Ursuladidnotagree——peoplewerestillanadventuretoher——but——perhapsnotasmuchasshetriedtopersuadeherself。Perhapstherewassomethingmechanical，now，inherinterest。Perhapsalsoherinterestwasdestructive，heranalysingwasarealtearingtopieces。Therewasanunder—spaceinherwhereshedidnotcareforpeopleandtheiridiosyncracies，eventodestroythem。Sheseemedtotouchforamomentthisundersilenceinherself，shebecamestill，andsheturnedforamomentpurelytoBirkin。
　　`Won'titbelovelytogohomeinthedark？'shesaid。`Wemighthavetearatherlate——shallwe？——andhavehightea？Wouldn'tthatberathernice？'
　　`IpromisedtobeatShortlandsfordinner，'hesaid。
　　`But——itdoesn'tmatter——youcangotomorrow——'
　　`Hermioneisthere，'hesaid，inratheranuneasyvoice。`Sheisgoingawayintwodays。IsupposeIoughttosaygood—byetoher。Ishallneverseeheragain。'
　　Ursuladrewaway，closedinaviolentsilence。Heknittedhisbrows，andhiseyesbegantosparkleagaininanger。
　　`Youdon'tmind，doyou？'heaskedirritably。
　　`No，Idon'tcare。WhyshouldI？WhyshouldImind？'Hertonewasjeeringandoffensive。
　　`That'swhatIaskmyself，'hesaid;`whyshouldyoumind！Butyouseemto。'Hisbrowsweretensewithviolentirritation。
　　`IassureyouIdon't，Idon'tmindintheleast。Gowhereyoubelong——it'swhatIwantyoutodo。'
　　`Ahyoufool！'hecried，`withyour"gowhereyoubelong。"It'sfinishedbetweenHermioneandme。Shemeansmuchmoretoyou，ifitcomestothat，thanshedoestome。Foryoucanonlyrevoltinpurereactionfromher——andtobeheroppositeistobehercounterpart。'
　　`Ah，opposite！'criedUrsula。`Iknowyourdodges。Iamnottakeninbyyourword—twisting。YoubelongtoHermioneandherdeadshow。Well，ifyoudo，youdo。Idon'tblameyou。Butthenyou'venothingtodowithme。
　　Inhisinflamed，overwroughtexasperation，hestoppedthecar，andtheysatthere，inthemiddleofthecountrylane，tohaveitout。Itwasacrisisofwarbetweenthem，sotheydidnotseetheridiculousnessoftheirsituation。
　　`Ifyouweren'tafool，ifonlyyouweren'tafool，'hecriedinbitterdespair，`you'dseethatonecouldbedecent，evenwhenonehasbeenwrong。
　　IwaswrongtogoonallthoseyearswithHermione——itwasadeathlyprocess。Butafterall，onecanhavealittlehumandecency。Butno，youwouldtearmysouloutwithyourjealousyattheverymentionofHermione'sname。'
　　`Ijealous！I——jealous！Youaremistakenifyouthinkthat。I'mnotjealousintheleastofHermione，sheisnothingtome，notthat！'AndUrsulasnappedherfingers。`No，it'syouwhoarealiar。
　　It'syouwhomustreturn，likeadogtohisvomit。ItiswhatHermionestandsforthatIhate。Ihateit。Itislies，itisfalse，itisdeath。Butyouwantit，youcan'thelpit，youcan'thelpyourself。Youbelongtothatold，deathlywayofliving——thengobacktoit。Butdon'tcometome，forI'venothingtodowithit。'
　　Andinthestressofherviolentemotion，shegotdownfromthecarandwenttothehedgerow，pickingunconsciouslysomeflesh—pinkspindleberries，someofwhichwereburst，showingtheirorangeseeds。
　　`Ah，youareafool，'hecried，bitterly，withsomecontempt。
　　`Yes，Iam。Iamafool。AndthankGodforit。I'mtoobigafooltoswallowyourcleverness。Godbepraised。Yougotoyourwomen——
　　gotothem——theyareyoursort——you'vealwayshadastringofthemtrailingafteryou——andyoualwayswill。Gotoyourspiritualbrides——butdon'tcometomeaswell，becauseI'mnothavingany，thankyou。
