Andtoconvertintooilwasasyettoocostlyandtooelaborate。Tokeepindustryalivetheremustbemoreindustry，likeamadness。
　　Itwasamadness，anditrequiredamadmantosucceedinit。Well，hewasalittlemad。Conniethoughtso。Hisveryintensityandacumenintheaffairsofthepitsseemedlikeamanifestationofmadnesstoher，hisveryinspirationsweretheinspirationsofinsanity。
　　Hetalkedtoherofallhisseriousschemes，andshelistenedinakindofwonder，andlethimtalk。Thentheflowceased，andheturnedontheloudspeaker，andbecameablank，whileapparentlyhisschemescoiledoninsidehimlikeakindofdream。
　　Andeverynightnowheplayedpontoon，thatgameoftheTommies，withMrsBolton，gamblingwithsixpences。Andagain，inthegamblinghewasgoneinakindofunconsciousness，orblankintoxication，orintoxicationofblankness，whateveritwas。Conniecouldnotbeartoseehim。Butwhenshehadgonetobed，heandMrsBoltonwouldgambleontilltwoandthreeinthemorning，safely，andwithstrangelust。MrsBoltonwascaughtinthelustasmuchasClifford：themoreso，asshenearlyalwayslost。
　　ShetoldConnieoneday：`Ilosttwenty-threeshillingstoSirCliffordlastnight。’
　　`Anddidhetakethemoneyfromyou？’askedConnieaghast。
　　`Whyofcourse，myLady!Debtofhonour!’
　　Connieexpostulatedroundly，andwasangrywithbothofthem。Theupshotwas，SirCliffordraisedMrsBolton’swagesahundredayear，andshecouldgambleonthat。Meanwhile，itseemedtoConnie，Cliffordwasreallygoingdeader。
　　Shetoldhimatlengthshewasleavingontheseventeenth。
　　`Seventeenth!’hesaid。`Andwhenwillyoubeback？’
　　`BythetwentiethofJulyatthelatest。’
　　`Yes!thetwentiethofJuly。’
　　Strangelyandblanklyhelookedather，withthevaguenessofachild，butwiththequeerblankcunningofanoldman。
　　`Youwon’tletmedown，now，willyou？’hesaid。
　　`How？’
　　`Whileyou’reaway，Imean，you’resuretocomeback？’
　　`I’massureasIcanbeofanything，thatIshallcomeback。’
　　`Yes!Well!TwentiethofJuly!’
　　Helookedathersostrangely。
　　Yethereallywantedhertogo。Thatwassocurious。Hewantedhertogo，positively，tohaveherlittleadventuresandperhapscomehomepregnant，andallthat。Atthesametime，hewasafraidofhergoing。
　　Shewasquivering，watchingherrealopportunityforleavinghimaltogether，waitingtillthetime，herselfhimselfshouldberipe。
　　Shesatandtalkedtothekeeperofhergoingabroad。
　　`AndthenwhenIcomeback，’shesaid，`IcantellCliffordImustleavehim。AndyouandIcangoaway。Theyneverneedevenknowitisyou。Wecangotoanothercountry，shallwe？ToAfricaorAustralia。Shallwe？’
　　Shewasquitethrilledbyherplan。
　　`You’veneverbeentotheColonies，haveyou？’heaskedher。
　　`No!Haveyou？’
　　`I’vebeeninIndia，andSouthAfrica，andEgypt。’
　　`Whyshouldn’twegotoSouthAfrica？’
　　`Wemight!’hesaidslowly。
　　`Ordon’tyouwantto？’sheasked。
　　`Idon’tcare。Idon’tmuchcarewhatIdo。’
　　`Doesn’titmakeyouhappy？Whynot？Weshan’tbepoor。Ihaveaboutsixhundredayear，Iwroteandasked。It’snotmuch，butit’senough，isn’tit？’
　　`It’srichestome。’
　　`Oh，howlovelyitwillbe!’
