`Hesaiditwouldbemostawfullyjolly，'saidUrsula。
　　AgainGudrunlookeddown，andwassilent。
　　`Don'tyouthinkitwould？'saidUrsula，tentatively。ShewasneverquitesurehowmanydefencesGudrunwashavingroundherself。
　　Gudrunraisedherfacewithdifficultyandhelditaverted。
　　`Ithinkitmightbeawfullyjolly，asyousay，'shereplied。
　　`Butdon'tyouthinkitwasanunpardonablelibertytotake——totalkofsuchthingstoRupert——whoafterall——youseewhatImean，Ursula——theymighthavebeentwomenarranginganoutingwithsomelittletypethey'dpickedup。Oh，Ithinkit'sunforgivable，quite！'SheusedtheFrenchword`type。'
　　Hereyesflashed，hersoftfacewasflushedandsullen。Ursulalookedon，ratherfrightened，frightenedmostofallbecauseshethoughtGudrunseemedrathercommon，reallylikealittletype。Butshehadnotthecouragequitetothinkthis——notrightout。
　　`Ohno，'shecried，stammering。`Ohno——notatalllikethat——ohno！No，Ithinkit'sratherbeautiful，thefriendshipbetweenRupertandGerald。Theyjustaresimple——theysayanythingtoeachother，likebrothers。'
　　Gudrunflusheddeeper。ShecouldnotbearitthatGeraldgaveheraway——eventoBirkin。
　　`Butdoyouthinkevenbrothershaveanyrighttoexchangeconfidencesofthatsort？'sheasked，withdeepanger。
　　`Ohyes，'saidUrsula。`There'sneveranythingsaidthatisn'tperfectlystraightforward。No，thethingthat'samazedmemostinGerald——howperfectlysimpleanddirecthecanbe！Andyouknow，ittakesratherabigman。Mostofthemmustbeindirect，theyaresuchcowards。'
　　ButGudrunwasstillsilentwithanger。Shewantedtheabsolutesecrecykept，withregardtohermovements。
　　`Won'tyougo？'saidUrsula。`Do，wemightallbesohappy！ThereissomethingIloveaboutGerald——he'smuchmorelovablethanIthoughthim。He'sfree，Gudrun，hereallyis。'
　　Gudrun'smouthwasstillclosed，sullenandugly。Sheopeneditatlength。
　　`Doyouknowwhereheproposestogo？'sheasked。
　　`Yes——totheTyrol，whereheusedtogowhenhewasinGermany——
　　alovelyplacewherestudentsgo，smallandroughandlovely，forwintersport！'
　　ThroughGudrun'smindwenttheangrythought——`theyknoweverything。'
　　`Yes，'shesaidaloud，`aboutfortykilometresfromInnsbruck，isn'tit？'
　　`Idon'tknowexactlywhere——butitwouldbelovely，don'tyouthink，highintheperfectsnow——？'
　　`Verylovely！'saidGudrun，sarcastically。
　　Ursulawasputout。
　　`Ofcourse，'shesaid，`IthinkGeraldspoketoRupertsothatitshouldn'tseemlikeanoutingwithatype——'
　　`Iknow，ofcourse，'saidGudrun，`thathequitecommonlydoestakeupwiththatsort。'
　　`Doeshe！'saidUrsula。`Whyhowdoyouknow？'
　　`IknowofamodelinChelsea，'saidGudruncoldly。NowUrsulawassilent。
　　`Well，'shesaidatlast，withadoubtfullaugh，`Ihopehehasagoodtimewithher。'AtwhichGudrunlookedmoreglum。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter28CHAPTERXXVIIIGudruninthePompadourCHRISTMASDREWNEAR，allfourpreparedforflight。
　　BirkinandUrsulawerebusypackingtheirfewpersonalthings，makingthemreadytobesentoff，towhatevercountryandwhateverplacetheymightchooseatlast。Gudrunwasverymuchexcited。Shelovedtobeonthewing。