　　You'renotsatisfied，areyou？Yourspiritualbridescan'tgiveyouwhatyouwant，theyaren'tcommonandfleshyenoughforyou，aren'tthey？Soyoucometome，andkeeptheminthebackground！Youwillmarrymefordailyuse。Butyou'llkeepyourselfwellprovidedwithspiritualbridesinthebackground。Iknowyourdirtylittlegame。'Suddenlyaflameranoverher，andshestampedherfootmadlyontheroad，andhewinced，afraidthatshewouldstrikehim。`AndI，I'mnotspiritualenough，I'mnotasspiritualasthatHermione——！'Herbrowsknitted，hereyesblazedlikeatiger's。`Thengotoher，that'sallIsay，gotoher，go。
　　Ha，shespiritual——spiritual，she！Adirtymaterialistassheis。Shespiritual？Whatdoesshecarefor，whatisherspirituality？
　　Whatisit？'Herfuryseemedtoblazeoutandburnhisface。Heshrankalittle。`Itellyouit'sdirt，dirt，andnothingbutdirt。Andit'sdirtyouwant，youcraveforit。Spiritual！Isthatspiritual，herbullying，herconceit，hersordidmaterialism？She'safishwife，afishwife，sheissuchamaterialist。Andallsosordid。Whatdoessheworkoutto，intheend，withallhersocialpassion，asyoucallit。Socialpassion——whatsocialpassionhasshe？——showitme！——whereisit？
　　Shewantspetty，immediatepower，shewantstheillusionthatsheisagreatwoman，thatisall。Inhersoulshe'sadevilishunbeliever，commonasdirt。That'swhatsheisatthebottom。Andalltherestispretence——butyouloveit。Youlovetheshamspirituality，it'syourfood。Andwhy？Becauseofthedirtunderneath。DoyouthinkIdon'tknowthefoulnessofyoursexlife——andher's？——Ido。Andit'sthatfoulnessyouwant，youliar。Thenhaveit，haveit。You'resuchaliar。'
　　Sheturnedaway，spasmodicallytearingthetwigsofspindleberryfromthehedge，andfasteningthem，withvibratingfingers，inthebosomofhercoat。
　　Hestoodwatchinginsilence。Awonderfultendernessburnedinhim，atthesightofherquivering，sosensitivefingers:andatthesametimehewasfullofrageandcallousness。
　　`Thisisadegradingexhibition，'hesaidcoolly。
　　`Yes，degradingindeed，'shesaid。`Butmoretomethantoyou。'
　　`Sinceyouchoosetodegradeyourself，'hesaid。Againtheflashcameoverherface，theyellowlightsconcentratedinhereyes。
　　`You！'shecried。`You！Youtruth—lover！Youpurity—monger！Itstinks，yourtruthandyourpurity。Itstinksoftheoffalyoufeedon，youscavengerdog，youeaterofcorpses。Youarefoul，foulandyoumustknowit。Yourpurity，yourcandour，yourgoodness——yes，thankyou，we'vehadsome。Whatyouareisafoul，deathlything，obscene，that'swhatyouare，obsceneandperverse。You，andlove！Youmaywellsay，youdon'twantlove。No，youwantyourself，anddirt，anddeath——that'swhatyouwant。Youaresoperverse，sodeath—eating。Andthen——'
　　`There'sabicyclecoming，'hesaid，writhingunderherlouddenunciation。
　　Sheglanceddowntheroad。
　　`Idon'tcare，'shecried。
　　Neverthelessshewassilent。Thecyclist，havingheardthevoicesraisedinaltercation，glancedcuriouslyattheman，andthewoman，andatthestandingmotor—carashepassed。
　　`——Afternoon，'hesaid，cheerfully。
　　`Good—afternoon，'repliedBirkincoldly。
　　Theyweresilentasthemanpassedintothedistance。
　　AclearerlookhadcomeoverBirkin'sface。Heknewshewasinthemainright。Heknewhewasperverse，sospiritualontheonehand，andinsomestrangeway，degraded，ontheother。Butwassheherselfanybetter？Wasanybodyanybetter？
　　`Itmayallbetrue，liesandstinkandall，'hesaid。`ButHermione'sspiritualintimacyisnorottenerthanyouremotional—jealousintimacy。
　　Onecanpreservethedecencies，eventoone'senemies:forone'sownsake。
　　Hermioneismyenemy——toherlastbreath！That'swhyImustbowheroffthefield。'
　　`You！Youandyourenemiesandyourbows！Aprettypictureyoumakeofyourself。Butittakesnobodyinbutyourself。Ijealous！I！WhatIsay，'hervoicesprangintoflame，`Isaybecauseitistrue，doyousee，becauseyouareyou，afoulandfalseliar，awhitedsepulchre。That'swhyIsayit。Andyouhearit。'
