Hermockeryquiveredthroughhismuscleswithcuriousre—echoes。Whenhesleptheseemedtocrouchdowninthebed，lappedupinhisownstrength，thatyetwashollow。
　　AndGudrunsleptstrongly，avictorioussleep。Suddenly，shewasalmostfiercelyawake。Thesmalltimberroomglowedwiththedawn，thatcameupwardsfromthelowwindow。Shecouldseedownthevalleywhensheliftedherhead:thesnowwithapinkish，half—revealedmagic，thefringeofpine—treesatthebottomoftheslope。Andonetinyfiguremovedoverthevaguely—illuminatedspace。
　　Sheglancedathiswatch;itwasseveno'clock。Hewasstillcompletelyasleep。Andshewassohardawake，itwasalmostfrightening——ahard，metallicwakefulness。Shelaylookingathim。
　　Hesleptinthesubjectionofhisownhealthanddefeat。Shewasovercomebyasincereregardforhim。Tillnow，shewasafraidbeforehim。Shelayandthoughtabouthim，whathewas，whatherepresentedintheworld。A
　　fine，independentwill，hehad。Shethoughtoftherevolutionhehadworkedinthemines，insoshortatime。Sheknewthat，ifhewereconfrontedwithanyproblem，anyhardactualdifficulty，hewouldovercomeit。Ifhelaidholdofanyidea，hewouldcarryitthrough。Hehadthefacultyofmakingorderoutofconfusion。Onlylethimgripholdofasituation，andhewouldbringtopassaninevitableconclusion。
　　Forafewmomentsshewasborneawayonthewildwingsofambition。
　　Gerald，withhisforceofwillandhispowerforcomprehendingtheactualworld，shouldbesettosolvetheproblemsoftheday，theproblemofindustrialisminthemodernworld。Sheknewhewould，inthecourseoftime，effectthechangeshedesired，hecouldre—organisetheindustrialsystem。Sheknewhecoulddoit。Asaninstrument，inthesethings，hewasmarvellous，shehadneverseenanymanwithhispotentiality。Hewasunawareofit，butsheknew。
　　Heonlyneededtobehitchedon，heneededthathishandshouldbesettothetask，becausehewassounconscious。Andthisshecoulddo。Shewouldmarryhim，hewouldgointoParliamentintheConservativeinterest，hewouldclearupthegreatmuddleoflabourandindustry。Hewassosuperblyfearless，masterful，heknewthateveryproblemcouldbeworkedout，inlifeasingeometry。Andhewouldcareneitherabouthimselfnoraboutanythingbutthepureworkingoutoftheproblem。Hewasverypure，really。
　　Herheartbeatfast，sheflewawayonwingsofelation，imaginingafuture。HewouldbeaNapoleonofpeace，oraBismarck——andshethewomanbehindhim。ShehadreadBismarck'sletters，andhadbeendeeplymovedbythem。AndGeraldwouldbefreer，moredauntlessthanBismarck。
　　Butevenasshelayinfictitioustransport，bathedinthestrange，falsesunshineofhopeinlife，somethingseemedtosnapinher，andaterriblecynicismbegantogainuponher，blowinginlikeawind。Everythingturnedtoironywithher:thelastflavourofeverythingwasironical。
　　Whenshefeltherpangofundeniablereality，thiswaswhensheknewthehardironyofhopesandideas。
　　Shelayandlookedathim，asheslept。Hewassheerlybeautiful，hewasaperfectinstrument。Tohermind，hewasapure，inhuman，almostsuperhumaninstrument。Hisinstrumentalityappealedsostronglytoher，shewishedshewereGod，tousehimasatool。
　　Andatthesameinstant，cametheironicalquestion:`Whatfor？'Shethoughtofthecolliers'wives，withtheirlinoleumandtheirlacecurtainsandtheirlittlegirlsinhigh—lacedboots。Shethoughtofthewivesanddaughtersofthepit—managers，theirtennis—parties，andtheirterriblestrugglestobesuperioreachtotheother，inthesocialscale。TherewasShortlandswithitsmeaninglessdistinction，themeaninglesscrowdoftheCriches。TherewasLondon，theHouseofCommons，theextantsocialworld。MyGod！
