`Now，'hesaid，whentheenvelopesweresealedandaddressed，`shallwepostthemhere，bothtogether？IknowJackiewillsay，"Here'sacoincidence！"
　　whenhereceivestheminalltheiridentity。Shallwelethimsayit，ornot？'
　　`Idon'tcare，'shesaid。
　　`No——？'hesaid，pondering。
　　`Itdoesn'tmatter，doesit？'shesaid。
　　`Yes，'hereplied。`Theirimaginationsshallnotworkonus。I'llpostyourshere，mineafter。Icannotbeimplicatedintheirimaginings。'
　　Helookedatherwithhisstrange，non—humansingleness。
　　`Yes，youareright，'shesaid。
　　Sheliftedherfacetohim，allshiningandopen。Itwasasifhemightenterstraightintothesourceofherradiance。Hisfacebecamealittledistracted。
　　`Shallwego？'hesaid。
　　`Asyoulike，'shereplied。
　　Theyweresoonoutofthelittletown，andrunningthroughtheunevenlanesofthecountry。Ursulanestlednearhim，intohisconstantwarmth，andwatchedthepale—litrevelationracingahead，thevisiblenight。Sometimesitwasawideoldroad，withgrass—spacesoneitherside，flyingmagicandelfininthegreenishillumination，sometimesitwastreesloomingoverhead，sometimesitwasbramblebushes，sometimesthewallsofacrew—yardandthebuttofabarn。
　　`AreyougoingtoShortlandstodinner？'Ursulaaskedhimsuddenly。
　　Hestarted。
　　`GoodGod！'hesaid。`Shortlands！Neveragain。Notthat。Besidesweshouldbetoolate。'
　　`Wherearewegoingthen——totheMill？'
　　`Ifyoulike。Pitytogoanywhereonthisgooddarknight。Pitytocomeoutofit，really。Pitywecan'tstopinthegooddarkness。Itisbetterthananythingeverwouldbe——thisgoodimmediatedarkness。'
　　Shesatwondering。Thecarlurchedandswayed。Sheknewtherewasnoleavinghim，thedarknessheldthembothandcontainedthem，itwasnottobesurpassedBesidesshehadafullmysticknowledgeofhissuaveloinsofdarkness，dark—cladandsuave，andinthisknowledgetherewassomeoftheinevitabilityandthebeautyoffate，fatewhichoneasksfor，whichoneacceptsinfull。
　　HesatstilllikeanEgyptianPharoah，drivingthecar。Hefeltasifhewereseatedinimmemorialpotency，likethegreatcarvenstatuesofrealEgypt，asrealandasfulfilledwithsubtlestrength，astheseare，withavagueinscrutablesmileonthelips。Heknewwhatitwastohavethestrangeandmagicalcurrentofforceinhisbackandloins，anddownhislegs，forcesoperfectthatitstayedhimimmobile，andlefthisfacesubtly，mindlesslysmiling。Heknewwhatitwastobeawakeandpotentinthatotherbasicmind，thedeepestphysicalmind。Andfromthissourcehehadapureandmagiccontrol，magical，mystical，aforceindarkness，likeelectricity。
　　Itwasverydifficulttospeak，itwassoperfecttositinthispurelivingsilence，subtle，fullofunthinkableknowledgeandunthinkableforce，upheldimmemoriallyintimelessforce，liketheimmobile，supremelypotentEgyptians，seatedforeverintheirliving，subtlesilence。
　　`Weneednotgohome，'hesaid。`Thiscarhasseatsthatletdownandmakeabed，andwecanliftthehood。'
　　Shewasgladandfrightened。Shecoweredneartohim。
　　`Butwhataboutthemathome？'shesaid。
　　`Sendatelegram。'
　　Nothingmorewassaid。Theyranoninsilence。Butwithasortofsecondconsciousnesshesteeredthecartowardsadestination。Forhehadthefreeintelligencetodirecthisownends。HisarmsandhisbreastandhisheadwereroundedandlivinglikethoseoftheGreek，hehadnottheunawakenedstraightarmsoftheEgyptian，northesealed，slumberinghead。AlambentintelligenceplayedsecondarilyabovehispureEgyptianconcentrationindarkness。