　　SheandGerald，beingreadyfirst，setoffviaLondonandParistoInnsbruck，wheretheywouldmeetUrsulaandBirkin。InLondontheystayedonenight。
　　Theywenttothemusic—hall，andafterwardstothePompadourCafe。
　　GudrunhatedtheCafe，yetshealwayswentbacktoit，asdidmostoftheartistsofheracquaintance。Sheloatheditsatmosphereofpettyviceandpettyjealousyandpettyart。Yetshealwayscalledinagain，whenshewasintown。Itwasasifshehadtoreturntothissmall，slow，centralwhirlpoolofdisintegrationanddissolution:justgiveitalook。
　　ShesatwithGeralddrinkingsomesweetishliqueur，andstaringwithblack，sullenlooksatthevariousgroupsofpeopleatthetables。Shewouldgreetnobody，butyoungmennoddedtoherfrequently，withakindofsneeringfamiliarity。Shecutthemall。Anditgaveherpleasuretositthere，cheeksflushed，eyesblackandsullen，seeingthemallobjectively，asputawayfromher，likecreaturesinsomemenagerieofapishdegradedsouls。God，whatafoulcrewtheywere！Herbloodbeatblackandthickinherveinswithrageandloathing。Yetshemustsitandwatch，watch。
　　Oneortwopeoplecametospeaktoher。FromeverysideoftheCafe，eyesturnedhalffurtively，halfjeeringlyather，menlookingovertheirshoulders，womenundertheirhats。
　　Theoldcrowdwasthere，Carlyoninhiscornerwithhispupilsandhisgirl，HallidayandLibidnikovandthePussum——theywereallthere。GudrunwatchedGerald。ShewatchedhiseyeslingeramomentonHalliday，onHalliday'sparty。Theselastwereonthelook—out——theynoddedtohim，henoddedagain。Theygiggledandwhisperedamongthemselves。Geraldwatchedthemwiththesteadytwinkleinhiseyes。TheywereurgingthePussumtosomething。
　　Sheatlastrose。Shewaswearingacuriousdressofdarksilksplashedandspatteredwithdifferentcolours，acuriousmotleyeffect。Shewasthinner，hereyeswereperhapshotter，moredisintegrated。Otherwiseshewasjustthesame。Geraldwatchedherwiththesamesteadytwinkleinhiseyesasshecameacross。Sheheldoutherthinbrownhandtohim。
　　`Howareyou？'shesaid。
　　Heshookhandswithher，butremainedseated，andletherstandnearhim，againstthetable。ShenoddedblacklytoGudrun，whomshedidnotknowtospeakto，butwellenoughbysightandreputation。
　　`Iamverywell，'saidGerald。`Andyou？'
　　`OhI'mallwight。WhataboutWupert？'
　　`Rupert？He'sverywell，too。'
　　`Yes，Idon'tmeanthat。Whatabouthimbeingmarried？'
　　`Oh——yes，heismarried。'
　　ThePussum'seyeshadahotflash。
　　`Oh，he'sweallybwoughtitoffthen，hashe？Whenwashemarried？'
　　`Aweekortwoago。'
　　`Weally！He'sneverwritten。'
　　`No。'
　　`No。Don'tyouthinkit'stoobad？'
　　Thislastwasinatoneofchallenge。ThePussumletitbeknownbyhertone，thatshewasawareofGudrun'slistening。
　　`Isupposehedidn'tfeellikeit，'repliedGerald。
　　`Butwhydidn'the？'pursuedthePussum。
　　Thiswasreceivedinsilence。Therewasanugly，mockingpersistenceinthesmall，beautifulfigureoftheshort—hairedgirl，asshestoodnearGerald。
　　`Areyoustayingintownlong？'sheasked。
　　`Tonightonly。'
　　`Oh，onlytonight。AreyoucomingovertospeaktoJulius？'
　　`Nottonight。'
　　`Ohverywell。I'lltellhimthen。'Thencamehertouchofdiablerie。
　　`You'relookingawf'llyfit。'