　　`Andbegrateful，'headded，withasatiricalgrimace。
　　`Yes，'shecried，`andifyouhaveasparkofdecencyinyou，begrateful。'
　　`Nothavingasparkofdecency，however——'heretorted。
　　`No，'shecried，`youhaven'taspark。Andsoyoucangoyourway，andI'llgomine。It'snogood，nottheslightest。Soyoucanleavemenow，Idon'twanttogoanyfurtherwithyou——leaveme——'
　　`Youdon'tevenknowwhereyouare，'hesaid。
　　`Oh，don'tbother，IassureyouIshallbeallright。I'vegottenshillingsinmypurse，andthatwilltakemebackfromanywhereyouhavebroughtmeto。'Shehesitated。Theringswerestillonherfingers，twoonherlittlefinger，oneonherringfinger。Stillshehesitated。
　　`Verygood，'hesaid。`Theonlyhopelessthingisafool。'
　　`Youarequiteright，'shesaid。
　　Stillshehesitated。Thenanugly，malevolentlookcameoverherface，shepulledtheringsfromherfingers，andtossedthemathim。Onetouchedhisface，theothershithiscoat，andtheyscatteredintothemud。
　　`Andtakeyourrings，'shesaid，`andgoandbuyyourselfafemaleelsewhere——thereareplentytobehad，whowillbequitegladtoshareyourspiritualmess，——ortohaveyourphysicalmess，andleaveyourspiritualmesstoHermione。'
　　Withwhichshewalkedaway，desultorily，uptheroad。Hestoodmotionless，watchinghersullen，ratheruglywalk。Shewassullenlypickingandpullingatthetwigsofthehedgeasshepassed。Shegrewsmaller，sheseemedtopassoutofhissight。Adarknesscameoverhismind。Onlyasmall，mechanicalspeckofconsciousnesshoverednearhim。
　　Hefelttiredandweak。Yetalsohewasrelieved。Hegaveuphisoldposition。Hewentandsatonthebank。NodoubtUrsulawasright。Itwastrue，really，whatshesaid。Heknewthathisspiritualitywasconcomitantofaprocessofdepravity，asortofpleasureinself—destruction。Therereallywasacertainstimulantinself—destruction，forhim——especiallywhenitwastranslatedspiritually。Butthenheknewit——heknewit，andhaddone。AndwasnotUrsula'swayofemotionalintimacy，emotionalandphysical，wasitnotjustasdangerousasHermione'sabstractspiritualintimacy？Fusion，fusion，thishorriblefusionoftwobeings，whicheverywomanandmostmeninsistedon，wasitnotnauseousandhorribleanyhow，whetheritwasafusionofthespiritoroftheemotionalbody？HermionesawherselfastheperfectIdea，towhichallmenmustcome:AndUrsulawastheperfectWomb，thebathofbirth，towhichallmenmustcome！Andbothwerehorrible。Whycouldtheynotremainindividuals，limitedbytheirownlimits？Whythisdreadfulall—comprehensiveness，thishatefultyranny？
　　Whynotleavetheotherbeing，free，whytrytoabsorb，ormelt，ormerge？
　　Onemightabandononeselfutterlytothemoments，butnottoanyotherbeing。
　　Hecouldnotbeartoseetheringslyinginthepalemudoftheroad。
　　Hepickedthemup，andwipedthemunconsciouslyonhishands。Theywerethelittletokensoftherealityofbeauty，therealityofhappinessinwarmcreation。Buthehadmadehishandsalldirtyandgritty。
　　Therewasadarknessoverhismind。Theterribleknotofconsciousnessthathadpersistedtherelikeanobsessionwasbroken，gone，hislifewasdissolvedindarknessoverhislimbsandhisbody。Buttherewasapointofanxietyinhisheartnow。Hewantedhertocomeback。Hebreathedlightlyandregularlylikeaninfant，thatbreathesinnocently，beyondthetouchofresponsibility。
　　Shewascomingback。Hesawherdriftingdesultorilyunderthehighhedge，advancingtowardshimslowly。Hedidnotmove，hedidnotlookagain。
　　Hewasasifasleep，atpeace，slumberingandutterlyrelaxed。
　　Shecameupandstoodbeforehim，hangingherhead。
