`Andhasn'titnow？'askedUrsula。Shewasalwaysangrywhenhetookthistone。
　　`No，ithasn't。WhenIseethatclear，beautifulchair，andIthinkofEngland，evenJaneAusten'sEngland——ithadlivingthoughtstounfoldeventhen，andpurehappinessinunfoldingthem。Andnow，wecanonlyfishamongtherubbishheapsfortheremnantsoftheiroldexpression。Thereisnoproductioninusnow，onlysordidandfoulmechanicalness。'
　　`Itisn'ttrue，'criedUrsula。`Whymustyoualwayspraisethepast，attheexpenseofthepresent？Really，Idon'tthinksomuchofJaneAusten'sEngland。Itwasmaterialisticenough，ifyoulike——'
　　`Itcouldaffordtobematerialistic，'saidBirkin，`becauseithadthepowertobesomethingother——whichwehaven't。Wearematerialisticbecausewehaven'tthepowertobeanythingelse——tryaswemay，wecan'tbringoffanythingbutmaterialism:mechanism，theverysoulofmaterialism。'
　　Ursulawassubduedintoangrysilence。Shedidnotheedwhathesaid。
　　Shewasrebellingagainstsomethingelse。
　　`AndIhateyourpast。I'msickofit，'shecried。`IbelieveIevenhatethatoldchair，thoughitisbeautiful。Itisn'tmysortofbeauty。Iwishithadbeensmashedupwhenitsdaywasover，notlefttopreachthebelovedpasttous。I'msickofthebelovedpast。'
　　`NotsosickasIamoftheaccursedpresent，'hesaid。
　　`Yes，justthesame。Ihatethepresent——butIdon'twantthepasttotakeitsplace——Idon'twantthatoldchair。'
　　Hewasratherangryforamoment。Thenhelookedattheskyshiningbeyondthetowerofthepublicbaths，andheseemedtogetoveritall。
　　Helaughed。
　　`Allright，'hesaid，`thenletusnothaveit。I'msickofitall，too。Atanyrateonecan'tgoonlivingontheoldbonesofbeauty。'
　　`Onecan't，'shecried。`Idon'twantoldthings。'
　　`Thetruthis，wedon'twantthingsatall，'hereplied。`Thethoughtofahouseandfurnitureofmyownishatefultome。'
　　Thisstartledherforamoment。Thenshereplied:
　　`Soitistome。Butonemustlivesomewhere。'
　　`Notsomewhere——anywhere，'hesaid。`Oneshouldjustliveanywhere——nothaveadefiniteplace。Idon'twantadefiniteplace。Assoonasyougetaroom，anditiscomplete，youwanttorunfromit。NowmyroomsattheMillarequitecomplete，Iwantthematthebottomofthesea。Itisahorribletyrannyofafixedmilieu，whereeachpieceoffurnitureisacommandment—stone。'
　　Sheclungtohisarmastheywalkedawayfromthemarket。
　　`Butwhatarewegoingtodo？'shesaid。`Wemustlivesomehow。AndIdowantsomebeautyinmysurroundings。Iwantasortofnaturalgrandeureven，splendour。'
　　`You'llnevergetitinhousesandfurniture——orevenclothes。Housesandfurnitureandclothes，theyarealltermsofanoldbaseworld，adetestablesocietyofman。AndifyouhaveaTudorhouseandold，beautifulfurniture，itisonlythepastperpetuatedontopofyou，horrible。AndifyouhaveaperfectmodernhousedoneforyoubyPoiret，itissomethingelseperpetuatedontopofyou。Itisallhorrible。Itisallpossessions，possessions，bullyingyouandturningyouintoageneralisation。YouhavetobelikeRodin，Michelangelo，andleaveapieceofrawrockunfinishedtoyourfigure。
　　Youmustleaveyoursurroundingssketchy，unfinished，sothatyouarenevercontained，neverconfined，neverdominatedfromtheoutside。'