　　Youngasshewas，GudrunhadtouchedthewholepulseofsocialEngland。
　　Shehadnoideasofrisingintheworld。Sheknew，withtheperfectcynicismofcruelyouth，thattoriseintheworldmeanttohaveoneoutsideshowinsteadofanother，theadvancewaslikehavingaspurioushalf—crowninsteadofaspuriouspenny。Thewholecoinageofvaluationwasspurious。Yetofcourse，hercynicismknewwellenoughthat，inaworldwherespuriouscoinwascurrent，abadsovereignwasbetterthanabadfarthing。Butrichandpoor，shedespisedbothalike。
　　Alreadyshemockedatherselfforherdreams。Theycouldbefulfilledeasilyenough。Butsherecognisedtoowell，inherspirit，themockeryofherownimpulses。Whatdidshecare，thatGeraldhadcreatedarichly—payingindustryoutofanoldworn—outconcern？Whatdidshecare？Theworn—outconcernandtherapid，splendidlyorganisedindustry，theywerebadmoney。
　　Yetofcourse，shecaredagreatdeal，outwardly——andoutwardlywasallthatmattered，forinwardlywasabadjoke。
　　Everythingwasintrinsicallyapieceofironytoher。SheleanedoverGeraldandsaidinherheart，withcompassion:
　　`Oh，mydear，mydear，thegameisn'tworthevenyou。Youareafinethingreally——whyshouldyoubeusedonsuchapoorshow！'
　　Herheartwasbreakingwithpityandgriefforhim。Andatthesamemoment，agrimacecameoverhermouth，ofmockingironyatherownunspokentirade。Ah，whatafarceitwas！ShethoughtofParnellandKatherineO'Shea。
　　Parnell！Afterall，whocantakethenationalisationofIrelandseriously？
　　WhocantakepoliticalIrelandreallyseriously，whateveritdoes？AndwhocantakepoliticalEnglandseriously？Whocan？Whocancareastraw，really，howtheoldpatched—upConstitutionistinkeredatanymore？Whocaresabuttonforournationalideas，anymorethanforournationalbowlerhat？Aha，itisalloldhat，itisalloldbowlerhat！
　　That'sallitis，Gerald，myyounghero。Atanyratewe'llspareourselvesthenauseaofstirringtheoldbrothanymore。Youbebeautiful，myGerald，andreckless。Thereareperfectmoments。Wakeup，Gerald，wakeup，convincemeoftheperfectmoments。Oh，convinceme，Ineedit。
　　Heopenedhiseyes，andlookedather。Shegreetedhimwithamocking，enigmaticsmileinwhichwasapoignantgaiety。Overhisfacewentthereflectionofthesmile，hesmiled，too，purelyunconsciously。
　　Thatfilledherwithextraordinarydelight，toseethesmilecrosshisface，reflectedfromherface。Sherememberedthatwashowababysmiled。
　　Itfilledherwithextraordinaryradiantdelight。
　　`You'vedoneit，'shesaid。
　　`What？'heasked，dazed。
　　`Convincedme。'
　　Andshebentdown，kissinghimpassionately，passionately，sothathewasbewildered。Hedidnotaskherofwhathehadconvincedher，thoughhemeantto。Hewasgladshewaskissinghim。Sheseemedtobefeelingforhisveryhearttotouchthequickofhim。Andhewantedhertotouchthequickofhisbeing，hewantedthatmostofall。
　　Outside，somebodywassinging，inamanly，recklesshandsomevoice:`Machmirauf，machmirauf，duStolze，MachmireinFeuervonHolze。VomRegenbinichnassVomRegenbinichnass——'
　　Gudrunknewthatthatsongwouldsoundthroughhereternity，sunginamanly，reckless，mockingvoice。Itmarkedoneofhersuprememoments，thesupremepangsofhernervousgratification。Thereitwas，fixedineternityforher。
　　Thedaycamefineandbluish。Therewasalightwindblowingamongthemountaintops，keenasarapierwhereittouched，carryingwithitafinedustofsnow—powder。Geraldwentoutwiththefine，blindfaceofamanwhoisinhisstateoffulfilment。Gudrunandhewereinperfectstaticunitythismorning，butunseeingandunwitting。Theywentoutwithatoboggan，leavingUrsulaandBirkintofollow。