　　Theycametoavillagethatlinedalongtheroad。Thecarcreptslowlyalong，untilhesawthepost—office。Thenhepulledup。
　　`Iwillsendatelegramtoyourfather，'hesaid。`Iwillmerelysay"spendingthenightintown，"shallI？'
　　`Yes，'sheanswered。Shedidnotwanttobedisturbedintotakingthought。
　　Shewatchedhimmoveintothepost—office。Itwasalsoashop，shesaw。
　　Strange，hewas。Evenashewentintothelighted，publicplaceheremaineddarkandmagic，thelivingsilenceseemedthebodyofrealityinhim，subtle，potent，indiscoverable。Therehewas！Inastrangeupliftofelationshesawhim，thebeingnevertoberevealed，awfulinitspotency，mysticandreal。Thisdark，subtlerealityofhim，nevertobetranslated，liberatedherintoperfection，herownperfectedbeing。Shetoowasdarkandfulfilledinsilence。
　　Hecameout，throwingsomepackagesintothecar。
　　`Thereissomebread，andcheese，andraisins，andapples，andhardchocolate，'hesaid，inhisvoicethatwasasiflaughing，becauseoftheunblemishedstillnessandforcewhichwastherealityinhim。Shewouldhavetotouchhim。Tospeak，tosee，wasnothing。Itwasatravestytolookandtocomprehendthemanthere。Darknessandsilencemustfallperfectlyonher，thenshecouldknowmystically，inunrevealedtouch。Shemustlightly，mindlesslyconnectwithhim，havetheknowledgewhichisdeathofknowledge，therealityofsuretyinnot—knowing。
　　Soontheyhadrunonagainintothedarkness。Shedidnotaskwheretheyweregoing，shedidnotcare。Shesatinafullnessandapurepotencythatwaslikeapathy，mindlessandimmobile。Shewasnexttohim，andhunginapurerest，asastarishung，balancedunthinkably。Stillthereremainedadarklambencyofanticipation。Shewouldtouchhim。Withperfectfinefinger—tipsofrealityshewouldtouchtherealityinhim，thesuave，pure，untranslatablerealityofhisloinsofdarkness。Totouch，mindlesslyindarknesstocomeinpuretouchinguponthelivingrealityofhim，hissuaveperfectloinsandthighsofdarkness，thiswashersustaininganticipation。
　　Andhetoowaitedinthemagicalsteadfastnessofsuspense，forhertotakethisknowledgeofhimashehadtakenitofher。Heknewherdarkly，withthefullnessofdarkknowledge。Nowshewouldknowhim，andhetoowouldbeliberated。Hewouldbenight—free，likeanEgyptian，steadfastinperfectlysuspendedequilibrium，puremysticnodalityofphysicalbeing。
　　Theywouldgiveeachotherthisstar—equilibriumwhichaloneisfreedom。
　　Shesawthattheywererunningamongtrees——greatoldtreeswithdyingbrackenundergrowth。Thepalish，gnarledtrunksshowedghostly，andlikeoldpriestsinthehoveringdistance，thefernrosemagicalandmysterious。
　　Itwasanightalldarkness，withlowcloud。Themotor—caradvancedslowly。
　　`Wherearewe？'shewhispered。
　　`InSherwoodForest。'
　　Itwasevidentheknewtheplace。Hedrovesoftly，watching。Thentheycametoagreenroadbetweenthetrees。Theyturnedcautiouslyround，andwereadvancingbetweentheoaksoftheforest，downagreenlane。Thegreenlanewidenedintoalittlecircleofgrass，wheretherewasasmalltrickleofwateratthebottomofaslopingbank。Thecarstopped。
　　`Wewillstayhere，'hesaid，`andputoutthelights。'