　　Shestoodinthestreetcontemplating。
　　`Andwearenevertohaveacompleteplaceofourown——neverahome？'
　　shesaid。
　　`PrayGod，inthisworld，no，'heanswered。
　　`Butthere'sonlythisworld，'sheobjected。
　　Hespreadouthishandswithagestureofindifference。
　　`Meanwhile，then，we'llavoidhavingthingsofourown，'hesaid。
　　`Butyou'vejustboughtachair，'shesaid。
　　`IcantellthemanIdon'twantit，'hereplied。
　　Sheponderedagain。Thenaqueerlittlemovementtwitchedherface。
　　`No，'shesaid，`wedon'twantit。I'msickofoldthings。'
　　`Newonesaswell，'hesaid。
　　Theyretracedtheirsteps。
　　There——infrontofsomefurniture，stoodtheyoungcouple，thewomanwhowasgoingtohaveababy，andthenarrow—facedyouth。Shewasfair，rathershort，stout。Hewasofmediumheight，attractivelybuilt。Hisdarkhairfellsidewaysoverhisbrow，fromunderhiscap，hestoodstrangelyaloof，likeoneofthedamned。
　　`Letusgiveittothem，'whisperedUrsula。`Looktheyaregettingahometogether。'
　　`Iwon'taidabettheminit，'hesaidpetulantly，instantlysympathisingwiththealoof，furtiveyouth，againsttheactive，procreantfemale。
　　`Ohyes，'criedUrsula。`It'srightforthem——there'snothingelseforthem。'
　　`Verywell，'saidBirkin，`youofferittothem。I'llwatch。'
　　Ursulawentrathernervouslytotheyoungcouple，whowerediscussinganironwashstand——orrather，themanwasglancingfurtivelyandwonderingly，likeaprisoner，attheabominablearticle，whilstthewomanwasarguing。
　　`Weboughtachair，'saidUrsula，`andwedon'twantit。Wouldyouhaveit？Weshouldbegladifyouwould。'
　　Theyoungcouplelookedroundather，notbelievingthatshecouldbeaddressingthem。
　　`Wouldyoucareforit？'repeatedUrsula。`It'sreallyverypretty——but——but——'shesmiledratherdazzlingly。
　　Theyoungcoupleonlystaredather，andlookedsignificantlyateachother，toknowwhattodo。Andthemancuriouslyobliteratedhimself，asifhecouldmakehimselfinvisible，asaratcan。
　　`Wewantedtogiveittoyou，'explainedUrsula，nowovercomewithconfusionanddreadofthem。Shewasattractedbytheyoungman。Hewasastill，mindlesscreature，hardlyamanatall，acreaturethatthetownshaveproduced，strangelypure—bredandfineinonesense，furtive，quick，subtle。Hislashesweredarkandlongandfineoverhiseyes，thathadnomindinthem，onlyadreadfulkindofsubject，inwardconsciousness，glazedanddark。Hisdarkbrowsandallhislines，werefinelydrawn。Hewouldbeadreadful，butwonderfullovertoawoman，somarvellouslycontributed。
　　Hislegswouldbemarvellouslysubtleandalive，undertheshapeless，trousers，hehadsomeofthefinenessandstillnessandsilkinessofadark—eyed，silentrat。
　　Ursulahadapprehendedhimwithafinefrissonofattraction。
　　Thefull—builtwomanwasstaringoffensively。AgainUrsulaforgothim。
　　`Won'tyouhavethechair？'shesaid。
　　Themanlookedatherwithasidewayslookofappreciation，yetfaroff，almostinsolent。Thewomandrewherselfup。Therewasacertaincostermongerrichnessabouther。ShedidnotknowwhatUrsulawasafter，shewasonherguard，hostile。Birkinapproached，smilingwickedlyatseeingUrsulasononplussedandfrightened。