　　`Yes——Ifeelit。'Geraldwasquitecalmandeasy，asparkofsatiricamusementinhiseye。
　　`Areyouhavingagoodtime？'
　　ThiswasadirectblowforGudrun，spokeninalevel，tonelessvoiceofcallousease。
　　`Yes，'hereplied，quitecolourlessly。
　　`I'mawf'llysorryyouaren'tcomingroundtotheflat。Youaren'tveryfaithfultoyourfwiends。'
　　`Notvery，'hesaid。
　　Shenoddedthemboth`Good—night'，andwentbackslowlytoherownset。
　　Gudrunwatchedhercuriouswalk，stiffandjerkingattheloins。Theyheardherlevel，tonelessvoicedistinctly。
　　`Hewon'tcomeover;——heisotherwiseengaged，'itsaid。Therewasmorelaughterandloweredvoicesandmockeryatthetable。
　　`Issheafriendofyours？'saidGudrun，lookingcalmlyatGerald。
　　`I'vestayedatHalliday'sflatwithBirkin，'hesaid，meetingherslow，calmeyes。AndsheknewthatthePussumwasoneofhismistresses——andheknewsheknew。
　　Shelookedround，andcalledforthewaiter。Shewantedanicedcocktail，ofallthings。ThisamusedGerald——hewonderedwhatwasup。
　　TheHallidaypartywastipsy，andmalicious。TheyweretalkingoutloudlyaboutBirkin，ridiculinghimoneverypoint，particularlyonhismarriage。
　　`Oh，don'tmakemethinkofBirkin，'Hallidaywassquealing。
　　`Hemakesmeperfectlysick。HeisasbadasJesus。"Lord，whatmustIdotobesaved！"'
　　Hegiggledtohimselftipsily。
　　`Doyouremember，'camethequickvoiceoftheRussian，`thelettersheusedtosend。"Desireisholy——"'
　　`Ohyes！'criedHalliday。`Oh，howperfectlysplendid。Why，I'vegotoneinmypocket。I'msureIhave。'
　　Hetookoutvariouspapersfromhispocketbook。
　　`I'msureI've——hic！Ohdear！——gotone。'
　　GeraldandGudrunwerewatchingabsorbedly。
　　`Ohyes，howperfectly——hic！——splendid！Don'tmakemelaugh，Pussum，itgivesmethehiccup。Hic！——'Theyallgiggled。
　　`Whatdidhesayinthatone？'thePussumasked，leaningforward，herdark，softhairfallingandswingingagainstherface。Therewassomethingcuriouslyindecent，obscene，abouthersmall，longish，darkskull，particularlywhentheearsshowed。
　　`Wait——ohdowait！No—o，Iwon'tgiveittoyou，I'llreaditaloud。I'llreadyouthechoicebits，——hic！Ohdear！DoyouthinkifIdrinkwateritwouldtakeoffthishiccup？Hic！Oh，Ifeelperfectlyhelpless。'
　　`Isn'tthattheletteraboutunitingthedarkandthelight——andtheFluxofCorruption？'askedMaxim，inhisprecise，quickvoice。
　　`Ibelieveso，'saidthePussum。
　　`Ohisit？I'dforgotten——hic！——itwasthatone，'Hallidaysaid，openingtheletter。`Hic！Ohyes。Howperfectlysplendid！
　　Thisisoneofthebest。"Thereisaphaseineveryrace——"'hereadinthesing—song，slow，distinctvoiceofaclergymanreadingtheScriptures，`"Whenthedesirefordestructionovercomeseveryotherdesire。Intheindividual，thisdesireisultimatelyadesirefordestructionintheself"
　　——hic！——'hepausedandlookedup。
　　`Ihopehe'sgoingaheadwiththedestructionofhimself，'saidthequickvoiceoftheRussian。Hallidaygiggled，andlolledhisheadback，vaguely。
　　`There'snotmuchtodestroyinhim，'saidthePussum。`He'ssothinalready，there'sonlyafag—endtostarton。'
　　`Oh，isn'titbeautiful！Ilovereadingit！Ibelieveithascuredmyhiccup！'squealedHalliday。`Doletmegoon。"Itisadesireforthereductionprocessinoneself，areducingbacktotheorigin，areturnalongtheFluxofCorruption，totheoriginalrudimentaryconditionsofbeing——！"Oh，butIdothinkitiswonderful。ItalmostsupersedestheBible——'