　　`SeewhataflowerIfoundyou，'shesaid，wistfullyholdingapieceofpurple—redbell—heatherunderhisface。Hesawtheclumpofcolouredbells，andthetree—like，tinybranch:alsoherhands，withtheirover—fine，over—sensitiveskin。
　　`Pretty！'hesaid，lookingupatherwithasmile，takingtheflower。
　　Everythinghadbecomesimpleagain，quitesimple，thecomplexitygoneintonowhere。Buthebadlywantedtocry:exceptthathewaswearyandboredbyemotion。
　　Thenahotpassionoftendernessforherfilledhisheart。Hestoodupandlookedintoherface。Itwasnewandoh，sodelicateinitsluminouswonderandfear。Heputhisarmsroundher，andshehidherfaceonhisshoulder。
　　Itwaspeace，justsimplepeace，ashestoodfoldingherquietlythereontheopenlane。Itwaspeaceatlast。Theold，detestableworldoftensionhadpassedawayatlast，hissoulwasstrongandatease。
　　Shelookedupathim。Thewonderfulyellowlightinhereyesnowwassoftandyielded，theywereatpeacewitheachother。Hekissedher，softly，many，manytimes。Alaughcameintohereyes。
　　`DidIabuseyou？'sheasked。
　　Hesmiledtoo，andtookherhand，thatwassosoftandgiven。
　　`Nevermind，'shesaid，`itisallforthegood。'Hekissedheragain，softly，manytimes。
　　`Isn'tit？'shesaid。
　　`Certainly，'hereplied。`Wait！Ishallhavemyownback。'
　　Shelaughedsuddenly，withawildcatchinhervoice，andflungherarmsaroundhim。
　　`Youaremine，mylove，aren'tyou？'shecriedstraininghimclose。
　　`Yes，'hesaid，softly。
　　Hisvoicewassosoftandfinal，shewentverystill，asifunderafatewhichhadtakenher。Yes，sheacquiesced——butitwasaccomplishedwithoutheracquiescence。Hewaskissingherquietly，repeatedly，withasoft，stillhappinessthatalmostmadeherheartstopbeating。
　　`Mylove！'shecried，liftingherfaceandlookingwithfrightened，gentlewonderofbliss。Wasitallreal？Buthiseyeswerebeautifulandsoftandimmunefromstressorexcitement，beautifulandsmilinglightlytoher，smilingwithher。Shehidherfaceonhisshoulder，hidingbeforehim，becausehecouldseehersocompletely。Sheknewhelovedher，andshewasafraid，shewasinastrangeelement，anewheavenroundabouther。Shewishedhewerepassionate，becauseinpassionshewasathome。
　　Butthiswassostillandfrail，asspaceismorefrighteningthanforce。
　　Again，quickly，sheliftedherhead。
　　`Doyouloveme？'shesaid，quickly，impulsively。
　　`Yes，'hereplied，notheedinghermotion，onlyherstillness。
　　Sheknewitwastrue。Shebrokeaway。
　　`Soyouought，'shesaid，turningroundtolookattheroad。`Didyoufindtherings？'
　　`Yes。'
　　`Wherearethey？'
　　`Inmypocket。'
　　Sheputherhandintohispocketandtookthemout。
　　Shewasrestless。
　　`Shallwego？'shesaid。
　　`Yes，'heanswered。Andtheymountedtothecaroncemore，andleftbehindthemthismemorablebattle—field。
　　Theydriftedthroughthewild，lateafternoon，inabeautifulmotionthatwassmilingandtranscendent。Hismindwassweetlyatease，thelifeflowedthroughhimasfromsomenewfountain，hewasasifbornoutofthecrampofawomb。
　　`Areyouhappy？'sheaskedhim，inherstrange，delightedway。
　　`Yes，'hesaid。
　　`SoamI，'shecriedinsuddenecstacy，puttingherarmroundhimandclutchinghimviolentlyagainsther，ashesteeredthemotor—car。
　　`Don'tdrivemuchmore，'shesaid。`Idon'twantyoutobealwaysdoingsomething。'
　　`No，'hesaid。`We'llfinishthislittletrip，andthenwe'llbefree。'
　　`Wewill，mylove，wewill，'shecriedindelight，kissinghimasheturnedtoher。
　　Hedroveoninastrangenewwakefulness，thetensionofhisconsciousnessbroken。Heseemedtobeconsciousallover，allhisbodyawakewithasimple，glimmeringawareness，asifhehadjustcomeawake，likeathingthatisborn，likeabirdwhenitcomesoutofanegg，intoanewuniverse。