　　Heextinguishedthelampsatonce，anditwaspurenight，withshadowsoftreeslikerealitiesofother，nightlybeing。Hethrewarugontothebracken，andtheysatinstillnessandmindlesssilence。Therewerefaintsoundsfromthewood，butnodisturbance，nopossibledisturbance，theworldwasunderastrangeban，anewmysteryhadsupervened。Theythrewofftheirclothes，andhegatheredhertohim，andfoundher，foundthepurelambentrealityofherforeverinvisibleflesh。Quenched，inhuman，hisfingersuponherunrevealednuditywerethefingersofsilenceuponsilence，thebodyofmysteriousnightuponthebodyofmysteriousnight，thenightmasculineandfeminine，nevertobeseenwiththeeye，orknownwiththemind，onlyknownasapalpablerevelationoflivingotherness。
　　Shehadherdesireofhim，shetouched，shereceivedthemaximumofunspeakablecommunicationintouch，dark，subtle，positivelysilent，amagnificentgiftandgiveagain，aperfectacceptanceandyielding，amystery，therealityofthatwhichcanneverbeknown，vital，sensualrealitythatcanneverbetransmutedintomindcontent，butremainsoutside，livingbodyofdarknessandsilenceandsubtlety，themysticbodyofreality。
　　Shehadherdesirefulfilled。Hehadhisdesirefulfilled。Forshewastohimwhathewastoher，theimmemorialmagnificenceofmystic，palpable，realotherness。
　　Theysleptthechillynightthroughunderthehoodofthecar，anightofunbrokensleep。Itwasalreadyhighdaywhenheawoke。Theylookedateachotherandlaughed，thenlookedaway，filledwithdarknessandsecrecy。
　　Thentheykissedandrememberedthemagnificenceofthenight。Itwassomagnificent，suchaninheritanceofauniverseofdarkreality，thattheywereafraidtoseemtoremember。Theyhidawaytheremembranceandtheknowledge。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter24CHAPTERXXIVDeathandLoveTHOMASCRICHdiedslowly，terriblyslowly。Itseemedimpossibletoeverybodythatthethreadoflifecouldbedrawnoutsothin，andyetnotbreak。Thesickmanlayunutterablyweakandspent，keptalivebymorphiaandbydrinks，whichhesippedslowly。
　　Hewasonlyhalfconscious——athinstrandofconsciousnesslinkingthedarknessofdeathwiththelightofday。Yethiswillwasunbroken，hewasintegral，complete。Onlyhemusthaveperfectstillnessabouthim。
　　Anypresencebutthatofthenurseswasastrainandanefforttohimnow。EverymorningGeraldwentintotheroom，hopingtofindhisfatherpassedawayatlast。Yetalwayshesawthesametransparentface，thesamedreaddarkhaironthewaxenforehead，andtheawful，inchoatedarkeyes，whichseemedtobedecomposingintoformlessdarkness，havingonlyatinygrainofvisionwithinthem。
　　Andalways，asthedark，inchoateeyesturnedtohim，therepassedthroughGerald'sbowelsaburningstrokeofrevolt，thatseemedtoresoundthroughhiswholebeing，threateningtobreakhismindwithitsclangour，andmakinghimmad。
　　Everymorning，thesonstoodthere，erectandtautwithlife，gleaminginhisblondness。Thegleamingblondnessofhisstrange，imminentbeingputthefatherintoafeveroffretfulirritation。Hecouldnotbeartomeettheuncanny，downwardlookofGerald'sblueeyes。Butitwasonlyforamoment。Eachonthebrinkofdeparture，thefatherandsonlookedateachother，thenparted。