　　`Yes——FluxofCorruption，'saidtheRussian，`Irememberthatphrase。'
　　`Oh，hewasalwaystalkingaboutCorruption，'saidthePussum。`Hemustbecorrupthimself，tohaveitsomuchonhismind。'
　　`Exactly！'saidtheRussian。
　　`Doletmegoon！Oh，thisisaperfectlywonderfulpiece！Butdolistentothis。"Andinthegreatretrogression，thereducingbackofthecreatedbodyoflife，wegetknowledge，andbeyondknowledge，thephosphorescentecstasyofacutesensation。"Oh，Idothinkthesephrasesaretooabsurdlywonderful。Ohbutdon'tyouthinktheyare——they'renearlyasgoodasJesus。"Andif，Julius，youwantthisecstasyofreductionwiththePussum，youmustgoontillitisfulfilled。Butsurelythereisinyoualso，somewhere，thelivingdesireforpositivecreation，relationshipsinultimatefaith，whenallthisprocessofactivecorruption，withallitsflowersofmud，istranscended，andmoreorlessfinished——"Idowonderwhattheflowersofmudare。Pussum，youareaflowerofmud。'
　　`Thankyou——andwhatareyou？'
　　`Oh，I'manother，surely，accordingtothisletter！We'reallflowersofmud——Fleurs——hic！dumal！It'sperfectlywonderful，BirkinharrowingHell——harrowingthePompadour——Hic！'
　　`Goon——goon，'saidMaxim。`Whatcomesnext？It'sreallyveryinteresting。'
　　`Ithinkit'sawfulcheektowritelikethat，'saidthePussum。
　　`Yes——yes，sodoI，'saidtheRussian。`Heisamegalomaniac，ofcourse，itisaformofreligiousmania。HethinksheistheSaviourofman——
　　goonreading。'
　　`Surely，'Hallidayintoned，`"surelygoodnessandmercyhathfollowedmeallthedaysofmylife——"'hebrokeoffandgiggled。Thenhebeganagain，intoninglikeaclergyman。`"Surelytherewillcomeanendinustothisdesire——fortheconstantgoingapart，——thispassionforputtingasunder——everything——ourselves，reducingourselvespartfrompart——
　　reactinginintimacyonlyfordestruction，——usingsexasagreatreducingagent，reducingthetwogreatelementsofmaleandfemalefromtheirhighlycomplexunity——reducingtheoldideas，goingbacktothesavagesforoursensations，——alwaysseekingtoloseourselvesinsomeultimateblacksensation，mindlessandinfinite——burningonlywithdestructivefires，ragingonwiththehopeofbeingburntoututterly——"'
　　`Iwanttogo，'saidGudruntoGerald，asshesignalledthewaiter。
　　Hereyeswereflashing，hercheekswereflushed。ThestrangeeffectofBirkin'sletterreadaloudinaperfectclericalsing—song，clearandresonant，phrasebyphrase，madethebloodmountintoherheadasifsheweremad。
　　Sherose，whilstGeraldwaspayingthebill，andwalkedovertoHalliday'stable。Theyallglancedupather。
　　`Excuseme，'shesaid。`Isthatagenuineletteryouarereading？'
　　`Ohyes，'saidHalliday。`Quitegenuine。'
　　`MayIsee？'
　　Smilingfoolishlyhehandedittoher，asifhypnotised。
　　`Thankyou，'shesaid。
　　AndsheturnedandwalkedoutoftheCafewiththeletter，alldownthebrilliantroom，betweenthetables，inhermeasuredfashion。Itwassomemomentsbeforeanybodyrealisedwhatwashappening。