　　Theydroppeddownalonghillinthedusk，andsuddenlyUrsularecognisedonherrighthand，belowinthehollow，theformofSouthwellMinster。
　　`Arewehere！'shecriedwithpleasure。
　　Therigid，sombre，uglycathedralwassettlingunderthegloomofthecomingnight，astheyenteredthenarrowtown，thegoldenlightsshowedlikeslabsofrevelation，intheshop—windows。
　　`Fathercameherewithmother，'shesaid，`whentheyfirstkneweachother。Helovesit——helovestheMinster。Doyou？'
　　`Yes。Itlookslikequartzcrystalsstickingupoutofthedarkhollow。
　　We'llhaveourhighteaattheSaracen'sHead。'
　　Astheydescended，theyheardtheMinsterbellsplayingahymn，whenthehourhadstrucksix。GlorytotheemyGodthisnightForalltheblessingsofthelight——So，toUrsula'sear，thetunefellout，dropbydrop，fromtheunseenskyontotheduskytown。Itwaslikedim，bygonecenturiessounding。Itwasallsofaroff。Shestoodintheoldyardoftheinn，smellingofstrawandstablesandpetrol。Above，shecouldseethefirststars。Whatwasitall？
　　Thiswasnoactualworld，itwasthedream—worldofone'schildhood——
　　agreatcircumscribedreminiscence。Theworldhadbecomeunreal。Sheherselfwasastrange，transcendentreality。
　　Theysattogetherinalittleparlourbythefire。
　　`Isittrue？'shesaid，wondering。
　　`What？'
　　`Everything——iseverythingtrue？'
　　`Thebestistrue，'hesaid，grimacingather。
　　`Isit？'shereplied，laughing，butunassured。
　　Shelookedathim。Heseemedstillsoseparate。Neweyeswereopenedinhersoul。Shesawastrangecreaturefromanotherworld，inhim。Itwasasifshewereenchanted，andeverythingweremetamorphosed。SherecalledagaintheoldmagicoftheBookofGenesis，wherethesonsofGodsawthedaughtersofmen，thattheywerefair。Andhewasoneofthese，oneofthesestrangecreaturesfromthebeyond，lookingdownather，andseeingshewasfair。
　　Hestoodonthehearth—ruglookingather，atherfacethatwasupturnedexactlylikeaflower，afresh，luminousflower，glintingfaintlygoldenwiththedewofthefirstlight。Andhewassmilingfaintlyasiftherewerenospeechintheworld，savethesilentdelightofflowersineachother。Smilinglytheydelightedineachother'spresence，purepresence，nottobethoughtof，evenknown。Buthiseyeshadafaintlyironicalcontraction。
　　Andshewasdrawntohimstrangely，asinaspell。Kneelingonthehearth—rugbeforehim，sheputherarmsroundhisloins，andputherfaceagainsthisthigh。Riches！Riches！Shewasoverwhelmedwithasenseofaheavenfulofriches。
　　`Weloveeachother，'shesaidindelight。
　　`Morethanthat，'heanswered，lookingdownatherwithhisglimmering，easyface。
　　Unconsciously，withhersensitivefingertips，shewastracingthebackofhisthighs，followingsomemysteriouslife—flowthere。Shehaddiscoveredsomething，somethingmorethanwonderful，morewonderfulthanlifeitself。
　　Itwasthestrangemysteryofhislife—motion，there，atthebackofthethighs，downtheflanks。Itwasastrangerealityofhisbeing，theverystuffofbeing，thereinthestraightdownflowofthethighs。ItwashereshediscoveredhimoneofthesonsofGodsuchaswereinthebeginningoftheworld，notaman，somethingother，somethingmore。
　　Thiswasreleaseatlast。Shehadhadlovers，shehadknownpassion。
　　Butthiswasneitherlovenorpassion。ItwasthedaughtersofmencomingbacktothesonsofGod，thestrangeinhumansonsofGodwhoareinthebeginning。
　　Herfacewasnowonedazzleofreleased，goldenlight，asshelookedupathim，andlaidherhandsfullonhisthighs，behind，ashestoodbeforeher。Helookeddownatherwitharichbrightbrowlikeadiademabovehiseyes。Shewasbeautifulasanewmarvellousfloweropenedathisknees，aparadisalflowershewas，beyondwomanhood，suchaflowerofluminousness。
