallthisoneLadyWinifred，ifsheturnsoutperfect，willyou？
　　DotellMarshalltocallitLadyWinifred。'
　　`I'lltellhim——butI'mafraidthat'sagentlemanpuppy，MissWinifred。'
　　`Ohno！'Therewasthesoundofacar。`There'sRupert！'criedthechild，andsherantothegate。
　　Birkin，drivinghiscar，pulledupoutsidethelodgegate。
　　`We'reready！'criedWinifred。`Iwanttositinfrontwithyou，Rupert。
　　MayI？'
　　`I'mafraidyou'llfidgetaboutandfallout，'hesaid。
　　`NoIwon't。Idowanttositinfrontnexttoyou。Itmakesmyfeetsolovelyandwarm，fromtheengines。'
　　Birkinhelpedherup，amusedatsendingGeraldtositbyGudruninthebodyofthecar。
　　`Haveyouanynews，Rupert？'Geraldcalled，astheyrushedalongthelanes。
　　`News？'exclaimedBirkin。
　　`Yes，'GeraldlookedatGudrun，whosatbyhisside，andhesaid，hiseyesnarrowlylaughing，`IwanttoknowwhetherIoughttocongratulatehim，butIcan'tgetanythingdefiniteoutofhim。'
　　Gudrunflusheddeeply。
　　`Congratulatehimonwhat？'sheasked。
　　`Therewassomementionofanengagement——atleast，hesaidsomethingtomeaboutit。'
　　Gudrunflusheddarkly。
　　`YoumeanwithUrsula？'shesaid，inchallenge。
　　`Yes。Thatisso，isn'tit？'
　　`Idon'tthinkthere'sanyengagement，'saidGudrun，coldly。
　　`Thatso？Stillnodevelopments，Rupert？'hecalled。
　　`Where？Matrimonial？No。'
　　`How'sthat？'calledGudrun。
　　Birkinglancedquicklyround。Therewasirritationinhiseyesalso。
　　`Why？'hereplied。`Whatdoyouthinkofit，Gudrun？'
　　`Oh，'shecried，determinedtoflingherstonealsointothepool，sincetheyhadbegun，`Idon'tthinkshewantsanengagement。Naturally，she'sabirdthatprefersthebush。'Gudrun'svoicewasclearandgong—like。
　　ItremindedRupertofherfather's，sostrongandvibrant。
　　`AndI，'saidBirkin，hisfaceplayfulbutyetdetermined，`Iwantabindingcontract，andamnotkeenonlove，particularlyfreelove。'
　　Theywerebothamused。Whythispublicavowal？Geraldseemedsuspendedamoment，inamusement。
　　`Loveisn'tgoodenoughforyou？'hecalled。
　　`No！'shoutedBirkin。
　　`Ha，wellthat'sbeingover—refined，'saidGerald，andthecarranthroughthemud。
　　`What'sthematter，really？'saidGerald，turningtoGudrun。
　　ThiswasanassumptionofasortofintimacythatirritatedGudrunalmostlikeanaffront。ItseemedtoherthatGeraldwasdeliberatelyinsultingher，andinfringingonthedecentprivacyofthemall。
　　`Whatisit？'shesaid，inherhigh，repellentvoice。`Don'taskme！
　　——Iknownothingaboutultimatemarriage，Iassureyou:orevenpenultimate。'
　　`Onlytheordinaryunwarrantablebrand！'repliedGerald。`Justso——
　　samehere。Iamnoexpertonmarriage，anddegreesofultimateness。ItseemstobeabeethatbuzzesloudlyinRupert'sbonnet。'
　　`Exactly！Butthatishistrouble，exactly！Insteadofwantingawomanforherself，hewantshisideasfulfilled。Which，whenitcomestoactualpractice，isnotgoodenough。'
　　`Ohno。Bestgoslapforwhat'swomanlyinwoman，likeabullatagate。'
　　Thenheseemedtoglimmerinhimself。`Youthinkloveistheticket，doyou？'heasked。
　　`Certainly，whileitlasts——youonlycan'tinsistonpermanency，'
　　cameGudrun'svoice，stridentabovethenoise。
　　`Marriageornomarriage，ultimateorpenultimateorjustso—so？——
