Helaughedatheragain，withmockinghumour。
　　`Butwhyareyouinabadtemper？’sheasked。`Doyoumeanyouarealwaysinabadtemper？’
　　`Prettywell，’hesaid，laughing。`Idon’tquitedigestmybile。’
　　`Butwhatbile？’shesaid。
　　`Bile!’hesaid。`Don’tyouknowwhatthatis？’Shewassilent，anddisappointed。Hewastakingnonoticeofher。
　　`I’mgoingawayforawhilenextmonth，’shesaid。
　　`Youare!Whereto？’
　　`Venice!WithSirClifford？Forhowlong？’
　　`Foramonthorso，’shereplied。`Cliffordwon’tgo。’
　　`He’llstayhere？’heasked。
　　`Yes!Hehatestotravelasheis。’
　　`Ay，poordevil!’hesaid，withsympathy。Therewasapause。
　　`Youwon’tforgetmewhenI’mgone，willyou？’sheasked。Againheliftedhiseyesandlookedfullather。
　　`Forget？’hesaid。`Youknownobodyforgets。It’snotaquestionofmemory；’
　　Shewantedtosay：`Whenthen？’butshedidn’t。Instead，shesaidinamutekindofvoice：`ItoldCliffordImighthaveachild。’
　　Nowhereallylookedather，intenseandsearching。
　　`Youdid？’hesaidatlast。`Andwhatdidhesay？’
　　`Oh，hewouldn’tmind。He’dbeglad，really，solongasitseemedtobehis。’Shedarednotlookupathim。
　　Hewassilentalongtime，thenhegazedagainonherface。
　　`Nomentionofme，ofcourse？’hesaid。
　　`No。Nomentionofyou，’shesaid。
　　`No，he’dhardlyswallowmeasasubstitutebreeder。Thenwhereareyousupposedtobegettingthechild？’
　　`Imighthavealove-affairinVenice，’shesaid。
　　`Youmight，’herepliedslowly。`Sothat’swhyyou’regoing？’
　　`Nottohavethelove-affair，’shesaid，lookingupathim，pleading。
　　`Justtheappearanceofone，’hesaid。
　　Therewassilence。Hesatstaringoutthewindow，withafaintgrin，halfmockery，halfbitterness，onhisface。Shehatedhisgrin。
　　`You’venottakenanyprecautionsagainsthavingachildthen？’heaskedhersuddenly。`BecauseIhaven’t。’
　　`No，’shesaidfaintly。`Ishouldhatethat。’
　　Helookedather，thenagainwiththepeculiarsubtlegrinoutofthewindow。Therewasatensesilence。
　　Atlastheturnedhisheadandsaidsatirically：
　　`Thatwaswhyyouwantedme，then，togetachild？’
　　Shehungherhead。
　　`No。Notreally，’shesaid。`Whatthen，really？’heaskedratherbitingly。
　　Shelookedupathimreproachfully，saying：`Idon’tknow。’
　　Hebrokeintoalaugh。
　　`ThenI’mdamnedifIdo，’hesaid。
　　Therewasalongpauseofsilence，acoldsilence。
　　`Well，’hesaidatlast。`It’sasyourLadyshiplikes。Ifyougetthebaby，SirClifford’swelcometoit。Ishan’thavelostanything。Onthecontrary，I’vehadaveryniceexperience，veryniceindeed!’——andhestretchedinahalf-suppressedsortofyawn。`Ifyou’vemadeuseofme，’
　　hesaid，`it’snotthefirsttimeI’vebeenmadeuseof；andIdon’tsupposeit’severbeenaspleasantasthistime；thoughofcourseonecan’tfeeltremendouslydignifiedaboutit。’——Hestretchedagain，curiously，hismusclesquivering，andhisjawoddlyset。
　　`ButIdidn’tmakeuseofyou，’shesaid，pleading。
　　`AtyourLadyship’sservice，’hereplied。
　　`No，’shesaid。`Ilikedyourbody。’
　　`Didyou？’hereplied，andhelaughed。`Well，then，we’requits，becauseIlikedyours。’
　　Helookedatherwithqueerdarkenedeyes。
　　`Wouldyouliketogoupstairsnow？’heaskedher，inastrangledsortofvoice。
　　`No，nothere。Notnow!’shesaidheavily，thoughifhehadusedanypoweroverher，shewouldhavegone，forshehadnostrengthagainsthim。
　　Heturnedhisfaceawayagain，andseemedtoforgether。`Iwanttotouchyoulikeyoutouchme，’shesaid。`I’veneverreallytouchedyourbody。’
　　Helookedather，andsmiledagain。`Now？’hesaid。`No!No!Nothere!