　　ForalongtimeGeraldpreservedaperfectsangfroid，heremainedquitecollected。Butatlast，fearunderminedhim。Hewasafraidofsomehorriblecollapseinhimself。Hehadtostayandseethisthingthrough。Someperversewillmadehimwatchhisfatherdrawnoverthebordersoflife。Andyet，now，everyday，thegreatred—hotstrokeofhorrifiedfearthroughthebowelsofthesonstruckafurtherinflammation。Geraldwentaboutalldaywithatendencytocringe，asiftherewerethepointofaswordofDamoclesprickingthenapeofhisneck。
　　Therewasnoescape——hewasboundupwithhisfather，hehadtoseehimthrough。Andthefather'swillneverrelaxedoryieldedtodeath。Itwouldhavetosnapwhendeathatlastsnappedit，——ifitdidnotpersistafteraphysicaldeath。Inthesameway，thewillofthesonneveryielded。
　　Hestoodfirmandimmune，hewasoutsidethisdeathandthisdying。
　　Itwasatrialbyordeal。Couldhestandandseehisfatherslowlydissolveanddisappearindeath，withoutonceyieldinghiswill，withoutoncerelentingbeforetheomnipotenceofdeath。LikeaRedIndianundergoingtorture，Geraldwouldexperiencethewholeprocessofslowdeathwithoutwincingorflinching。Heeventriumphedinit。Hesomehowwantedthisdeath，evenforcedit。Itwasasifhehimselfweredealingthedeath，evenwhenhemostrecoiledinhorror。Still，hewoulddealit，hewouldtriumphthroughdeath。
　　Butinthestressofthisordeal，Geraldtoolosthisholdontheouter，dailylife。Thatwhichwasmuchtohim，cametomeannothing。Work，pleasure——itwasallleftbehind。Hewentonmoreorlessmechanicallywithhisbusiness，butthisactivitywasallextraneous。Therealactivitywasthisghastlywrestlingfordeathinhisownsoul。Andhisownwillshouldtriumph。
　　Comewhatmight，hewouldnotbowdownorsubmitoracknowledgeamaster。
　　Hehadnomasterindeath。
　　Butasthefightwenton，andallthathehadbeenandwascontinuedtobedestroyed，sothatlifewasahollowshellallroundhim，roaringandclatteringlikethesoundofthesea，anoiseinwhichheparticipatedexternally，andinsidethishollowshellwasallthedarknessandfearfulspaceofdeath，heknewhewouldhavetofindreinforcements，otherwisehewouldcollapseinwardsuponthegreatdarkvoidwhichcircledatthecentreofhissoul。Hiswillheldhisouterlife，hisoutermind，hisouterbeingunbrokenandunchanged。Butthepressurewastoogreat。Hewouldhavetofindsomethingtomakegoodtheequilibrium。Somethingmustcomewithhimintothehollowvoidofdeathinhissoul，fillitup，andsoequalisethepressurewithintothepressurewithout。Fordaybydayhefeltmoreandmorelikeabubblefilledwithdarkness，roundwhichwhirledtheiridescenceofhisconsciousness，anduponwhichthepressureoftheouterworld，theouterlife，roaredvastly。
　　InthisextremityhisinstinctledhimtoGudrun。Hethrewawayeverythingnow——heonlywantedtherelationestablishedwithher。Hewouldfollowhertothestudio，tobenearher，totalktoher。Hewouldstandabouttheroom，aimlesslypickinguptheimplements，thelumpsofclay，thelittlefiguresshehadcast——theywerewhimsicalandgrotesque——lookingatthemwithoutperceivingthem。Andshefelthimfollowingher，doggingherheelslikeadoom。Sheheldawayfromhim，andyetsheknewhedrewalwaysalittlenearer，alittlenearer。
　　`Isay，'hesaidtoheroneevening，inanodd，unthinking，uncertainway，`won'tyoustaytodinnertonight？Iwishyouwould。'
　　Shestartedslightly。Hespoketoherlikeamanmakingarequestofanotherman。
　　`They'llbeexpectingmeathome，'shesaid。
　　`Oh，theywon'tmind，willthey？'hesaid。`Ishouldbeawfullygladifyou'dstay。'