　　FromHalliday'stablecamehalfarticulatecries，thensomebodybooed，thenallthefarendoftheplacebeganbooingafterGudrun'sretreatingform。Shewasfashionablydressedinblackish—greenandsilver，herhatwasbrilliantgreen，likethesheenonaninsect，butthebrimwassoftdarkgreen，afallingedgewithfinesilver，hercoatwasdarkgreen，lustrous，withahighcollarofgreyfur，andgreatfurcuffs，theedgeofherdressshowedsilverandblackvelvet，herstockingsandshoesweresilvergrey。
　　Shemovedwithslow，fashionableindifferencetothedoor。Theporteropenedobsequiouslyforher，and，athernod，hurriedtotheedgeofthepavementandwhistledforataxi。Thetwolightsofavehiclealmostimmediatelycurvedroundtowardsher，liketwoeyes。
　　Geraldhadfollowedinwonder，amidallthebooing，nothavingcaughthermisdeed。HeheardthePussum'svoicesaying:
　　`Goandgetitbackfromher。Ineverheardofsuchathing！Goandgetitbackfromher。TellGeraldCrich——therehegoes——goandmakehimgiveitup。'
　　Gudrunstoodatthedoorofthetaxi，whichthemanheldopenforher。
　　`Tothehotel？'sheasked，asGeraldcameout，hurriedly。
　　`Whereyoulike，'heanswered。
　　`Right！'shesaid。Thentothedriver，`Wagstaff's——BartonStreet。'
　　Thedriverbowedhishead，andputdowntheflag。
　　Gudrunenteredthetaxi，withthedeliberatecoldmovementofawomanwhoiswell—dressedandcontemptuousinhersoul。Yetshewasfrozenwithoverwroughtfeelings。Geraldfollowedher。
　　`You'veforgottentheman，'shesaidcooly，withaslightnodofherhat。Geraldgavetheporterashilling。Themansaluted。Theywereinmotion。
　　`Whatwasalltherowabout？'askedGerald，inwonderingexcitement。
　　`IwalkedawaywithBirkin'sletter，'shesaid，andhesawthecrushedpaperinherhand。
　　Hiseyesglitteredwithsatisfaction。
　　`Ah！'hesaid。`Splendid！Asetofjackasses！'
　　`Icouldhavekilledthem！'shecriedinpassion。`Dogs！——theyaredogs！WhyisRupertsuchafoolastowritesuchletterstothem？Whydoeshegivehimselfawaytosuchcanaille？It'sathingthatcannotbeborne。'
　　Geraldwonderedoverherstrangepassion。
　　AndshecouldnotrestanylongerinLondon。TheymustgobythemorningtrainfromCharingCross。Astheydrewoverthebridge，inthetrain，havingglimpsesoftheriverbetweenthegreatirongirders，shecried:
　　`IfeelIcouldneverseethisfoultownagain——Icouldn'tbeartocomebacktoit。'
　　WomenInLove:Chapter29CHAPTERXXIXContinentalURSULAWENToninanunrealsuspense，thelastweeksbeforegoingaway。Shewasnotherself，——shewasnotanything。
　　Shewassomethingthatisgoingtobe——soon——soon——verysoon。Butasyet，shewasonlyimminent。
　　Shewenttoseeherparents。Itwasaratherstiff，sadmeeting，morelikeaverificationofseparatenessthanareunion。Buttheywereallvagueandindefinitewithoneanother，stiffenedinthefatethatmovedthemapart。
　　ShedidnotreallycometountilshewasontheshipcrossingfromDovertoOstend。DimlyshehadcomedowntoLondonwithBirkin，Londonhadbeenavagueness，sohadthetrain—journeytoDover。Itwasalllikeasleep。
　　Andnow，atlast，asshestoodinthesternoftheship，inapitch—dark，ratherblowynight，feelingthemotionofthesea，andwatchingthesmall，ratherdesolatelittlelightsthattwinkledontheshoresofEngland，asontheshoresofnowhere，watchedthemsinkingsmallerandsmallerontheprofoundandlivingdarkness，shefelthersoulstirringtoawakefromitsanaestheticsleep。