　　Gudrunwasallscarletandroyalblue——ascarletjerseyandcap，andaroyalblueskirtandstockings。Shewentgailyoverthewhitesnow，withGeraldbesideher，inwhiteandgrey，pullingthelittletoboggan。Theygrewsmallinthedistanceofsnow，climbingthesteepslope。
　　ForGudrunherself，sheseemedtopassaltogetherintothewhitenessofthesnow，shebecameapure，thoughtlesscrystal。Whenshereachedthetopoftheslope，inthewind，shelookedround，andsawpeakbeyondpeakofrockandsnow，bluish，transcendentinheaven。Anditseemedtoherlikeagarden，withthepeaksforpureflowers，andherheartgatheringthem。ShehadnoseparateconsciousnessforGerald。
　　Sheheldontohimastheywentsheeringdownoverthekeenslope。Shefeltasifhersenseswerebeingwhettedonsomefinegrindstone，thatwaskeenasflame。Thesnowsprintedoneitherside，likesparksfromabladethatisbeingsharpened，thewhitenessroundaboutranswifter，swifter，inpureflamethewhiteslopeflewagainsther，andshefusedlikeonemolten，dancingglobule，rushedthroughawhiteintensity。Thentherewasagreatswerveatthebottom，whentheyswungasitwereinafalltoearth，inthediminishingmotion。
　　Theycametorest。Butwhensherosetoherfeet，shecouldnotstand。
　　Shegaveastrangecry，turnedandclungtohim，sinkingherfaceonhisbreast，faintinginhim。Utteroblivioncameoverher，asshelayforafewmomentsabandonedagainsthim。
　　`Whatisit？'hewassaying。`Wasittoomuchforyou？'
　　Butsheheardnothing。
　　Whenshecameto，shestoodupandlookedround，astonished。Herfacewaswhite，hereyesbrilliantandlarge。
　　`Whatisit？'herepeated。`Diditupsetyou？'
　　Shelookedathimwithherbrillianteyesthatseemedtohaveundergonesometransfiguration，andshelaughed，withaterriblemerriment。
　　`No，'shecried，withtriumphantjoy。`Itwasthecompletemomentofmylife。'
　　Andshelookedathimwithherdazzling，overweeninglaughter，likeonepossessed。Afinebladeseemedtoenterhisheart，buthedidnotcare，ortakeanynotice。
　　Buttheyclimbeduptheslopeagain，andtheyflewdownthroughthewhiteflameagain，splendidly，splendidly。Gudrunwaslaughingandflashing，powderedwithsnow—crystals，Geraldworkedperfectly。Hefelthecouldguidethetoboggantoahair—breadth，almosthecouldmakeitpierceintotheairandrightintotheveryheartofthesky。Itseemedtohimtheflyingsledgewasbuthisstrengthspreadout，hehadbuttomovehisarms，themotionwashisown。Theyexploredthegreatslopes，tofindanotherslide。Hefelttheremustbesomethingbetterthantheyhadknown。Andhefoundwhathedesired，aperfectlong，fiercesweep，sheeringpastthefootofarockandintothetreesatthebase。Itwasdangerous，heknew。
　　Butthenheknewalsohewoulddirectthesledgebetweenhisfingers。
　　Thefirstdayspassedinanecstasyofphysicalmotion，sleighing，skiing，skating，movinginanintensityofspeedandwhitelightthatsurpassedlifeitself，andcarriedthesoulsofthehumanbeingsbeyondintoaninhumanabstractionofvelocityandweightandeternal，frozensnow。
　　Gerald'seyesbecamehardandstrange，andashewentbyonhisskishewasmorelikesomepowerful，fatefulsighthanaman，hismuscleselasticinaperfect，soaringtrajectory，hisbodyprojectedinpureflight，mindless，soulless，whirlingalongoneperfectlineofforce。
　　Luckilytherecameadayofsnow，whentheymustallstayindoors:otherwiseBirkinsaid，theywouldalllosetheirfaculties，andbegintoutterthemselvesincriesandshrieks，likesomestrange，unknownspeciesofsnow—creatures。
　　IthappenedintheafternoonthatUrsulasatintheReunionsaaltalkingtoLoerke。Thelatterhadseemedunhappylately。Hewaslivelyandfullofmischievoushumour，asusual。