　　`What'sthematter？'hesaid，smiling。Hiseyelidshaddroppedslightly，therewasabouthimthesamesuggestive，mockingsecrecythatwasinthebearingofthetwocitycreatures。Themanjerkedhisheadalittleononeside，indicatingUrsula，andsaid，withcuriousamiable，jeeringwarmth:
　　`Whatshewarnt？——eh？'Anoddsmilewrithedhislips。
　　Birkinlookedathimfromunderhisslack，ironicaleyelids。
　　`Togiveyouachair——that——withthelabelonit，'hesaid，pointing。
　　Themanlookedattheobjectindicated。Therewasacurioushostilityinmale，outlawedunderstandingbetweenthetwomen。
　　`What'sshewarnttogiveitusfor，guvnor，'hereplied，inatoneoffreeintimacythatinsultedUrsula。
　　`Thoughtyou'dlikeit——it'saprettychair。Weboughtitanddon'twantit。Noneedforyoutohaveit，don'tbefrightened，'saidBirkin，withawrysmile。
　　Themanglancedupathim，halfinimical，halfrecognising。
　　`Whydon'tyouwantitforyourselves，ifyou'vejustboughtit？'askedthewomancoolly。`'Taintgoodenoughforyou，nowyou'vehadalookatit。Frightenedit'sgotsomethinginit，eh？'
　　ShewaslookingatUrsula，admiringly，butwithsomeresentment。
　　`I'dneverthoughtofthat，'saidBirkin。`Butno，thewood'stoothineverywhere。'
　　`Yousee，'saidUrsula，herfaceluminousandpleased。`Wearejustgoingtogetmarried，andwethoughtwe'dbuythings。Thenwedecided，justnow，thatwewouldn'thavefurniture，we'dgoabroad。'
　　Thefull—built，slightlyblowsycitygirllookedatthefinefaceoftheotherwoman，withappreciation。Theyappreciatedeachother。Theyouthstoodaside，hisfaceexpressionlessandtimeless，thethinlineoftheblackmoustachedrawnstrangelysuggestiveoverhisratherwide，closedmouth。Hewasimpassive，abstract，likesomedarksuggestivepresence，agutter—presence。
　　`It'sallrighttobesomefolks，'saidthecitygirl，turningtoherownyoungman。Hedidnotlookather，buthesmiledwiththelowerpartofhisface，puttinghisheadasideinanoddgestureofassent。Hiseyeswereunchanging，glazedwithdarkness。
　　`Cawstssomethingtochangeyourmind，'hesaid，inanincrediblylowaccent。
　　`Onlytenshillingsthistime，'saidBirkin。
　　Themanlookedupathimwithagrimaceofasmile，furtive，unsure。
　　`Cheapat'arfaquid，guvnor，'hesaid。`Notlikegettingdivawced。'
　　`We'renotmarriedyet，'saidBirkin。
　　`No，nomorearen'twe，'saidtheyoungwomanloudly。`Butweshallbe，aSaturday。'
　　Againshelookedattheyoungmanwithadetermined，protectivelook，atonceoverbearingandverygentle。Hegrinnedsicklily，turningawayhishead。Shehadgothismanhood，butLord，whatdidhecare！Hehadastrangefurtiveprideandslinkingsingleness。
　　`Goodlucktoyou，'saidBirkin。
　　`Sametoyou，'saidtheyoungwoman。Then，rathertentatively:`When'syourscomingoff，then？'
　　BirkinlookedroundatUrsula。
　　`It'sfortheladytosay，'hereplied。`Wegototheregistrarthemomentshe'sready。'
　　Ursulalaughed，coveredwithconfusionandbewilderment。
　　`No'urry，'saidtheyoungman，grinningsuggestive。
　　`Oh，don'tbreakyournecktogetthere，'saidtheyoungwoman。`'Slikewhenyou'redead——you'relongtimemarried。'
　　Theyoungmanturnedasideasifthishithim。