　　`Letusgoforward，shallwe？'saidBirkin。Hewantedtobeatthetipoftheirprojection。Sotheyleftofflookingatthefaintsparksthatglimmeredoutofnowhere，inthefardistance，calledEngland，andturnedtheirfacestotheunfathomednightinfront。
　　Theywentrighttothebowsofthesoftlyplungingvessel。Inthecompleteobscurity，Birkinfoundacomparativelyshelterednook，whereagreatropewascoiledup。Itwasquiteneartheverypointoftheship，neartheblack，unpiercedspaceahead。Theretheysatdown，foldedtogether，foldedroundwiththesamerug，creepinginnearerandevernearertooneanother，tillitseemedtheyhadcreptrightintoeachother，andbecomeonesubstance。
　　Itwasverycold，andthedarknesswaspalpable。
　　Oneoftheship'screwcamealongthedeck，darkasthedarkness，notreallyvisible。Theythenmadeoutthefaintestpallorofhisface。Hefelttheirpresence，andstopped，unsure——thenbentforward。Whenhisfacewasnearthem，hesawthefaintpalloroftheirfaces。Thenhewithdrewlikeaphantom。Andtheywatchedhimwithoutmakinganysound。
　　Theyseemedtofallawayintotheprofounddarkness。Therewasnosky，noearth，onlyoneunbrokendarkness，intowhich，withasoft，sleepingmotion，theyseemedtofalllikeoneclosedseedoflifefallingthroughdark，fathomlessspace。
　　Theyhadforgottenwheretheywere，forgottenallthatwasandallthathadbeen，consciousonlyintheirheart，andthereconsciousonlyofthispuretrajectorythroughthesurpassingdarkness。Theship'sprowcleavedon，withafaintnoiseofcleavage，intothecompletenight，withoutknowing，withoutseeing，onlysurgingon。
　　InUrsulathesenseoftheunrealisedworldaheadtriumphedovereverything。
　　Inthemidstofthisprofounddarkness，thereseemedtoglowonherhearttheeffulgenceofaparadiseunknownandunrealised。Herheartwasfullofthemostwonderfullight，goldenlikehoneyofdarkness，sweetlikethewarmthofday，alightwhichwasnotshedontheworld，onlyontheunknownparadisetowardswhichshewasgoing，asweetnessofhabitation，adelightoflivingquiteunknown，buthersinfallibly。Inhertransportsheliftedherfacesuddenlytohim，andhetoucheditwithhislips。Socold，sofresh，sosea—clearherfacewas，itwaslikekissingaflowerthatgrowsnearthesurf。
　　Buthedidnotknowtheecstasyofblissinfore—knowledgethatsheknew。Tohim，thewonderofthistransitwasoverwhelming。Hewasfallingthroughagulfofinfinitedarkness，likeameteoriteplungingacrossthechasmbetweentheworlds。Theworldwastornintwo，andhewasplunginglikeanunlitstarthroughtheineffablerift。Whatwasbeyondwasnotyetforhim。Hewasovercomebythetrajectory。
　　InatrancehelayenfoldingUrsularoundabout。Hisfacewasagainstherfine，fragilehair，hebreatheditsfragrancewiththeseaandtheprofoundnight。Andhissoulwasatpeace;yielded，ashefellintotheunknown。Thiswasthefirsttimethatanutterandabsolutepeacehadenteredhisheart，now，inthisfinaltransitoutoflife。
　　Whentherecamesomestironthedeck，theyroused。Theystoodup。Howstiffandcrampedtheywere，inthenight—time！Andyettheparadisalglowonherheart，andtheunutterablepeaceofdarknessinhis，thiswastheall—in—all。
