`Wait!’shefaltered。`Wait!What’scomebetweenus？’
　　Hewasbentover，lacinghisboot，anddidnotreply。Themomentspassed。
　　Adimnesscameoverher，likeaswoon。Allherconsciousnessdied，andshestoodtherewide-eyed，lookingathimfromtheunknown，knowingnothinganymore。
　　Helookedup，becauseofthesilence，andsawherwide-eyedandlost。
　　Andasifawindtossedhimhegotupandhobbledovertoher，oneshoeoffandoneshoeon，andtookherinhisarms，pressingheragainsthisbody，whichsomehowfelthurtrightthrough。Andthereheheldher，andtheresheremained。
　　Tillhishandsreachedblindlydownandfeltforher，andfeltundertheclothingtowhereshewassmoothandwarm。
　　`Malass!’hemurmured。`Malittlelass!Dunnalet’slight!Dunnalet’sniverlight!Ilovetheean’th’touchonthee。Dunnaarguewi’me!Dunna!
　　Dunna!Dunna!Let’sbetogether。’
　　Sheliftedherfaceandlookedathim。
　　`Don’tbeupset，’shesaidsteadily。`It’snogoodbeingupset。Doyoureallywanttobetogetherwithme？’
　　Shelookedwithwide，steadyeyesintohisface。Hestopped，andwentsuddenlystill，turninghisfaceaside。Allhisbodywentperfectlystill，butdidnotwithdraw。
　　Thenheliftedhisheadandlookedintohereyes，withhisodd，faintlymockinggrin，saying：`Ay-ay!Let’sbetogetheronoath。’
　　`Butreally？’shesaid，hereyesfillingwithtears。`Ayreally!Heartan’bellyan’cock。’
　　Hestillsmiledfaintlydownather，withtheflickerofironyinhiseyes，andatouchofbitterness。
　　Shewassilentlyweeping，andhelaywithherandwentintoherthereonthehearthrug，andsotheygainedameasureofequanimity。Andthentheywentquicklytobed，foritwasgrowingchill，andtheyhadtiredeachotherout。Andshenestleduptohim，feelingsmallandenfolded，andtheybothwenttosleepatonce，fastinonesleep。Andsotheylayandnevermoved，tillthesunroseoverthewoodanddaywasbeginning。
　　Thenhewokeupandlookedatthelight。Thecurtainsweredrawn。Helistenedtotheloudwildcallingofblackbirdsandthrushesinthewood。
　　Itwouldbeabrilliantmorning，abouthalfpastfive，hishourforrising。
　　Hehadsleptsofast!Itwassuchanewday!Thewomanwasstillcurledasleepandtender。Hishandmovedonher，andsheopenedherbluewonderingeyes，smilingunconsciouslyintohisface。
　　`Areyouawake？’shesaidtohim。
　　Hewaslookingintohereyes。Hesmiled，andkissedher。Andsuddenlysherousedandsatup。
　　`FancythatIamhere!’shesaid。
　　Shelookedroundthewhitewashedlittlebedroomwithitsslopingceilingandgablewindowwherethewhitecurtainswereclosed。Theroomwasbaresaveforalittleyellow-paintedchestofdrawers，andachair：andthesmallishwhitebedinwhichshelaywithhim。
　　`Fancythatwearehere!’shesaid，lookingdownathim。Hewaslyingwatchingher，strokingherbreastswithhisfingers，underthethinnightdress。
　　Whenhewaswarmandsmoothedout，helookedyoungandhandsome。Hiseyescouldlooksowarm。Andshewasfreshandyounglikeaflower。
　　`Iwanttotakethisoff!’shesaid，gatheringthethinbatistenightdressandpullingitoverherhead。Shesattherewithbareshouldersandlongishbreastsfaintlygolden。Helovedtomakeherbreastsswingsoftly，likebells。
　　`Youmusttakeoffyourpyjamastoo，’shesaid。
　　`Eh，nay!’