　　`Thelongerthebetter，letushope，'saidBirkin。
　　`That'sit，guvnor，'saidtheyoungmanadmiringly。`Enjoyitwhileitlarsts——niverwhipadeaddonkey。'
　　`Onlywhenhe'sshammingdead，'saidtheyoungwoman，lookingatheryoungmanwithcaressivetendernessofauthority。
　　`Aw，there'sadifference，'hesaidsatirically。
　　`Whataboutthechair？'saidBirkin。
　　`Yes，allright，'saidthewoman。
　　Theytrailedofftothedealer，thehandsomebutabjectyoungfellowhangingalittleaside。
　　`That'sit，'saidBirkin。`Willyoutakeitwithyou，orhavetheaddressaltered。'
　　`Oh，Fredcancarryit。Makehimdowhathecanforthedearold'ome。'
　　`Mikeuseof'im，'saidFred，grimlyhumorous，ashetookthechairfromthedealer。Hismovementsweregraceful，yetcuriouslyabject，slinking。
　　`'Ere'smother'scosychair，'hesaid。`Warntsacushion。'Andhestooditdownonthemarketstones。
　　`Don'tyouthinkit'spretty？'laughedUrsula。
　　`Oh，Ido，'saidtheyoungwoman。
　　`'Aveasitinit，you'llwishyou'dkeptit，'saidtheyoungman。
　　Ursulapromptlysatdowninthemiddleofthemarket—place。
　　`Awfullycomfortable，'shesaid。`Butratherhard。Youtryit。'Sheinvitedtheyoungmantoaseat。Butheturneduncouthly，awkwardlyaside，glancingupatherwithquickbrighteyes，oddlysuggestive，likeaquick，liverat。
　　`Don'tspoilhim，'saidtheyoungwoman。`He'snotusedtoarm—chairs，'eisn't。
　　Theyoungmanturnedaway，andsaid，withavertedgrin:
　　`Onlywarntslegson'is。'
　　Thefourparted。Theyoungwomanthankedthem。
　　`Thankyouforthechair——it'lllasttillitgivesway。'
　　`Keepitforanornyment，'saidtheyoungman。
　　`Goodafternoon——Goodafternoon，'saidUrsulaandBirkin。
　　`Goo'—lucktoyou，'saidtheyoungman，glancingandavoidingBirkin'seyes，asheturnedasidehishead。
　　Thetwocoupleswentasunder，UrsulaclingingtoBirkin'sarm。Whentheyhadgonesomedistance，sheglancedbackandsawtheyoungmangoingbesidethefull，easyyoungwoman。Histrouserssankoverhisheels，hemovedwithasortofslinkingevasion，morecrushedwithoddself—consciousnessnowhehadtheslimoldarm—chairtocarry，hisarmovertheback，thefourfine，squaretaperinglegsswayingperilouslynearthegranitesettsofthepavement。Andyethewassomewhereindomitableandseparate，likeaquick，vitalrat。Hehadaqueer，subterraneanbeauty，repulsivetoo。
　　`Howstrangetheyare！'saidUrsula。
　　`Childrenofmen，'hesaid。`TheyremindmeofJesus:"Themeekshallinherittheearth。"'
　　`Buttheyaren'tthemeek，'saidUrsula。
　　`Yes，Idon'tknowwhy，buttheyare，'hereplied。
　　Theywaitedforthetramcar。Ursulasatontopandlookedoutonthetown。Theduskwasjustdimmingthehollowsofcrowdedhouses。
　　`Andaretheygoingtoinherittheearth？'shesaid。
　　`Yes——they。'
　　`Thenwhatarewegoingtodo？'sheasked。`We'renotlikethem——arewe？We'renotthemeek？'
　　`No。We'vegottoliveinthechinkstheyleaveus。'
　　`Howhorrible！'criedUrsula。`Idon'twanttoliveinchinks。'
　　`Don'tworry，'hesaid。`Theyarethechildrenofmen，theylikemarket—placesandstreet—cornersbest。Thatleavesplentyofchinks。'
　　`Alltheworld，'shesaid。
　　`Ahno——butsomeroom。'