　　ButUrsulahadthoughthewassulkyaboutsomething。Hispartner，too，thebig，fair，good—lookingyouth，wasillatease，goingaboutasifhebelongedtonowhere，andwaskeptinsomesortofsubjection，againstwhichhewasrebelling。
　　LoerkehadhardlytalkedtoGudrun。Hisassociate，ontheotherhand，hadpaidherconstantlyasoft，over—deferentialattention。GudrunwantedtotalktoLoerke。Hewasasculptor，andshewantedtohearhisviewofhisart。Andhisfigureattractedher。Therewasthelookofalittlewastrelabouthim，thatintriguedher，andanoldman'slook，thatinterestedher，andthen，besidethis，anuncannysingleness，aqualityofbeingbyhimself，notincontactwithanybodyelse，thatmarkedoutanartisttoher。Hewasachatterer，amagpie，amakerofmischievousword—jokes，thatweresometimesveryclever，butwhichoftenwerenot。Andshecouldseeinhisbrown，gnome'seyes，theblacklookofinorganicmisery，whichlaybehindallhissmallbuffoonery。
　　Hisfigureinterestedher——thefigureofaboy，almostastreetarab。
　　Hemadenoattempttoconcealit。Healwaysworeasimplelodensuit，withkneebreeches。Hislegswerethin，andhemadenoattempttodisguisethefact:whichwasofitselfremarkable，inaGerman。Andheneveringratiatedhimselfanywhere，notintheslightest，butkepttohimself，forallhisapparentplayfulness。
　　Leitner，hiscompanion，wasagreatsportsman，veryhandsomewithhisbiglimbsandhisblueeyes。Loerkewouldgotoboganningorskating，inlittlesnatches，buthewasindifferent。Andhisfine，thinnostrils，thenostrilsofapure—bredstreetarab，wouldquiverwithcontemptatLeitner'ssplotheringgymnasticdisplays。Itwasevidentthatthetwomenwhohadtravelledandlivedtogether，sharingthesamebedroom，hadnowreachedthestageofloathing。LeitnerhatedLoerkewithaninjured，writhing，impotenthatred，andLoerketreatedLeitnerwithafine—quiveringcontemptandsarcasm。Soonthetwowouldhavetogoapart。
　　Alreadytheywererarelytogether。Leitnerranattachinghimselftosomebodyorother，alwaysdeferring，Loerkewasagooddealalone。OutofdoorsheworeaWestphaliancap，aclosebrown—velvetheadwithbigbrownvelvetflapsdownoverhisears，sothathelookedlikealop—earedrabbit，oratroll。Hisfacewasbrown—red，withadry，brightskin，thatseemedtocrinklewithhismobileexpressions。Hiseyeswerearresting——brown，full，likearabbit's，orlikeatroll's，orliketheeyesofalostbeing，havingastrange，dumb，depravedlookofknowledge，andaquicksparkofuncannyfire。WheneverGudrunhadtriedtotalktohimhehadshiedawayunresponsive，lookingatherwithhiswatchfuldarkeyes，butenteringintonorelationwithher。HehadmadeherfeelthatherslowFrenchandherslowerGerman，werehatefultohim。AsforhisowninadequateEnglish，hewasmuchtooawkwardtotryitatall。Butheunderstoodagooddealofwhatwassaid，nevertheless。AndGudrun，piqued，lefthimalone。
　　Thisafternoon，however，shecameintotheloungeashewastalkingtoUrsula。Hisfine，blackhairsomehowremindedherofabat，thinasitwasonhisfull，sensitive—lookinghead，andwornawayatthetemples。
　　Hesathunchedup，asifhisspiritwerebat—like。AndGudruncouldseehewasmakingsomeslowconfidencetoUrsula，unwilling，aslow，grudging，scantyself—revelation。Shewentandsatbyhersister。
　　Helookedather，thenlookedawayagain，asifhetooknonoticeofher。Butasamatteroffact，sheinterestedhimdeeply。
　　`Isn'titinteresting，Prune，'saidUrsula，turningtohersister，`HerrLoerkeisdoingagreatfriezeforafactoryinCologne，fortheoutside，thestreet。'
　　Shelookedathim，athisthin，brown，nervoushands，thatwereprehensile，andsomehowliketalons，like`griffes，'inhuman。
　　`Whatin？'sheasked。
　　`Auswas？'repeatedUrsula。
　　`Granit，'hereplied。