　　Yetsomethingwastightandunfreeinhim。Hedidnotlikethiscrouching，thisradiance——notaltogether。
　　Itwasallachieved，forher。ShehadfoundoneofthesonsofGodfromtheBeginning，andhehadfoundoneofthefirstmostluminousdaughtersofmen。
　　Shetracedwithherhandsthelineofhisloinsandthighs，attheback，andalivingfireranthroughher，fromhim，darkly。Itwasadarkfloodofelectricpassionshereleasedfromhim，drewintoherself。Shehadestablishedarichnewcircuit，anewcurrentofpassionalelectricenergy，betweenthetwoofthem，releasedfromthedarkestpolesofthebodyandestablishedinperfectcircuit。Itwasadarkfireofelectricitythatrushedfromhimtoher，andfloodedthembothwithrichpeace，satisfaction。
　　`Mylove，'shecried，liftingherfacetohim，hereyes，hermouthopenintransport。
　　`Mylove，'heanswered，bendingandkissingher，alwayskissingher。
　　Sheclosedherhandsoverthefull，roundedbodyofhisloins，ashestoopedoverher，sheseemedtotouchthequickofthemysteryofdarknessthatwasbodilyhim。Sheseemedtofaintbeneath，andheseemedtofaint，stoopingoverher。Itwasaperfectpassingawayforbothofthem，andatthesametimethemostintolerableaccessionintobeing，themarvellousfullnessofimmediategratification，overwhelming，out—floodingfromthesourceofthedeepestlife—force，thedarkest，deepest，strangestlife—sourceofthehumanbody，atthebackandbaseoftheloins。
　　Afteralapseofstillness，aftertheriversofstrangedarkfluidrichnesshadpassedoverher，flooding，carryingawayhermindandfloodingdownherspineanddownherknees，pastherfeet，astrangeflood，sweepingawayeverythingandleavingheranessentialnewbeing，shewasleftquitefree，shewasfreeincompleteease，hercompleteself。Sosherose，stillyandblithe，smilingathim。Hestoodbeforeher，glimmering，soawfullyreal，thatherheartalmoststoppedbeating。Hestoodthereinhisstrange，wholebody，thathaditsmarvellousfountains，likethebodiesofthesonsofGodwhowereinthebeginning。Therewerestrangefountainsofhisbody，moremysteriousandpotentthananyshehadimaginedorknown，moresatisfying，ah，finally，mystically—physicallysatisfying。Shehadthoughttherewasnosourcedeeperthanthephallicsource。Andnow，behold，fromthesmittenrockoftheman'sbody，fromthestrangemarvellousflanksandthighs，deeper，furtherinmysterythanthephallicsource，camethefloodsofineffabledarknessandineffableriches。
　　Theywereglad，andtheycouldforgetperfectly。Theylaughed，andwenttothemealprovided。Therewasavenisonpasty，ofallthings，alargebroad—facedcutham，eggsandcressesandredbeet—root，andmedlarsandapple—tart，andtea。
　　`Whatgoodthings！'shecriedwithpleasure。`Hownobleitlooks！
　　——shallIpouroutthetea？——'
　　Shewasusuallynervousanduncertainatperformingthesepublicduties，suchasgivingtea。Buttodaysheforgot，shewasatherease，entirelyforgettingtohavemisgivings。Thetea—potpouredbeautifullyfromaproudslenderspout。Hereyeswerewarmwithsmilesasshegavehimhistea。
　　Shehadlearnedatlasttobestillandperfect。
　　`Everythingisours，'shesaidtohim。
　　`Everything，'heanswered。
　　Shegaveaqueerlittlecrowingsoundoftriumph。
　　`I'msoglad！'shecried，withunspeakablerelief。
　　`SoamI，'hesaid。`ButI'mthinkingwe'dbettergetoutofourresponsibilitiesasquickaswecan。'
　　`Whatresponsibilities？'sheasked，wondering。
　　`Wemustdropourjobs，likeashot。'
　　Anewunderstandingdawnedintoherface。
　　`Ofcourse，'shesaid，`there'sthat。'
　　`Wemustgetout，'hesaid。`There'snothingforitbuttogetout，quick。'
　　Shelookedathimdoubtfullyacrossthetable。