　　Thetramcarmountedslowlyupthehill，wheretheuglywinter—greymassesofhouseslookedlikeavisionofhellthatiscoldandangular。Theysatandlooked。Awayinthedistancewasanangryrednessofsunset。Itwasallcold，somehowsmall，crowded，andliketheendoftheworld。
　　`Idon'tminditeventhen，'saidUrsula，lookingattherepulsivenessofitall。`Itdoesn'tconcernme。'
　　`Nomoreitdoes，'hereplied，holdingherhand。`Oneneedn'tsee。Onegoesone'sway。Inmyworlditissunnyandspacious——'
　　`Itis，mylove，isn'tit？'shecried，huggingneartohimonthetopofthetramcar，sothattheotherpassengersstaredatthem。
　　`Andwewillwanderaboutonthefaceoftheearth，'hesaid，`andwe'lllookattheworldbeyondjustthisbit。'
　　Therewasalongsilence。Herfacewasradiantlikegold，asshesatthinking。
　　`Idon'twanttoinherittheearth，'shesaid。`Idon'twanttoinheritanything。'
　　Heclosedhishandoverhers。
　　`NeitherdoI。Iwanttobedisinherited。'
　　Sheclaspedhisfingersclosely。
　　`Wewon'tcareaboutanything，'shesaid。
　　Hesatstill，andlaughed。
　　`Andwe'llbemarried，andhavedonewiththem，'sheadded。
　　Againhelaughed。
　　`It'sonewayofgettingridofeverything，'shesaid，`togetmarried。'
　　`Andonewayofacceptingthewholeworld，'headded。
　　`Awholeotherworld，yes，'shesaidhappily。
　　`Perhapsthere'sGerald——andGudrun——'hesaid。
　　`Ifthereisthereis，yousee，'shesaid。`It'snogoodourworrying。
　　Wecan'treallyalterthem，canwe？'
　　`No，'hesaid。`Onehasnorighttotry——notwiththebestintentionsintheworld。'
　　`Doyoutrytoforcethem？'sheasked。
　　`Perhaps，'hesaid。`WhyshouldIwanthimtobefree，ifitisn'thisbusiness？'
　　Shepausedforatime。
　　`Wecan'tmakehimhappy，anyhow，'shesaid。`He'dhavetobeitofhimself。'
　　`Iknow，'hesaid。`Butwewantotherpeoplewithus，don'twe？'
　　`Whyshouldwe？'sheasked。
　　`Idon'tknow，'hesaiduneasily。`Onehasahankeringafterasortoffurtherfellowship。'
　　`Butwhy？'sheinsisted。`Whyshouldyouhankerafterotherpeople？
　　Whyshouldyouneedthem？'
　　Thishithimrightonthequick。Hisbrowsknitted。
　　`Doesitendwithjustourtwoselves？'heasked，tense。
　　`Yes——whatmoredoyouwant？Ifanybodylikestocomealong，letthem。
　　Butwhymustyourunafterthem？'
　　Hisfacewastenseandunsatisfied。
　　`Yousee，'hesaid，`Ialwaysimagineourbeingreallyhappywithsomefewotherpeople——alittlefreedomwithpeople。'
　　Sheponderedforamoment。
　　`Yes，onedoeswantthat。Butitmusthappen。Youcan'tdoanythingforitwithyourwill。Youalwaysseemtothinkyoucanforcetheflowerstocomeout。Peoplemustloveusbecausetheyloveus——youcan'tmakethem。'
　　`Iknow，'hesaid。`Butmustonetakenostepsatall？Mustonejustgoasifonewerealoneintheworld——theonlycreatureintheworld？'
　　`You'vegotme，'shesaid。`Whyshouldyouneedothers？Whymustyouforcepeopletoagreewithyou？Whycan'tyoubesinglebyyourself，asyouarealwayssaying？YoutrytobullyGerald——asyoutriedtobullyHermione。Youmustlearntobealone。Andit'ssohorridofyou。You'vegotme。Andyetyouwanttoforceotherpeopletoloveyouaswell。Youdotrytobullythemtoloveyou。Andeventhen，youdon'twanttheirlove。'
　　Hisfacewasfullofrealperplexity。