　　Herlongsilencegaveconsentatlast。
　　`I'lltellThomas，shallI？'hesaid。
　　`Imustgoalmostimmediatelyafterdinner，'shesaid。
　　Itwasadark，coldevening。Therewasnofireinthedrawing—room，theysatinthelibrary。Hewasmostlysilent，absent，andWinifredtalkedlittle。ButwhenGeralddidrousehimself，hesmiledandwaspleasantandordinarywithher。Thentherecameoverhimagainthelongblanks，ofwhichhewasnotaware。
　　Shewasverymuchattractedbyhim。Helookedsopreoccupied，andhisstrange，blanksilences，whichshecouldnotread，movedherandmadeherwonderoverhim，madeherfeelreverentialtowardshim。
　　Buthewasverykind。Hegaveherthebestthingsatthetable，hehadabottleofslightlysweet，deliciousgoldenwinebroughtoutfordinner，knowingshewouldpreferittotheburgundy。Shefeltherselfesteemed，neededalmost。
　　Astheytookcoffeeinthelibrary，therewasasoft，verysoftknockingatthedoor。Hestarted，andcalled`Comein。'Thetimbreofhisvoice，likesomethingvibratingathighpitch，unnervedGudrun。Anurseinwhiteentered，halfhoveringinthedoorwaylikeashadow。Shewasverygood—looking，butstrangelyenough，shyandself—mistrusting。
　　`Thedoctorwouldliketospeaktoyou，MrCrich，'shesaid，inherlow，discreetvoice。
　　`Thedoctor！'hesaid，startingup。`Whereishe？'
　　`Heisinthedining—room。'
　　`TellhimI'mcoming。'
　　Hedrankuphiscoffee，andfollowedthenurse，whohaddissolvedlikeashadow。
　　`Whichnursewasthat？'askedGudrun。
　　`MissInglis——Ilikeherbest，'repliedWinifred。
　　AfterawhileGeraldcameback，lookingabsorbedbyhisownthoughts，andhavingsomeofthattensionandabstractionwhichisseeninaslightlydrunkenman。Hedidnotsaywhatthedoctorhadwantedhimfor，butstoodbeforethefire，withhishandsbehindhisback，andhisfaceopenandasifrapt。Notthathewasreallythinking——hewasonlyarrestedinpuresuspenseinsidehimself，andthoughtswaftedthroughhismindwithoutorder。
　　`ImustgonowandseeMama，'saidWinifred，`andseeDaddabeforehegoestosleep。'
　　Shebadethembothgood—night。
　　Gudrunalsorosetotakeherleave。
　　`Youneedn'tgoyet，needyou？'saidGerald，glancingquicklyattheclock。'Itisearlyyet。I'llwalkdownwithyouwhenyougo。Sitdown，don'thurryaway。'
　　Gudrunsatdown，asif，absentashewas，hiswillhadpoweroverher。
　　Shefeltalmostmesmerised。Hewasstrangetoher，somethingunknown。Whatwashethinking，whatwashefeeling，ashestoodtheresorapt，sayingnothing？Hekepther——shecouldfeelthat。Hewouldnotlethergo。Shewatchedhiminhumblesubmissiveness。
　　`Hadthedoctoranythingnewtotellyou？'sheasked，softly，atlength，withthatgentle，timidsympathywhichtouchedakeenfibreinhisheart。
　　Heliftedhiseyebrowswithanegligent，indifferentexpression。
　　`No——nothingnew，'hereplied，asifthequestionwerequitecasual，trivial。`Hesaysthepulseisveryweakindeed，veryintermittent——butthatdoesn'tnecessarilymeanmuch，youknow。'
　　Helookeddownather。Hereyesweredarkandsoftandunfolded，withastrickenlookthatrousedhim。
　　`No，'shemurmuredatlength。`Idon'tunderstandanythingaboutthesethings。'
　　`Justaswellnot，'hesaid。`Isay，won'tyouhaveacigarette？——
　　do！'Hequicklyfetchedthebox，andheldheralight。Thenhestoodbeforeheronthehearthagain。
　　`No，'hesaid，`we'veneverhadmuchillnessinthehouse，either——