　　`Yes!Yes!’shecommanded。
　　Andhetookoffhisoldcottonpyjama-jacket，andpusheddownthetrousers。
　　Saveforhishandsandwristsandfaceandneckhewaswhiteasmilk，withfineslendermuscularflesh。ToConniehewassuddenlypiercinglybeautifulagain，aswhenshehadseenhimthatafternoonwashinghimself。
　　Goldofsunshinetouchedtheclosedwhitecurtain。Shefeltitwantedtocomein。
　　`Oh，dolet’sdrawthecurtains!Thebirdsaresingingso!Doletthesunin，’shesaid。
　　Heslippedoutofbedwithhisbacktoher，nakedandwhiteandthin，andwenttothewindow，stoopingalittle，drawingthecurtainsandlookingoutforamoment。Thebackwaswhiteandfine，thesmallbuttocksbeautifulwithanexquisite，delicatemanliness，thebackoftheneckruddyanddelicateandyetstrong。
　　Therewasaninward，notanoutwardstrengthinthedelicatefinebody。
　　`Butyouarebeautiful!’shesaid。`Sopureandfine!Come!’Sheheldherarmsout。
　　Hewasashamedtoturntoher，becauseofhisarousednakedness。
　　Hecaughthisshirtoffthefloor，andheldittohim，comingtoher。
　　`No!’shesaidstillholdingoutherbeautifulslimarmsfromherdroppingbreasts。`Letmeseeyou!’
　　Hedroppedtheshirtandstoodstilllookingtowardsher。Thesunthroughthelowwindowsentinabeamthatlituphisthighsandslimbellyandtheerectphallosrisingdarkishandhot-lookingfromthelittlecloudofvividgold-redhair。Shewasstartledandafraid。
　　`Howstrange!’shesaidslowly。`Howstrangehestandsthere!Sobig!
　　andsodarkandcock-sure!Ishelikethat？’
　　Themanlookeddownthefrontofhisslenderwhitebody，andlaughed。
　　Betweentheslimbreaststhehairwasdark，almostblack。Butattherootofthebelly，wherethephallosrosethickandarching，itwasgold-red，vividinalittlecloud。
　　`Soproud!’shemurmured，uneasy。`Andsolordly!NowIknowwhymenaresooverbearing!Buthe’slovely，really。Likeanotherbeing!
　　Abitterrifying!Butlovelyreally!Andhecomestome!——’Shecaughtherlowerlipbetweenherteeth，infearandexcitement。
　　Themanlookeddowninsilenceatthetensephallos，thatdidnotchange——`Ay!’
　　hesaidatlast，inalittlevoice。`Aymalad!tha’retheerrightenough。
　　Yi，thamunrearthyhead!Theeronthyown，eh？an’ta’esnocountO’
　　nob’dy!Thama’esnowtO’me，JohnThomas。Artboss？ofme？Ehwell，tha’remorecockythanme，an’thasaysless。JohnThomas!Dostwanther？
　　DostwantmyladyJane？Tha’sdippedmeinagain，thahast。Ay，an’thacomesupsmilin’——Ax’erthen!AxladyJane!Say：Liftupyourheads，Oyegates，thatthekingofglorymaycomein。Ay，th’cheekonthee!
　　Cunt，that’swhattha’reafter。TellladyJanethawantscunt。JohnThomas，an’th’cuntO’ladyJane!——’
　　`Oh，don’tteasehim，’saidConnie，crawlingonherkneesonthebedtowardshimandputtingherarmsroundhiswhiteslenderloins，anddrawinghimtohersothatherhanging，swingingbreaststouchedthetipofthestirring，erectphallos，andcaughtthedropofmoisture。Sheheldthemanfast。
　　`Liedown!’hesaid。`Liedown!Letmecome!’Hewasinahurrynow。
　　Andafterwards，whentheyhadbeenquitestill，thewomanhadtouncoverthemanagain，tolookatthemysteryofthephallos。
　　`Andnowhe’stiny，andsoftlikealittlebudoflife!’shesaid，takingthesoftsmallpenisinherhand。`Isn’thesomehowlovely!soonhisown，sostrange!Andsoinnocent!Andhecomessofarintome!Youmustneverinsulthim，youknow。He’sminetoo。He’snotonlyyours。He’smine!Andsolovelyandinnocent!’Andsheheldthepenissoftinherhand。
　　Helaughed。
　　`Blestbethetiethatbindsourheartsinkindredlove，’hesaid。
　　`Ofcourse!’shesaid。`Evenwhenhe’ssoftandlittleIfeelmyheartsimplytiedtohim。Andhowlovelyyourhairishere!quite，quitedifferent!’