　　`Don'tI？'hesaid。`It'stheproblemIcan'tsolve。IknowI
　　wantaperfectandcompleterelationshipwithyou:andwe'venearlygotit——wereallyhave。Butbeyondthat。DoIwantareal，ultimaterelationshipwithGerald？DoIwantafinal，almostextra—humanrelationshipwithhim——arelationshipintheultimateofmeandhim——ordon'tI？'
　　Shelookedathimforalongtime，withstrangebrighteyes，butshedidnotanswer。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter27CHAPTERXXVIIFlittingTHATEVENINGUrsulareturnedhomeverybright—eyedandwondrous——whichirritatedherpeople。Herfathercamehomeatsuppertime，tiredaftertheeveningclass，andthelongjourneyhome。Gudrunwasreading，themothersatinsilence。
　　SuddenlyUrsulasaidtothecompanyatlarge，inabrightvoice，`RupertandIaregoingtobemarriedtomorrow。'
　　Herfatherturnedround，stiffly。
　　`Youwhat？'hesaid。
　　`Tomorrow！'echoedGudrun。
　　`Indeed！'saidthemother。
　　ButUrsulaonlysmiledwonderfully，anddidnotreply。
　　`Marriedtomorrow！'criedherfatherharshly。`Whatareyoutalkingabout。'
　　`Yes，'saidUrsula。`Whynot？'Thosetwowords，fromher，alwaysdrovehimmad。`Everythingisallright——weshallgototheregistrar'soffice——'
　　Therewasasecond'shushintheroom，afterUrsula'sblithevagueness。
　　`Really，Ursula！'saidGudrun。
　　`Mightweaskwhytherehasbeenallthissecrecy？'demandedthemother，rathersuperbly。
　　`Buttherehasn't，'saidUrsula。`Youknew。'
　　`Whoknew？'nowcriedthefather。`Whoknew？Whatdoyoumeanbyyour"youknew"？'
　　Hewasinoneofhisstupidrages，sheinstantlyclosedagainsthim。
　　`Ofcourseyouknew，'shesaidcoolly。`Youknewweweregoingtogetmarried。'
　　Therewasadangerouspause。
　　`Weknewyouweregoingtogetmarried，didwe？Knew！Why，doesanybodyknowanythingaboutyou，youshiftybitch！'
　　`Father！'criedGudrun，flushingdeepinviolentremonstrance。Then，inacold，butgentlevoice，asiftoremindhersistertobetractable:
　　`Butisn'titafearfullysuddendecision，Ursula？'sheasked。
　　`No，notreally，'repliedUrsula，withthesamemaddeningcheerfulness。
　　`He'sbeenwantingmetoagreeforweeks——he'shadthelicenceready。OnlyI——Iwasn'treadyinmyself。NowIamready——isthereanythingtobedisagreeableabout？'
　　`Certainlynot，'saidGudrun，butinatoneofcoldreproof。`Youareperfectlyfreetodoasyoulike。'
　　`"Readyinyourself"——yourself，that'sallthatmatters，isn'tit！"Iwasn'treadyinmyself，"'hemimickedherphraseoffensively。`Youandyourself，you'reofsomeimportance，aren'tyou？'
　　Shedrewherselfupandsetbackherthroat，hereyesshiningyellowanddangerous。
　　`Iamtomyself，'shesaid，woundedandmortified。`IknowIamnottoanybodyelse。Youonlywantedtobullyme——younevercaredformyhappiness。'
　　Hewasleaningforwardwatchingher，hisfaceintenselikeaspark。
　　`Ursula，whatareyousaying？Keepyourtonguestill，'criedhermother。
　　Ursulaswunground，andthelightsinhereyesflashed。
　　`No，Iwon't，'shecried。`Iwon'tholdmytongueandbebullied。WhatdoesitmatterwhichdayIgetmarried——whatdoesitmatter！Itdoesn'taffectanybodybutmyself。'