　　`Butwhere？'shesaid。
　　`Idon'tknow，'hesaid。`We'lljustwanderaboutforabit。'
　　Againshelookedathimquizzically。
　　`IshouldbeperfectlyhappyattheMill，'shesaid。
　　`It'sveryneartheoldthing，'hesaid。`Letuswanderabit。'
　　Hisvoicecouldbesosoftandhappy—go—lucky，itwentthroughherveinslikeanexhilaration。Neverthelessshedreamedofavalley，andwildgardens，andpeace。Shehadadesiretooforsplendour——anaristocraticextravagantsplendour。Wanderingseemedtoherlikerestlessness，dissatisfaction。
　　`Wherewillyouwanderto？'sheasked。
　　`Idon'tknow。IfeelasifIwouldjustmeetyouandwe'dsetoff——
　　justtowardsthedistance。'
　　`Butwherecanonego？'sheaskedanxiously。`Afterall，thereisonlytheworld，andnoneofitisverydistant。'
　　`Still，'hesaid，`Ishouldliketogowithyou——nowhere。Itwouldberatherwanderingjusttonowhere。That'stheplacetogetto——nowhere。
　　Onewantstowanderawayfromtheworld'ssomewheres，intoourownnowhere。'
　　Stillshemeditated。
　　`Yousee，mylove，'shesaid，`I'msoafraidthatwhileweareonlypeople，we'vegottotaketheworldthat'sgiven——becausethereisn'tanyother。'
　　`Yesthereis，'hesaid。`There'ssomewherewherewecanbefree——
　　somewherewhereoneneedn'twearmuchclothes——noneeven——whereonemeetsafewpeoplewhohavegonethroughenough，andcantakethingsforgranted——whereyoubeyourself，withoutbothering。Thereissomewhere——thereareoneortwopeople——'
　　`Butwhere——？'shesighed。
　　`Somewhere——anywhere。Let'swanderoff。That'sthethingtodo——
　　let'swanderoff。'
　　`Yes——'shesaid，thrilledatthethoughtoftravel。Buttoheritwasonlytravel。
　　`Tobefree，'hesaid。`Tobefree，inafreeplace，withafewotherpeople！'
　　`Yes，'shesaidwistfully。Those`fewotherpeople'depressedher。
　　`Itisn'treallyalocality，though，'hesaid。`It'saperfectedrelationbetweenyouandme，andothers——theperfectrelation——sothatwearefreetogether。'
　　`Itis，mylove，isn'tit，'shesaid。`It'syouandme。It'syouandme，isn'tit？'Shestretchedoutherarmstohim。Hewentacrossandstoopedtokissherface。Herarmsclosedroundhimagain，herhandsspreaduponhisshoulders，movingslowlythere，movingslowlyonhisback，downhisbackslowly，withastrangerecurrent，rhythmicmotion，yetmovingslowlydown，pressingmysteriouslyoverhisloins，overhisflanks。Thesenseoftheawfulnessofrichesthatcouldneverbeimpairedfloodedhermindlikeaswoon，adeathinmostmarvellouspossession，mystic—sure。Shepossessedhimsoutterlyandintolerably，thatsheherselflapsedout。Andyetshewasonlysittingstillinthechair，withherhandspresseduponhim，andlost。
　　Againhesoftlykissedher。
　　`Weshallnevergoapartagain，'hemurmuredquietly。Andshedidnotspeak，butonlypressedherhandsfirmerdownuponthesourceofdarknessinhim。
　　Theydecided，whentheywokeagainfromthepureswoon，towritetheirresignationsfromtheworldofworkthereandthen。Shewantedthis。
　　Herangthebell，andorderednote—paperwithoutaprintedaddress。
　　Thewaiterclearedthetable。
　　`Nowthen，'hesaid，`yoursfirst。Putyourhomeaddress，andthedate——then"DirectorofEducation，TownHall——Sir——"Nowthen！——Idon'tknowhowonereallystands——Isupposeonecouldgetoutofitinlessthanmonth——Anyhow"Sir——IbegtoresignmypostasclassmistressintheWilleyGreenGrammarSchool。Ishouldbeverygratefulifyouwouldliberatemeassoonaspossible，withoutwaitingfortheexpirationofthemonth'snotice。"That'lldo。Haveyougotit？Letmelook。"UrsulaBrangwen。"Good！NowI'llwritemine。Ioughttogivethemthreemonths，butIcanpleadhealth。Icanarrangeitallright。'
　　Hesatandwroteouthisformalresignation。