　　Ithadbecomeimmediatelyalaconicseriesofquestionandanswerbetweenfellowcraftsmen。
　　`Whatistherelief？'askedGudrun。
　　`Altorelievo。'
　　`Andatwhatheight？'
　　ItwasveryinterestingtoGudruntothinkofhismakingthegreatgranitefriezeforagreatgranitefactoryinCologne。Shegotfromhimsomenotionofthedesign。Itwasarepresentationofafair，withpeasantsandartisansinanorgyofenjoyment，drunkandabsurdintheirmoderndress，whirlingridiculouslyinroundabouts，gapingatshows，kissingandstaggeringandrollinginknots，swinginginswing—boats，andfiringdownshootinggalleries，afrenzyofchaoticmotion。
　　Therewasaswiftdiscussionoftechnicalities。Gudrunwasverymuchimpressed。
　　`Buthowwonderful，tohavesuchafactory！'criedUrsula。`Isthewholebuildingfine？'
　　`Ohyes，'hereplied。`Thefriezeispartofthewholearchitecture。
　　Yes，itisacolossalthing。'
　　Thenheseemedtostiffen，shruggedhisshoulders，andwenton:
　　`Sculptureandarchitecturemustgotogether。Thedayforirrelevantstatues，asforwallpictures，isover。Asamatteroffactsculptureisalwayspartofanarchitecturalconception。Andsincechurchesareallmuseumstuff，sinceindustryisourbusiness，now，thenletusmakeourplacesofindustryourart——ourfactory—areaourParthenon，ecco！'
　　Ursulapondered。
　　`Isuppose，'shesaid，`thereisnoneedforourgreatworkstobesohideous。'
　　Instantlyhebrokeintomotion。
　　`Thereyouare！'hecried，`thereyouare！Thereisnotonlynoneedforourplacesofworktobeugly，buttheiruglinessruinsthework，intheend。Menwillnotgoonsubmittingtosuchintolerableugliness。Intheenditwillhurttoomuch，andtheywillwitherbecauseofit。Andthiswillwithertheworkaswell。Theywillthinktheworkitselfisugly:themachines，theveryactoflabour。Whereasthemachineryandtheactsoflabourareextremely，maddeninglybeautiful。Butthiswillbetheendofourcivilisation，whenpeoplewillnotworkbecauseworkhasbecomesointolerabletotheirsenses，itnauseatesthemtoomuch，theywouldratherstarve。Thenweshallseethehammerusedonlyforsmashing，thenweshallseeit。Yethereweare——wehavetheopportunitytomakebeautifulfactories，beautifulmachine—houses——wehavetheopportunity——'
　　Gudruncouldonlypartlyunderstand。Shecouldhavecriedwithvexation。
　　`Whatdoeshesay？'sheaskedUrsula。AndUrsulatranslated，stammeringandbrief。LoerkewatchedGudrun'sface，toseeherjudgment。
　　`Anddoyouthinkthen，'saidGudrun，`thatartshouldserveindustry？'
　　`Artshouldinterpretindustry，asartonceinterpretedreligion，'
　　hesaid。
　　`Butdoesyourfairinterpretindustry？'sheaskedhim。
　　`Certainly。Whatismandoing，whenheisatafairlikethis？Heisfulfillingthecounterpartoflabour——themachineworkshim，insteadofhethemachine。Heenjoysthemechanicalmotion，inhisownbody。'
　　`Butistherenothingbutwork——mechanicalwork？'saidGudrun。
　　`Nothingbutwork！'herepeated，leaningforward，hiseyestwodarknesses，withneedle—pointsoflight。`No，itisnothingbutthis，servingamachine，orenjoyingthemotionofamachine——motion，thatisall。Youhaveneverworkedforhunger，oryouwouldknowwhatgodgovernsus。'
　　Gudrunquiveredandflushed。Forsomereasonshewasalmostintears。
　　`No，Ihavenotworkedforhunger，'shereplied，`butIhaveworked！'
　　`Travaille——lavorato？'heasked。`Echelavoro——chelavoro？Queltravailest—cequevousavezfait？'
　　HebrokeintoamixtureofItalianandFrench，instinctivelyusingaforeignlanguagewhenhespoketoher。
　　`Youhaveneverworkedastheworldworks，'hesaidtoher，withsarcasm。
　　`Yes，'shesaid。`Ihave。AndIdo——Iworknowformydailybread。'