　　taketheloveasyoufindit。'
　　`Asyouplease，orasyoudon'tplease，'sheechoed。`Marriageisasocialarrangement，Itakeit，andhasnothingtodowiththequestionoflove。'
　　Hiseyeswereflickeringonherallthetime。Shefeltasishewerekissingherfreelyandmalevolently。Itmadethecolourburninhercheeks，butherheartwasquitefirmandunfailing。
　　`YouthinkRupertisoffhisheadabit？'Geraldasked。
　　Hereyesflashedwithacknowledgment。
　　`Asregardsawoman，yes，'shesaid，`Ido。Thereissuchathingastwopeoplebeinginloveforthewholeoftheirlives——perhaps。Butmarriageisneitherherenorthere，eventhen。Iftheyareinlove，wellandgood。Ifnot——whybreakeggsaboutit！'
　　`Yes，'saidGerald。`That'showitstrikesme。ButwhataboutRupert？'
　　`Ican'tmakeout——neithercanhenoranybody。Heseemstothinkthatifyoumarryyoucangetthroughmarriageintoathirdheaven，orsomething——allveryvague。'
　　`Very！Andwhowantsathirdheaven？Asamatteroffact，Ruperthasagreatyearningtobesafe——totiehimselftothemast。'
　　`Yes。Itseemstomehe'smistakentheretoo，'saidGudrun。`I'msureamistressismorelikelytobefaithfulthanawife——justbecausesheisherownmistress。No——hesayshebelievesthatamanandwifecangofurtherthananyothertwobeings——butwhere，isnotexplained。
　　Theycanknoweachother，heavenlyandhellish，butparticularlyhellish，soperfectlythattheygobeyondheavenandhell——into——thereitallbreaksdown——intonowhere。'
　　`IntoParadise，hesays，'laughedGerald。
　　Gudrunshruggedhershoulders。`Fem'enficheofyourParadise！'
　　shesaid。
　　`NotbeingaMohammedan，'saidGerald。Birkinsatmotionless，drivingthecar，quiteunconsciousofwhattheysaid。AndGudrun，sittingimmediatelybehindhim，feltasortofironicpleasureinthusexposinghim。
　　`Hesays，'sheadded，withagrimaceofirony，`thatyoucanfindaneternalequilibriuminmarriage，ifyouaccepttheunison，andstillleaveyourselfseparate，don'ttrytofuse。'
　　`Doesn'tinspireme，'saidGerald。
　　`That'sjustit，'saidGudrun。
　　`Ibelieveinlove，inarealabandon，ifyou'recapableofit，'
　　saidGerald。
　　`SodoI，'saidshe。
　　`AndsodoesRupert，too——thoughheisalwaysshouting。'
　　`No，'saidGudrun。`Hewon'tabandonhimselftotheotherperson。Youcan'tbesureofhim。That'sthetroubleIthink。'
　　`Yethewantsmarriage！Marriage——etpuis？'
　　`Leparadis！'mockedGudrun。
　　Birkin，ashedrove，feltacreepingofthespine，asifsomebodywasthreateninghisneck。Butheshruggedwithindifference。Itbegantorain。
　　Herewasachange。Hestoppedthecarandgotdowntoputupthehood。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter22CHAPTERXXIIWomantoWomanTHEYCAMEtothetown，andleftGeraldattherailwaystation。GudrunandWinifredweretocometoteawithBirkin，whoexpectedUrsulaalso。Intheafternoon，however，thefirstpersontoturnupwasHermione。Birkinwasout，soshewentinthedrawing—room，lookingathisbooksandpapers，andplayingonthepiano。ThenUrsulaarrived。Shewassurprised，unpleasantlyso，toseeHermione，ofwhomshehadheardnothingforsometime。
　　`Itisasurprisetoseeyou，'shesaid。
　　`Yes，'saidHermione——`I'vebeenawayatAix——'
　　`Oh，foryourhealth？'
　　`Yes。'