　　Herfatherwastenseandgatheredtogetherlikeacatabouttospring。
　　`Doesn'tit？'hecried，comingnearertoher。Sheshrankaway。
　　`No，howcanit？'shereplied，shrinkingbutstubborn。
　　`Itdoesn'tmattertomethen，whatyoudo——whatbecomesofyou？'hecried，inastrangevoicelikeacry。
　　ThemotherandGudrunstoodbackasifhypnotised。
　　`No，'stammeredUrsula。Herfatherwasveryneartoher。`Youonlywantto——'
　　Sheknewitwasdangerous，andshestopped。Hewasgatheredtogether，everymuscleready。
　　`What？'hechallenged。
　　`Bullyme，'shemuttered，andevenasherlipsweremoving，hishandhadcaughthersmackatthesideofthefaceandshewassentupagainstthedoor。
　　`Father！'criedGudruninahighvoice，`itisimpossible！'
　　Hestoodunmoving。Ursularecovered，herhandwasonthedoorhandle。
　　Sheslowlydrewherselfup。Heseemeddoubtfulnow。
　　`It'strue，'shedeclared，withbrillianttearsinhereyes，herheadliftedupindefiance。`Whathasyourlovemeant，whatdiditevermean？
　　——bullying，anddenial——itdid——'
　　Hewasadvancingagainwithstrange，tensemovements，andclenchedfist，andthefaceofamurderer。Butswiftaslightningshehadflashedoutofthedoor，andtheyheardherrunningupstairs。
　　Hestoodforamomentlookingatthedoor。Then，likeadefeatedanimal，heturnedandwentbacktohisseatbythefire。
　　Gudrunwasverywhite。Outoftheintensesilence，themother'svoicewasheardsaying，coldandangry:
　　`Well，youshouldn'ttakesomuchnoticeofher。'
　　Againthesilencefell，eachfollowedaseparatesetofemotionsandthoughts。
　　Suddenlythedooropenedagain:Ursula，dressedinhatandfurs，withasmallvaliseinherhand:
　　`Good—bye！'shesaid，inhermaddening，bright，almostmockingtone。
　　`I'mgoing。'
　　Andinthenextinstantthedoorwasclosed，theyheardtheouterdoor，thenherquickstepsdownthegardenpath，thenthegatebanged，andherlightfootfallwasgone。Therewasasilencelikedeathinthehouse。
　　Ursulawentstraighttothestation，hasteningheedlesslyonwingedfeet。Therewasnotrain，shemustwalkontothejunction。Asshewentthroughthedarkness，shebegantocry，andsheweptbitterly，withadumb，heart—broken，child'sanguish，allthewayontheroad，andinthetrain。
　　Timepassedunheededandunknown，shedidnotknowwhereshewas，norwhatwastakingplace。Onlysheweptfromfathomlessdepthsofhopeless，hopelessgrief，theterriblegriefofachild，thatknowsnoextenuation。
　　YethervoicehadthesamedefensivebrightnessasshespoketoBirkin'slandladyatthedoor。
　　`Goodevening！IsMrBirkinin？CanIseehim？'
　　`Yes，he'sin。He'sinhisstudy。'
　　Ursulaslippedpastthewoman。Hisdooropened。Hehadheardhervoice。
　　`Hello！'heexclaimedinsurprise，seeingherstandingtherewiththevaliseinherhand，andmarksoftearsonherface。Shewasonewhoweptwithoutshowingmanytraces，likeachild。
　　`DoIlookasight？'shesaid，shrinking。
　　`No——why？Comein，'hetookthebagfromherhandandtheywentintothestudy。
　　There——immediately，herlipsbegantotremblelikethoseofachildthatremembersagain，andthetearscamerushingup。
　　`What'sthematter？'heasked，takingherinhisarms。Shesobbedviolentlyonhisshoulder，whilstheheldherstill，waiting。