　　Theystoodupandlookedahead。Lowlightswereseendownthedarkness。
　　Thiswastheworldagain。Itwasnottheblissofherheart，northepeaceofhis。Itwasthesuperficialunrealworldoffact。Yetnotquitetheoldworld。Forthepeaceandtheblissintheirheartswasenduring。
　　Strange，anddesolateaboveallthings，likedisembarkingfromtheStyxintothedesolatedunderworld，wasthislandingatnight。Therewastheraw，half—lighted，covered—invastnessofthedarkplace，boardedandhollowunderfoot，withonlydesolationeverywhere。Ursulahadcaughtsightofthebig，pallid，mysticletters`OSTEND，'standinginthedarkness。Everybodywashurryingwithablind，insect—likeintentnessthroughthedarkgreyair，porterswerecallinginun—EnglishEnglish，thentrottingwithheavybags，theircolourlessblouseslookingghostlyastheydisappeared;Ursulastoodatalong，low，zinc—coveredbarrier，alongwithhundredsofotherspectralpeople，andallthewaydownthevast，rawdarknesswasthislowstretchofopenbagsandspectralpeople，whilst，ontheothersideofthebarrier，pallidofficialsinpeakedcapsandmoustacheswereturningtheunderclothinginthebags，thenscrawlingachalk—mark。
　　Itwasdone。Birkinsnappedthehandbags，offtheywent，theportercomingbehind。Theywerethroughagreatdoorway，andintheopennightagain——ah，arailwayplatform！Voiceswerestillcallingininhumanagitationthroughthedark—greyair，spectreswererunningalongthedarknessbetweenthetrain。
　　`Koln——Berlin——'Ursulamadeoutontheboardshungonthehightrainononeside。
　　`Hereweare，'saidBirkin。Andonhersideshesaw:`Elsass——Lothringen——Luxembourg，Metz——Basle。'
　　`Thatwasit，Basle！'
　　Theportercameup。
　　`ABale——deuxiemeclasse？——Voila！'Andheclamberedintothehightrain。Theyfollowed。Thecompartmentswerealreadysomeofthemtaken。
　　Butmanyweredimandempty。Theluggagewasstowed，theporterwastipped。
　　`Nousavonsencore——？'saidBirkin，lookingathiswatchandattheporter。
　　`Encoreunedemi—heure。'Withwhich，inhisblueblouse，hedisappeared。
　　Hewasuglyandinsolent。
　　`Come，'saidBirkin。`Itiscold。Letuseat。'
　　Therewasacoffee—wagonontheplatform。Theydrankhot，waterycoffee，andatethelongrolls，split，withhambetween，whichweresuchawidebitethatitalmostdislocatedUrsula'sjaw;andtheywalkedbesidethehightrains。Itwasallsostrange，soextremelydesolate，liketheunderworld，grey，grey，dirtgrey，desolate，forlorn，nowhere——grey，drearynowhere。
　　Atlasttheyweremovingthroughthenight。InthedarknessUrsulamadeouttheflatfields，thewetflatdrearydarknessoftheContinent。Theypulledupsurprisinglysoon——Bruges！Thenonthroughtheleveldarkness，withglimpsesofsleepingfarmsandthinpoplartreesanddesertedhigh—roads。
　　Shesatdismayed，handinhandwithBirkin。Hepale，immobilelikearevenanthimself，lookedsometimesoutofthewindow，sometimesclosedhiseyes。
　　Thenhiseyesopenedagain，darkasthedarknessoutside。