　　`That’sJohnThomas’shair，notmine!’hesaid。
　　`JohnThomas!JohnThomas!’andshequicklykissedthesoftpenis，thatwasbeginningtostiragain。
　　`Ay!’saidtheman，stretchinghisbodyalmostpainfully。`He’sgothisrootinmysoul，hasthatgentleman!An’sometimesIdon’knowwhatterdowi’him。Ay，he’sgotawillofhisown，an’it’shardtosuithim。
　　YetIwouldn’thavehimkilled。’
　　`Nowondermenhavealwaysbeenafraidofhim!’shesaid。`He’sratherterrible。’
　　Thequiverwasgoingthroughtheman’sbody，asthestreamofconsciousnessagainchangeditsdirection，turningdownwards。Andhewashelpless，asthepenisinslowsoftundulationsfilledandsurgedandroseup，andgrewhard，standingtherehardandoverweening，initscurioustoweringfashion。
　　Thewomantootrembledalittleasshewatched。
　　`There!Takehimthen!He’sthine，’saidtheman。
　　Andshequivered，andherownmindmeltedout。Sharpsoftwavesofunspeakablepleasurewashedoverherasheenteredher，andstartedthecuriousmoltenthrillingthatspreadandspreadtillshewascarriedawaywiththelast，blindflushofextremity。
　　HeheardthedistanthootersofStacksGateforseveno’clock。ItwasMondaymorning。Heshiveredalittle，andwithhisfacebetweenherbreastspressedhersoftbreastsupoverhisears，todeafenhim。
　　Shehadnotevenheardthehooters。Shelayperfectlystill，hersoulwashedtransparent。
　　`Youmustgetup，mustn’tyou？’hemuttered。
　　`Whattime？’camehercolourlessvoice。
　　`Seven-o’clockblowersabitsin’。’
　　`IsupposeImust。’
　　Shewasresentingasshealwaysdid，thecompulsionfromoutside。
　　Hesatupandlookedblanklyoutofthewindow。`Youdoloveme，don’tyou？’sheaskedcalmly。Helookeddownather。
　　`Thaknowswhatthaknows。Whatdostaxfor!’hesaid，alittlefretfully。
　　`Iwantyoutokeepme，nottoletmego，’shesaid。
　　Hiseyesseemedfullofawarm，softdarknessthatcouldnotthink。
　　`When？Now？’
　　`Nowinyourheart。ThenIwanttocomeandlivewithyou，always，soon。’
　　Hesatnakedonthebed，withhisheaddropped，unabletothink。
　　`Don’tyouwantit？’sheasked。
　　`Ay!’hesaid。
　　Thenwiththesameeyesdarkenedwithanotherflameofconsciousness，almostlikesleep，helookedather。
　　`Dunnaaxmenowtnow，’hesaid。`Letmebe。Ilikethee。Iluvtheewhenthaliestheer。Awoman’salovelythingwhen’er’sdeepterfuck，andcunt’sgood。Ahluvthee，thylegs，an’th’shapeonthee，an’th’
　　womannessonthee。Ahluvth’womannessonthee。Ahluvtheewi’mybasan’wi’myheart。Butdunnaaxmenowt。Dunnama’emesaynowt。LetmestopasIamwhileIcan。Thacanaxmeiverythingafter。Nowletmebe，letmebe!’