　　Hepaused，lookedathersteadily，thendroppedthesubjectentirely。
　　Sheseemedtohimtobetrifling。
　　`Buthaveyoueverworkedastheworldworks？'Ursulaaskedhim。
　　Helookedatheruntrustful。
　　`Yes，'hereplied，withasurlybark。`Ihaveknownwhatitwastolieinbedforthreedays，becauseIhadnothingtoeat。'
　　Gudrunwaslookingathimwithlarge，graveeyes，thatseemedtodrawtheconfessionfromhimasthemarrowfromhisbones。Allhisnatureheldhimbackfromconfessing。Andyetherlarge，graveeyesuponhimseemedtoopensomevalveinhisveins，andinvoluntarilyhewastelling。
　　`Myfatherwasamanwhodidnotlikework，andwehadnomother。WelivedinAustria，PolishAustria。Howdidwelive？Ha！——somehow！Mostlyinaroomwiththreeotherfamilies——onesetineachcorner——andtheW。C。inthemiddleoftheroom——apanwithaplankonit——ha！Ihadtwobrothersandasister——andtheremightbeawomanwithmyfather。
　　Hewasafreebeing，inhisway——wouldfightwithanymaninthetown——agarrisontown——andwasalittlemantoo。Buthewouldn'tworkforanybody——sethisheartagainstit，andwouldn't。'
　　`Andhowdidyoulivethen？'askedUrsula。
　　Helookedather——then，suddenly，atGudrun。
　　`Doyouunderstand？'heasked。
　　`Enough，'shereplied。
　　Theireyesmetforamoment。Thenhelookedaway。Hewouldsaynomore。
　　`Andhowdidyoubecomeasculptor？'askedUrsula。
　　`HowdidIbecomeasculptor——'hepaused。`Dunque——'heresumed，inachangedmanner，andbeginningtospeakFrench——`Ibecameoldenough——Iusedtostealfromthemarket—place。LaterIwenttowork——imprintedthestamponclaybottles，beforetheywerebaked。Itwasanearthenware—bottlefactory。ThereIbeganmakingmodels。Oneday，Ihadhadenough。Ilayinthesunanddidnotgotowork。ThenIwalkedtoMunich——thenIwalkedtoItaly——begging，beggingeverything。'
　　`TheItalianswereverygoodtome——theyweregoodandhonourabletome。FromBozentoRome，almosteverynightIhadamealandabed，perhapsofstraw，withsomepeasant。IlovetheItalianpeople，withallmyheart。
　　`Dunque，adesso——maintenant——Iearnathousandpoundsinayear，orIearntwothousand——'
　　Helookeddownattheground，hisvoicetailingoffintosilence。
　　Gudrunlookedathisfine，thin，shinyskin，reddish—brownfromthesun，drawntightoverhisfulltemples;andathisthinhair——andatthethick，coarse，brush—likemoustache，cutshortabouthismobile，rathershapelessmouth。
　　`Howoldareyou？'sheasked。
　　Helookedupatherwithhisfull，elfineyesstartled。
　　`Wiealt？'herepeated。Andhehesitated。Itwasevidentlyoneofhisreticencies。
　　`Howoldareyou？'hereplied，withoutanswering。
　　`Iamtwenty—six，'sheanswered。
　　`Twenty—six，'herepeated，lookingintohereyes。Hepaused。Thenhesaid:
　　`UndIhrHerrGemahl，wiealtiser？'
　　`Who？'askedGudrun。
　　`Yourhusband，'saidUrsula，withacertainirony。
　　`Ihaven'tgotahusband，'saidGudruninEnglish。InGermansheanswered，`Heisthirty—one。'
　　ButLoerkewaswatchingclosely，withhisuncanny，full，suspiciouseyes。SomethinginGudrunseemedtoaccordwithhim。Hewasreallylikeoneofthe`littlepeople'whohavenosoul，whohasfoundhismateinahumanbeing。Buthesufferedinhisdiscovery。Shetoowasfascinatedbyhim，fascinated，asifsomestrangecreature，arabbitorabat，orabrownseal，hadbeguntotalktoher。Butalso，sheknewwhathewasunconsciousof，histremendouspowerofunderstanding，ofapprehendingherlivingmotion。Hedidnotknowhisownpower。Hedidnotknowhow，withhisfull，submerged，watchfuleyes，hecouldlookintoherandseeher，whatshewas，seehersecrets。Hewouldonlywanthertobeherself——heknewherverily，withasubconscious，sinisterknowledge，devoidofillusionsandhopes。