　　Aflashofafewlightsonthedarkness——Ghentstation！Afewmorespectresmovingoutsideontheplatform——thenthebell——thenmotionagainthroughtheleveldarkness。Ursulasawamanwithalanterncomeoutofafarmbytherailway，andcrosstothedarkfarm—buildings。ShethoughtoftheMarsh，theold，intimatefarm—lifeatCossethay。MyGod，howfarwassheprojectedfromherchildhood，howfarwasshestilltogo！Inonelife—timeonetravelledthroughaeons。ThegreatchasmofmemoryfromherchildhoodintheintimatecountrysurroundingsofCossethayandtheMarshFarm——sherememberedtheservantTilly，whousedtogiveherbreadandbuttersprinkledwithbrownsugar，intheoldliving—roomwherethegrandfatherclockhadtwopinkrosesinabasketpaintedabovethefiguresontheface——andnowwhenshewastravellingintotheunknownwithBirkin，anutterstranger——wassogreat，thatitseemedshehadnoidentity，thatthechildshehadbeen，playinginCossethaychurchyard，wasalittlecreatureofhistory，notreallyherself。
　　TheywereatBrussels——halfanhourforbreakfast。Theygotdown。
　　Onthegreatstationclockitsaidsixo'clock。Theyhadcoffeeandrollsandhoneyinthevastdesertrefreshmentroom，sodreary，alwayssodreary，dirty，sospacious，suchdesolationofspace。Butshewashedherfaceandhandsinhotwater，andcombedherhair——thatwasablessing。
　　Soontheywereinthetrainagainandmovingon。Thegreynessofdawnbegan。Therewereseveralpeopleinthecompartment，largefloridBelgianbusiness—menwithlongbrownbeards，talkingincessantlyinanuglyFrenchshewastootiredtofollow。
　　Itseemedthetrainranbydegreesoutofthedarknessintoafaintlight，thenbeatafterbeatintotheday。Ah，howwearyitwas！Faintly，thetreesshowed，likeshadows。Thenahouse，white，hadacuriousdistinctness。
　　Howwasit？Thenshesawavillage——therewerealwayshousespassing。
　　Thiswasanoldworldshewasstilljourneyingthrough，winter—heavyanddreary。Therewasplough—landandpasture，andcopsesofbaretrees，copsesofbushes，andhomesteadsnakedandwork—bare。Nonewearthhadcometopass。
　　ShelookedatBirkin'sface。Itwaswhiteandstillandeternal，tooeternal。Shelinkedherfingersimploringlyinhis，underthecoverofherrug。Hisfingersresponded，hiseyeslookedbackather。Howdark，likeanight，hiseyeswere，likeanotherworldbeyond！Oh，ifheweretheworldaswell，ifonlytheworldwerehe！Ifonlyhecouldcallaworldintobeing，thatshouldbetheirownworld！
　　TheBelgiansleft，thetrainranon，throughLuxembourg，throughAlsace—Lorraine，throughMetz。Butshewasblind，shecouldseenomore。Hersouldidnotlookout。
　　TheycameatlasttoBasle，tothehotel。Itwasalladriftingtrance，fromwhichshenevercameto。Theywentoutinthemorning，beforethetraindeparted。Shesawthestreet，theriver，shestoodonthebridge。
　　Butitallmeantnothing。Sherememberedsomeshops——onefullofpictures，onewithorangevelvetandermine。Butwhatdidthesesignify？——nothing。
　　Shewasnotateasetilltheywereinthetrainagain。Thenshewasrelieved。Solongastheyweremovingonwards，shewassatisfied。TheycametoZurich，then，beforeverylong，ranunderthemountains，thatweredeepinsnow。Atlastshewasdrawingnear。Thiswastheotherworldnow。
　　Innsbruckwaswonderful，deepinsnow，andevening。Theydroveinanopensledgeoverthesnow:thetrainhadbeensohotandstifling。Andthehotel，withthegoldenlightglowingundertheporch，seemedlikeahome。