　　Andsoftly，helaidhishandoverhermoundofVenus，onthesoftbrownmaiden-hair，andhimself-satstillandnakedonthebed，hisfacemotionlessinphysicalabstraction，almostlikethefaceofBuddha。Motionless，andintheinvisibleflameofanotherconsciousness，hesatwithhishandonher，andwaitedfortheturn。
　　Afterawhile，hereachedforhisshirtandputiton，dressedhimselfswiftlyinsilence，lookedatheronceasshestilllaynakedandfaintlygoldenlikeaGloiredeDijonroseonthebed，andwasgone。Sheheardhimdownstairsopeningthedoor。
　　Andstillshelaymusing，musing。Itwasveryhardtogo：togooutofhisarms。Hecalledfromthefootofthestairs：`Halfpastseven!’
　　Shesighed，andgotoutofbed。Thebarelittleroom!Nothinginitatallbutthesmallchestofdrawersandthesmallishbed。Buttheboardfloorwasscrubbedclean。Andinthecornerbythewindowgablewasashelfwithsomebooks，andsomefromacirculatinglibrary。Shelooked。TherewerebooksaboutBolshevistRussia，booksoftravel，avolumeabouttheatomandtheelectron，anotheraboutthecompositionoftheearth’score，andthecausesofearthquakes：thenafewnovels：thenthreebooksonIndia。
　　So!Hewasareaderafterall。
　　Thesunfellonhernakedlimbsthroughthegablewindow。OutsideshesawthedogFlossieroaminground。Thehazel-brakewasmistedwithgreen，anddark-greendogs-mercuryunder。Itwasaclearcleanmorningwithbirdsflyingandtriumphantlysinging。Ifonlyshecouldstay!Ifonlythereweren’ttheotherghastlyworldofsmokeandiron!Ifonlyhewouldmakeheraworld。
　　Shecamedownstairs，downthesteep，narrowwoodenstairs。Stillshewouldbecontentwiththislittlehouse，ifonlyitwereinaworldofitsown。
　　Hewaswashedandfresh，andthefirewasburning。`Willyoueatanything？’
　　hesaid。
　　`No!Onlylendmeacomb。’
　　Shefollowedhimintothescullery，andcombedherhairbeforethehandbreadthofmirrorbythebackdoor。Thenshewasreadytogo。
　　Shestoodinthelittlefrontgarden，lookingatthedewyflowers，thegreybedofpinksinbudalready。
　　`Iwouldliketohavealltherestoftheworlddisappear，’shesaid，`andlivewithyouhere。’
　　`Itwon’tdisappear，’hesaid。
　　Theywentalmostinsilencethroughthelovelydewywood。Buttheyweretogetherinaworldoftheirown。
　　ItwasbittertohertogoontoWragby。
　　`Iwantsoontocomeandlivewithyoualtogether，’shesaidasshelefthim。
　　Hesmiled，unanswering。
　　Shegothomequietlyandunremarked，andwentuptoherroom。
　　Chapter15
　　TherewasaletterfromHildaonthebreakfast-tray。`FatherisgoingtoLondonthisweek，andIshallcallforyouonThursdayweek，June17th。
　　Youmustbereadysothatwecangoatonce。Idon’twanttowastetimeatWragby，it’sanawfulplace。IshallprobablystaythenightatRetfordwiththeColemans，soIshouldbewithyouforlunch，Thursday。Thenwecouldstartatteatime，andsleepperhapsinGrantham。ItisnouseourspendinganeveningwithClifford。Ifhehatesyourgoing，itwouldbenopleasuretohim。’
　　So!Shewasbeingpushedroundonthechess-boardagain。
　　Cliffordhatedhergoing，butitwasonlybecausehedidn’tfeelsafeinherabsence。Herpresence，forsomereason，madehimfeelsafe，andfreetodothethingshewasoccupiedwith。Hewasagreatdealatthepits，andwrestlinginspiritwiththealmosthopelessproblemsofgettingouthiscoalinthemosteconomicalfashionandthensellingitwhenhe’dgotitout。Heknewheoughttofindsomewayofusingit，orconvertingit，sothatheneedn’tsellit，orneedn’thavethechagrinoffailingtosellit。Butifhemadeelectricpower，couldhesellthatoruseit？