　　`ButIoughttogetdivorced，andsooughtyou，unlesswe’regoingtohavecomplications。’
　　Therewasplentytothinkabout。
　　Anotherdaysheaskedhimabouthimself。Theywereinthehut，andtherewasathunderstorm。
　　`Andweren’tyouhappy，whenyouwerealieutenantandanofficerandagentleman？’
　　`Happy？Allright。IlikedmyColonel。’
　　`Didyoulovehim？’
　　`Yes!Ilovedhim。’
　　`Anddidheloveyou？’
　　`Yes!Inaway，helovedme。’
　　`Tellmeabouthim。’
　　`Whatistheretotell？Hehadrisenfromtheranks。Helovedthearmy。
　　Andhehadnevermarried。Hewastwentyyearsolderthanme。Hewasaveryintelligentman：andaloneinthearmy，assuchamanis：apassionatemaninhisway：andaverycleverofficer。IlivedunderhisspellwhileIwaswithhim。Isortoflethimrunmylife。AndIneverregretit。’
　　`Anddidyoumindverymuchwhenhedied？’
　　`Iwasasneardeathmyself。ButwhenIcameto，Iknewanotherpartofmewasfinished。ButthenIhadalwaysknownitwouldfinishindeath。
　　Allthingsdo，asfarasthatgoes。’
　　Shesatandruminated。Thethundercrashedoutside。ItwaslikebeinginalittlearkintheFlood。
　　`Youseemtohavesuchalotbehindyou，’shesaid。
　　`DoI？ItseemstomeI’vediedonceortwicealready。YethereIam，peggingon，andinformoretrouble。’
　　Shewasthinkinghard，yetlisteningtothestorm。
　　`Andweren’tyouhappyasanofficerandagentleman，whenyourColonelwasdead？’
　　`No!Theywereamingylot。’Helaughedsuddenly。`TheColonelusedtosay：Lad，theEnglishmiddleclasseshavetocheweverymouthfulthirtytimesbecausetheirgutsaresonarrow，abitasbigasapeawouldgivethemastoppage。They’rethemingiestsetofladylikesnipeeverinvented：
　　fullofconceitofthemselves，frightenedeveniftheirboot-lacesaren’tcorrect，rottenashighgame，andalwaysintheright。That’swhatfinishesmeup。Kow-tow，kow-tow，arse-lickingtilltheirtonguesaretough：yetthey’realwaysintheright。Prigsontopofeverything。Prigs!Agenerationofladylikeprigswithhalfaballeach——’
　　Connielaughed。Therainwasrushingdown。
　　`Hehatedthem!’
　　`No，’saidhe。`Hedidn’tbother。Hejustdislikedthem。There’sadifference。
　　Because，ashesaid，theTommiesaregettingjustaspriggishandhalf-balledandnarrow-gutted。It’sthefateofmankind，togothatway。’
　　`Thecommonpeopletoo，theworkingpeople？’
　　`Allthelot。Theirspunkisgonedead。Motor-carsandcinemasandaeroplanessuckthatlastbitoutofthem。Itellyou，everygenerationbreedsamorerabbitygeneration，withindiarubbertubingforgutsandtinlegsandtinfaces。Tinpeople!It’sallasteadysortofbolshevismjustkillingoffthehumanthing，andworshippingthemechanicalthing。Money，money，money!Allthemodernlotgettheirrealkickoutofkillingtheoldhumanfeelingoutofman，makingmincemeatoftheoldAdamandtheoldEve。They’reallalike。Theworldisallalike：killoffthehumanreality，aquidforeveryforeskin，twoquidforeachpairofballs。Whatiscuntbutmachine-fucking!——It’sallalike。Pay’emmoneytocutofftheworld’scock。Paymoney，money，moneytothemthatwilltakespunkoutofmankind，andleave’emalllittletwiddlingmachines。’
　　Hesatthereinthehut，hisfacepulledtomockingirony。Yeteventhen，hehadoneearsetbackwards，listeningtothestormoverthewood。
　　Itmadehimfeelsoalone。
　　`Butwon’titevercometoanend？’shesaid。
　　`Ay，itwill。It’llachieveitsownsalvation。Whenthelastrealmaniskilled，andthey’realltame：white，black，yellow，allcoloursoftameones：thenthey’llallbeinsane。Becausetherootofsanityisintheballs。Thenthey’llallbeinsane，andthey’llmaketheirgrand~autodafe。Youknowautodafemeansactoffaith？Ay，well，they’llmaketheirowngrandlittleactoffaith。They’llofferoneanotherup。’
　　`Youmeankilloneanother？’
　　`Ido，duckie!Ifwegoonatourpresentratetheninahundredyears’
　　timetherewon’tbetenthousandpeopleinthisisland：theremaynotbeten。They’llhavelovinglywipedeachotherout。Thethunderwasrollingfurtheraway。
　　`Hownice!’shesaid。
　　`Quitenice!Tocontemplatetheexterminationofthehumanspeciesandthelongpausethatfollowsbeforesomeotherspeciescropsup，itcalmsyoumorethananythingelse。Andifwegooninthisway，witheverybody，intellectuals，artists，government，industrialistsandworkersallfranticallykillingoffthelasthumanfeeling，thelastbitoftheirintuition，thelasthealthyinstinct；ifitgoesoninalgebraicalprogression，asitisgoingon：thenta-tah!tothehumanspecies!Goodbye!darling!theserpentswallowsitselfandleavesavoid，considerablymessedup，butnothopeless。
　　Verynice!WhensavagewilddogsbarkinWragby，andsavagewildpit-poniesstamponTevershallpit-bank!tedeumlaudamus!’