　　nottillfather。'Heseemedtomeditateawhile。Thenlookingdownather，withstrangelycommunicativeblueeyes，thatfilledherwithdread，hecontinued:`It'ssomethingyoudon'treckonwith，youknow，tillitisthere。Andthenyourealisethatitwasthereallthetime——itwasalwaysthere——youunderstandwhatImean？——thepossibilityofthisincurableillness，thisslowdeath。'
　　Hemovedhisfeetuneasilyonthemarblehearth，andputhiscigarettetohismouth，lookingupattheceiling。
　　`Iknow，'murmuredGudrun:`itisdreadful。'
　　Hesmokedwithoutknowing。Thenhetookthecigarettefromhislips，baredhisteeth，andputtingthetipofhistonguebetweenhisteethspatoffagrainoftobacco，turningslightlyaside，likeamanwhoisalone，orwhoislostinthought。
　　`Idon'tknowwhattheeffectactuallyis，onone，'hesaid，andagainhelookeddownather。Hereyesweredarkandstrickenwithknowledge，lookingintohis。Hesawhersubmerged，andheturnedasidehisface。`ButIabsolutelyamnotthesame。There'snothingleft，ifyouunderstandwhatImean。Youseemtobeclutchingatthevoid——andatthesametimeyouarevoidyourself。Andsoyoudon'tknowwhattodo。'
　　`No，'shemurmured。Aheavythrillrandownhernerves，heavy，almostpleasure，almostpain。`Whatcanbedone？'sheadded。
　　Heturned，andflippedtheashfromhiscigaretteontothegreatmarblehearth—stones，thatlaybareintheroom，withoutfenderorbar。
　　`Idon'tknow，I'msure，'hereplied。`ButIdothinkyou'vegottofindsomewayofresolvingthesituation——notbecauseyouwantto，butbecauseyou'vegotto，otherwiseyou'redone。Thewholeofeverything，andyourselfincluded，isjustonthepointofcavingin，andyouarejustholdingitupwithyourhands。Well，it'sasituationthatobviouslycan'tcontinue。Youcan'tstandholdingtheroofupwithyourhands，forever。
　　Youknowthatsoonerorlateryou'llhavetoletgo。DoyouunderstandwhatImean？Andsosomething'sgottobedone，orthere'sauniversalcollapse——asfarasyouyourselfareconcerned。'
　　Heshiftedslightlyonthehearth，crunchingacinderunderhisheel。
　　Helookeddownatit。Gudrunwasawareofthebeautifuloldmarblepanelsofthefireplace，swellingsoftlycarved，roundhimandabovehim。Shefeltasifshewerecaughtatlastbyfate，imprisonedinsomehorribleandfataltrap。
　　`Butwhatcanbedone？'shemurmuredhumbly。`YoumustusemeifIcanbeofanyhelpatall——buthowcanI？Idon'tseehowIcanhelpyou。'
　　Helookeddownathercritically。
　　`Idon'twantyoutohelp，'hesaid，slightlyirritated，`becausethere'snothingtobedone。Ionlywantsympathy，doyousee:I
　　wantsomebodyIcantalktosympathetically。Thateasesthestrain。Andthereisnobodytotalktosympathetically。That'sthecuriousthing。
　　Thereisnobody。There'sRupertBirkin。Butthenheisn'tsympathetic，hewantstodictate。Andthatisnousewhatsoever。'
　　Shewascaughtinastrangesnare。Shelookeddownatherhands。
　　Thentherewasthesoundofthedoorsoftlyopening。Geraldstarted。
　　Hewaschagrined。ItwashisstartingthatreallystartledGudrun。Thenhewentforward，withquick，graceful，intentionalcourtesy。
　　`Oh，mother！'hesaid。`Howniceofyoutocomedown。Howareyou？'
　　Theelderlywoman，looselyandbulkilywrappedinapurplegown，cameforwardsilently，slightlyhulked，asusual。Hersonwasatherside。Hepushedherupachair，saying`YouknowMissBrangwen，don'tyou？'