　　Atthehut。Wouldyoumind？’
　　`HowdoItouchyou？’heasked。
　　`Whenyoufeelme。’
　　Helookedather，andmetherheavy，anxiouseyes。
　　`AnddoyoulikeitwhenIfeelyou？’heasked，laughingatherstill。
　　`Yes，doyou？’shesaid。
　　`Oh，me!’Thenhechangedhistone。`Yes，’hesaid。`Youknowwithoutasking。’Whichwastrue。
　　Sheroseandpickedupherhat。`Imustgo，’shesaid。
　　`Willyougo？’herepliedpolitely。
　　Shewantedhimtotouchher，tosaysomethingtoher，buthesaidnothing，onlywaitedpolitely。
　　`Thankyouforthetea，’shesaid。
　　`Ihaven’tthankedyourLadyshipfordoingmethehonoursofmytea-pot，’
　　hesaid。
　　Shewentdownthepath，andhestoodinthedoorway，faintlygrinning。
　　Flossiecamerunningwithhertaillifted。AndConniehadtoploddumblyacrossintothewood，knowinghewasstandingtherewatchingher，withthatincomprehensiblegrinonhisface。
　　Shewalkedhomeverymuchdowncastandannoyed。Shedidn’tatalllikehissayinghehadbeenmadeuseofbecause，inasense，itwastrue。Butheoughtn’ttohavesaidit。Therefore，again，shewasdividedbetweentwofeelings：resentmentagainsthim，andadesiretomakeitupwithhim。
　　Shepassedaveryuneasyandirritatedtea-time，andatoncewentuptoherroom。Butwhenshewasthereitwasnogood；shecouldneithersitnorstand。Shewouldhavetodosomethingaboutit。Shewouldhavetogobacktothehut；ifhewasnotthere，wellandgood。
　　Sheslippedoutofthesidedoor，andtookherwaydirectandalittlesullen。Whenshecametotheclearingshewasterriblyuneasy。Buttherehewasagain，inhisshirt-sleeves，stooping，lettingthehensoutofthecoops，amongthechicksthatwerenowgrowingalittlegawky，butweremuchmoretrimthanhen-chickens。
　　Shewentstraightacrosstohim。`YouseeI’vecome!’shesaid。
　　`Ay，Iseeit!’hesaid，straighteninghisback，andlookingatherwithafaintamusement。
　　`Doyouletthehensoutnow？’sheasked。
　　`Yes，they’vesatthemselvestoskinandbone，’hesaid。`An’nowthey’renotallthatanxioustocomeoutan’feed。There’snoselfinasittinghen；she’sallintheeggsorthechicks。’
　　Thepoormother-hens；suchblinddevotion!eventoeggsnottheirown!
　　Connielookedatthemincompassion。Ahelplesssilencefellbetweenthemanandthewoman。
　　`Shallusgoi’th’’ut？’heasked。
　　`Doyouwantme？’sheasked，inasortofmistrust。
　　`Ay，ifyouwanttocome。’
　　Shewassilent。
　　`Comethen!’hesaid。
　　Andshewentwithhimtothehut。Itwasquitedarkwhenhehadshutthedoor，sohemadeasmalllightinthelantern，asbefore。
　　`Haveyouleftyourunderthingsoff？’heaskedher。
　　`Yes!’
　　`Ay，well，thenI’lltakemythingsofftoo。’
　　Hespreadtheblankets，puttingoneatthesideforacoverlet。Shetookoffherhat，andshookherhair。Hesatdown，takingoffhisshoesandgaiters，andundoinghiscordbreeches。
　　`Liedownthen!’hesaid，whenhestoodinhisshirt。Sheobeyedinsilence，andhelaybesideher，andpulledtheblanketoverthemboth。
　　`There!’hesaid。
　　Andheliftedherdressrightback，tillhecameeventoherbreasts。
　　Hekissedthemsoftly，takingthenipplesinhislipsintinycaresses。
　　`Eh，buttha’rtnice，tha’rtnice!’hesaid，suddenlyrubbinghisfacewithasnugglingmovementagainstherwarmbelly。
　　Andsheputherarmsroundhimunderhisshirt，butshewasafraid，afraidofhisthin，smooth，nakedbody，thatseemedsopowerful，afraidoftheviolentmuscles。Sheshrank，afraid。
　　Andwhenhesaid，withasortoflittlesigh：`Eh，tha’rtnice!’somethinginherquivered，andsomethinginherspiritstiffenedinresistance：stiffenedfromtheterriblyphysicalintimacy，andfromthepeculiarhasteofhispossession。Andthistimethesharpecstasyofherownpassiondidnotovercomeher；shelaywithherendsinertonhisstrivingbody，anddowhatshemight，herspiritseemedtolookonfromthetopofherhead，andthebuttingofhishaunchesseemedridiculoustoher，andthesortofanxietyofhispenistocometoitslittleevacuatingcrisisseemedfarcical。Yes，thiswaslove，thisridiculousbouncingofthebuttocks，andthewiltingofthepoor，insignificant，moistlittlepenis。Thiswasthedivinelove!Afterall，themodernswererightwhentheyfeltcontemptfortheperformance；foritwasaperformance。Itwasquitetrue，assomepoetssaid，thattheGodwhocreatedmanmusthavehadasinistersenseofhumour，creatinghimareasonablebeing，yetforcinghimtotakethisridiculousposture，anddrivinghimwithblindcravingforthisridiculousperformance。EvenaMaupassantfounditahumiliatinganti-climax。Mendespisedtheintercourseact，andyetdidit。