　　ToGudrun，therewasinLoerketherock—bottomofalllife。Everybodyelsehadtheirillusion，musthavetheirillusion，theirbeforeandafter。
　　Buthe，withaperfectstoicism，didwithoutanybeforeandafter，dispensedwithallillusion。Hedidnotdeceivehimselfinthelastissue。Inthelastissuehecaredaboutnothing，hewastroubledaboutnothing，hemadenottheslightestattempttobeatonewithanything。Heexistedapure，unconnectedwill，stoicalandmomentaneous。Therewasonlyhiswork。
　　Itwascurioustoo，howhispoverty，thedegradationofhisearlierlife，attractedher。Therewassomethinginsipidandtastelesstoher，intheideaofagentleman，amanwhohadgonetheusualcoursethroughschoolanduniversity。Acertainviolentsympathy，however，cameupinherforthismud—child。Heseemedtobetheverystuffoftheunderworldoflife。Therewasnogoingbeyondhim。
　　UrsulatoowasattractedbyLoerke。Inbothsistershecommandedacertainhomage。ButthereweremomentswhentoUrsulaheseemedindescribablyinferior，false，avulgarism。
　　BothBirkinandGeralddislikedhim，Geraldignoringhimwithsomecontempt，Birkinexasperated。
　　`Whatdothewomenfindsoimpressiveinthatlittlebrat？'Geraldasked。
　　`Godaloneknows，'repliedBirkin，`unlessit'ssomesortofappealhemakestothem，whichflattersthemandhassuchapoweroverthem。'
　　Geraldlookedupinsurprise。
　　`Doeshemakeanappealtothem？'heasked。
　　`Ohyes，'repliedBirkin。`Heistheperfectlysubjectedbeing，existingalmostlikeacriminal。Andthewomenrushtowardsthat，likeacurrentofairtowardsavacuum。'
　　`Funnytheyshouldrushtothat，'saidGerald。
　　`Makesonemad，too，'saidBirkin。`Buthehasthefascinationofpityandrepulsionforthem，alittleobscenemonsterofthedarknessthatheis。'
　　Geraldstoodstill，suspendedinthought。
　　`Whatdowomenwant，atthebottom？'heasked。
　　Birkinshruggedhisshoulders。
　　`Godknows，'hesaid。`Somesatisfactioninbasicrepulsion，itseemstome。Theyseemtocreepdownsomeghastlytunnelofdarkness，andwillneverbesatisfiedtillthey'vecometotheend。'
　　Geraldlookedoutintothemistoffinesnowthatwasblowingby。Everywherewasblindtoday，horriblyblind。
　　`Andwhatistheend？'heasked。
　　Birkinshookhishead。
　　`I'venotgotthereyet，soIdon'tknow。AskLoerke，he'sprettynear。
　　HeisagoodmanystagesfurtherthaneitheryouorIcango。'
　　`Yes，butstagesfurtherinwhat？'criedGerald，irritated。
　　Birkinsighed，andgatheredhisbrowsintoaknotofanger。
　　`Stagesfurtherinsocialhatred，'hesaid。`Heliveslikearat，intheriverofcorruption，justwhereitfallsoverintothebottomlesspit。
　　He'sfurtheronthanweare。Hehatestheidealmoreacutely。Hehatestheidealutterly，yetitstilldominateshim。IexpectheisaJew——
　　orpartJewish。'
　　`Probably，'saidGerald。
　　`Heisagnawinglittlenegation，gnawingattherootsoflife。'
　　`Butwhydoesanybodycareabouthim？'criedGerald。
　　`Becausetheyhatetheidealalso，intheirsouls。Theywanttoexplorethesewers，andhe'sthewizardratthatswimsahead。'
　　StillGeraldstoodandstaredattheblindhazeofsnowoutside。
　　`Idon'tunderstandyourterms，really，'hesaid，inaflat，doomedvoice。`Butitsoundsarumsortofdesire。'
　　`Isupposewewantthesame，'saidBirkin。`Onlywewanttotakeaquickjumpdownwards，inasortofecstasy——andheebbswiththestream，thesewerstream。'
　　MeanwhileGudrunandUrsulawaitedforthenextopportunitytotalktoLoerke。Itwasnousebeginningwhenthemenwerethere。Thentheycouldgetintonotouchwiththeisolatedlittlesculptor。Hehadtobealonewiththem。AndhepreferredUrsulatobethere，asasortoftransmittertoGudrun。
　　`Doyoudonothingbutarchitecturalsculpture？'Gudrunaskedhimoneevening。