　　ThemotherglancedatGudrunindifferently。
　　`Yes，'shesaid。Thensheturnedherwonderful，forget—me—notblueeyesuptoherson，assheslowlysatdowninthechairhehadbroughther。
　　`Icametoaskyouaboutyourfather，'shesaid，inherrapid，scarcely—audiblevoice。`Ididn'tknowyouhadcompany。'
　　`No？Didn'tWinifredtellyou？MissBrangwenstayedtodinner，tomakeusalittlemorelively——'
　　MrsCrichturnedslowlyroundtoGudrun，andlookedather，butwithunseeingeyes。
　　`I'mafraiditwouldbenotreattoher。'Thensheturnedagaintoherson。`Winifredtellsmethedoctorhadsomethingtosayaboutyourfather。
　　Whatisit？'
　　`Onlythatthepulseisveryweak——missesaltogetheragoodmanytimes——sothathemightnotlastthenightout，'Geraldreplied。
　　MrsCrichsatperfectlyimpassive，asifshehadnotheard。Herbulkseemedhunchedinthechair，herfairhairhungslackoverherears。Butherskinwasclearandfine，herhands，asshesatwiththemforgottenandfolded，werequitebeautiful，fullofpotentialenergy。Agreatmassofenergyseemeddecayingupinthatsilent，hulkingform。
　　Shelookedupatherson，ashestood，keenandsoldierly，neartoher。
　　Hereyesweremostwonderfullyblue，bluerthanforget—me—nots。SheseemedtohaveacertainconfidenceinGerald，andtofeelacertainmotherlymistrustofhim。
　　`Howareyou？'shemuttered，inherstrangelyquietvoice，asifnobodyshouldhearbuthim。`You'renotgettingintoastate，areyou？
　　You'renotlettingitmakeyouhysterical？'
　　ThecuriouschallengeinthelastwordsstartledGudrun。
　　`Idon'tthinkso，mother，'heanswered，rathercoldlycheery。
　　`Somebody'sgottoseeitthrough，youknow。'
　　`Havethey？Havethey？'answeredhismotherrapidly。`Whyshouldyoutakeitonyourself？Whathaveyougottodo，seeingitthrough。Itwillseeitselfthrough。Youarenotneeded。'
　　`No，Idon'tsupposeIcandoanygood，'heanswered。`It'sjusthowitaffectsus，yousee。'
　　`Youliketobeaffected——don'tyou？It'squitenutsforyou？Youwouldhavetobeimportant。Youhavenoneedtostopathome。Whydon'tyougoaway！'
　　Thesesentences，evidentlytheripenedgrainofmanydarkhours，tookGeraldbysurprise。
　　`Idon'tthinkit'sanygoodgoingawaynow，mother，atthelastminute，'
　　hesaid，coldly。
　　`Youtakecare，'repliedhismother。`Youmindyourself——that'syourbusiness。Youtaketoomuchonyourself。Youmindyourself，oryou'llfindyourselfinQueerStreet，that'swhatwillhappentoyou。
　　You'rehysterical，alwayswere。'
　　`I'mallright，mother，'hesaid。`There'snoneedtoworryaboutme，Iassureyou。'
　　`Letthedeadburytheirdead——don'tgoandburyyourselfalongwiththem——that'swhatItellyou。Iknowyouwellenough。'
　　Hedidnotanswerthis，notknowingwhattosay。Themothersatbunchedupinsilence，herbeautifulwhitehands，thathadnoringswhatsoever，claspingthepommelsofherarm—chair。
　　`Youcan'tdoit，'shesaid，almostbitterly。`Youhaven'tthenerve。
　　You'reasweakasacat，really——alwayswere。Isthisyoungwomanstayinghere？'
　　`No，'saidGerald。`Sheisgoinghometonight。'
　　`Thenshe'dbetterhavethedog—cart。Doesshegofar？'
　　`OnlytoBeldover。'
　　`Ah！'TheelderlywomanneverlookedatGudrun，yetsheseemedtotakeknowledgeofherpresence。
　　`Youareinclinedtotaketoomuchonyourself，Gerald，'saidthemother，pullingherselftoherfeet，withalittledifficulty。