　　Coldandderisiveherqueerfemalemindstoodapart，andthoughshelayperfectlystill，herimpulsewastoheaveherloins，andthrowthemanout，escapehisuglygrip，andthebuttingover-ridingofhisabsurdhaunches。Hisbodywasafoolish，impudent，imperfectthing，alittledisgustinginitsunfinishedclumsiness。Forsurelyacompleteevolutionwouldeliminatethisperformance，this`function’。
　　Andyetwhenhehadfinished，soonover，andlayveryverystill，recedingintosilence，andastrangemotionlessdistance，far，fartherthanthehorizonofherawareness，herheartbegantoweep。Shecouldfeelhimebbingaway，ebbingaway，leavinghertherelikeastoneonashore。Hewaswithdrawing，hisspiritwasleavingher。Heknew。
　　Andinrealgrief，tormentedbyherowndoubleconsciousnessandreaction，shebegantoweep。Hetooknonotice，ordidnotevenknow。Thestormofweepingswelledandshookher，andshookhim。
　　`Ay!’hesaid。`Itwasnogoodthattime。Youwasn’tthere。’——Soheknew!Hersobsbecameviolent。
　　`Butwhat’samiss？’hesaid。`It’sonceinawhilethatway。’
　　`I……Ican’tloveyou，’shesobbed，suddenlyfeelingherheartbreaking。
　　`Cannater？Well，dunnafret!There’snolawsaysastha’sgotto。Ta’eitforwhatitis。’
　　Hestilllaywithhishandonherbreast。Butshehaddrawnbothherhandsfromhim。
　　Hiswordsweresmallcomfort。Shesobbedaloud。
　　`Nay，nay!’hesaid。`Ta’ethethickwi’th’thin。Thisworabito’
　　thinforonce。’
　　Sheweptbitterly，sobbing。`ButIwanttoloveyou，andIcan’t。Itonlyseemshorrid。’
　　Helaughedalittle，halfbitter，halfamused。
　　`Itisnahorrid，’hesaid，`evenifthathinksitis。An’thacannama’eithorrid。Dunnafretthysenaboutlovin’me。Tha’ltniverforcethysento`t。There’ssuretobeabadnutinabasketful。Thamunta’eth’roughwi’th’smooth。’
　　Hetookhishandawayfromherbreast，nottouchingher。Andnowshewasuntouchedshetookanalmostperversesatisfactioninit。Shehatedthedialect：thetheeandthethaandthethysen。
　　Hecouldgetupifheliked，andstandthere，aboveher，buttoningdownthoseabsurdcorduroybreeches，straightinfrontofher。Afterall，Michaelishadhadthedecencytoturnaway。Thismanwassoassuredinhimselfhedidn’tknowwhataclownotherpeoplefoundhim，ahalf-bredfellow。
　　Yet，ashewasdrawingaway，torisesilentlyandleaveher，sheclungtohiminterror。
　　`Don’t!Don’tgo!Don’tleaveme!Don’tbecrosswithme!Holdme!Holdmefast!’shewhisperedinblindfrenzy，notevenknowingwhatshesaid，andclingingtohimwithuncannyforce。Itwasfromherselfshewantedtobesaved，fromherowninwardangerandresistance。Yethowpowerfulwasthatinwardresistancethatpossessedher!
　　Hetookherinhisarmsagainanddrewhertohim，andsuddenlyshebecamesmallinhisarms，smallandnestling。Itwasgone，theresistancewasgone，andshebegantomeltinamarvellouspeace。Andasshemeltedsmallandwonderfulinhisarms，shebecameinfinitelydesirabletohim，allhisblood-vesselsseemedtoscaldwithintenseyettenderdesire，forher，forhersoftness，forthepenetratingbeautyofherinhisarms，passingintohisblood。Andsoftly，withthatmarvellousswoon-likecaressofhishandinpuresoftdesire，softlyhestrokedthesilkyslopeofherloins，down，downbetweenhersoftwarmbuttocks，comingnearerandnearertotheveryquickofher。Andshefelthimlikeaflameofdesire，yettender，andshefeltherselfmeltingintheflame。Sheletherselfgo。ShefelthispenisrisenagainstherwithsilentamazingforceandassertionandsheletherselfgotohimSheyieldedwithaquiverthatwaslikedeath，shewentallopentohim。Andoh，ifhewerenottendertohernow，howcruel，forshewasallopentohimandhelpless!
　　Shequiveredagainatthepotentinexorableentryinsideher，sostrangeandterrible。Itmightcomewiththethrustofaswordinhersoftly-openedbody，andthatwouldbedeath。Sheclunginasuddenanguishofterror。
　　Butitcamewithastrangeslowthrustofpeace，thedarkthrustofpeaceandaponderous，primordialtenderness，suchasmadetheworldinthebeginning。
　　Andherterrorsubsidedinherbreast，herbreastdaredtobegoneinpeace，sheheldnothing。Shedaredtoletgoeverything，allherselfandbegoneintheflood。