　　`Willyougo，mother？'heasked，politely。
　　`Yes，I'llgoupagain，'shereplied。TurningtoGudrun，shebadeher`Good—night。'Thenshewentslowlytothedoor，asifshewereunaccustomedtowalking。Atthedoorsheliftedherfacetohim，implicitly。Hekissedher。
　　`Don'tcomeanyfurtherwithme，'shesaid，inherbarelyaudiblevoice。
　　`Idon'twantyouanyfurther。'
　　Hebadehergood—night，watchedheracrosstothestairsandmountslowly。
　　ThenheclosedthedoorandcamebacktoGudrun。Gudrunrosealso，togo。
　　`Aqueerbeing，mymother，'hesaid。
　　`Yes，'repliedGudrun。
　　`Shehasherownthoughts。'
　　`Yes，'saidGudrun。
　　Thentheyweresilent。
　　`Youwanttogo？'heasked。`Halfaminute，I'lljusthaveahorseputin——'
　　`No，'saidGudrun。`Iwanttowalk。'
　　Hehadpromisedtowalkwithherdownthelong，lonelymileofdrive，andshewantedthis。
　　`Youmightjustaswelldrive，'hesaid。
　　`I'dmuchratherwalk，'sheasserted，withemphasis。
　　`Youwould！ThenIwillcomealongwithyou。Youknowwhereyourthingsare？I'llputbootson。'
　　Heputonacap，andanovercoatoverhiseveningdress。Theywentoutintothenight。
　　`Letuslightacigarette，'hesaid，stoppinginashelteredangleoftheporch。`Youhaveonetoo。'
　　So，withthescentoftobaccoonthenightair，theysetoffdownthedarkdrivethatranbetweenclose—cuthedgesthroughslopingmeadows。
　　Hewantedtoputhisarmroundher。Ifhecouldputhisarmroundher，anddrawheragainsthimastheywalked，hewouldequilibriatehimself。
　　Fornowhefeltlikeapairofscales，thehalfofwhichtipsdownanddownintoanindefinitevoid。Hemustrecoversomesortofbalance。Andherewasthehopeandtheperfectrecovery。
　　Blindtoher，thinkingonlyofhimself，heslippedhisarmsoftlyroundherwaist，anddrewhertohim。Herheartfainted，feelingherselftaken。
　　Butthen，hisarmwassostrong，shequailedunderitspowerfulclosegrasp。
　　Shediedalittledeath，andwasdrawnagainsthimastheywalkeddownthestormydarkness。Heseemedtobalanceherperfectlyinoppositiontohimself，intheirdualmotionofwalking。So，suddenly，hewasliberatedandperfect，strong，heroic。
　　Heputhishandtohismouthandthrewhiscigaretteaway，agleamingpoint，intotheunseenhedge。Thenhewasquitefreetobalanceher。
　　`That'sbetter，'hesaid，withexultancy。
　　Theexultationinhisvoicewaslikeasweetish，poisonousdrugtoher。
　　Didshethenmeansomuchtohim！Shesippedthepoison。
　　`Areyouhappier？'sheasked，wistfully。
　　`Muchbetter，'hesaid，inthesameexultantvoice，`andIwasratherfargone。'
　　Shenestledagainsthim。Hefeltherallsoftandwarm，shewastherich，lovelysubstanceofhisbeing。Thewarmthandmotionofherwalksuffusedthroughhimwonderfully。
　　`I'msogladifIhelpyou，'shesaid。
　　`Yes，'heanswered。`There'snobodyelsecoulddoit，ifyouwouldn't。'
　　`Thatistrue，'shesaidtoherself，withathrillofstrange，fatalelation。
　　Astheywalked，heseemedtolifthernearerandnearertohimself，tillshemoveduponthefirmvehicleofhisbody。
　　Hewassostrong，sosustaining，andhecouldnotbeopposed。Shedriftedalonginawonderfulinterfusionofphysicalmotion，downthedark，blowyhillside。FaracrossshonethelittleyellowlightsofBeldover，manyofthem，spreadinathickpatchonanotherdarkhill。Butheandshewerewalkinginperfect，isolateddarkness，outsidetheworld。
　　`Buthowmuchdoyoucareforme！'camehervoice，almostquerulous。