　　Connielaughed，butnotveryhappily。
　　`Thenyououghttobepleasedthattheyareallbolshevists，’shesaid。
　　`Yououghttobepleasedthattheyhurryontowardstheend。’
　　`SoIam。Idon’tstop’em。BecauseIcouldn’tifIwould。’
　　`Thenwhyareyousobitter？’
　　`I’mnot!Ifmycockgivesitslastcrow，Idon’tmind。’
　　`Butifyouhaveachild？’shesaid。
　　Hedroppedhishead。
　　`Why，’hesaidatlast。`Itseemstomeawrongandbitterthingtodo，tobringachildintothisworld。’
　　`No!Don’tsayit!Don’tsayit!’shepleaded。`IthinkI’mgoingtohaveone。Sayyou’llhepleased。’Shelaidherhandonhis。
　　`I’mpleasedforyoutobepleased，’hesaid。`Butformeitseemsaghastlytreacherytotheunborncreature。
　　`Ahno!’shesaid，shocked。`Thenyoucan’teverreallywantme!Youcan’twantme，ifyoufeelthat!’
　　Againhewassilent，hisfacesullen。Outsidetherewasonlythethreshingoftherain。
　　`It’snotquitetrue!’shewhispered。`It’snotquitetrue!There’sanothertruth。’Shefelthewasbitternowpartlybecauseshewasleavinghim，deliberatelygoingawaytoVenice。Andthishalfpleasedher。
　　Shepulledopenhisclothinganduncoveredhisbelly，andkissedhisnavel。Thenshelaidhercheekonhisbellyandpressedherarmroundhiswarm，silentloins。Theywerealoneintheflood。
　　`Tellmeyouwantachild，inhope!’shemurmured，pressingherfaceagainsthisbelly。`Tellmeyoudo!’
　　`Why!’hesaidatlast：andshefeltthecuriousquiverofchangingconsciousnessandrelaxationgoingthroughhisbody。`WhyI’vethoughtsometimesifonebuttried，hereamongth’collierseven!They’reworkin’
　　badnow，an’notearnin’much。Ifamancouldsayto’em：Dunnathinko’
　　nowtbutth’money。Whenitcomesterwants，wewantbutlittle。
　　Let’snotliveformoney——’
　　Shesoftlyrubbedhercheekonhisbelly，andgatheredhisballsinherhand。Thepenisstirredsoftly，withstrangelife，butdidnotriseup。Therainbeatbruisinglyoutside。
　　`Let’sliveforsummatelse。Let’snotlivetermakemoney，neitherforus-selvesnorforanybodyelse。Nowwe’reforcedto。We’reforcedtomakeabitforus-selves，an’afairlotforth’bosses。Let’sstopit!
　　Bitbybit，let’sstopit。Weneedn’trantan’rave。Bitbybit，let’sdropthewholeindustriallifean’goback。Theleastlittlebito’money’lldo。Foreverybody，mean’you，bossesan’masters，eventh’king。Theleastlittlebito’money’llreallydo。Justmakeupyourmindtoit，an’you’vegotouto’th’mess。’Hepaused，thenwenton：
　　`An’I’dtell’em：Look!LookatJoe!Hemoveslovely!Lookhowhemoves，aliveandaware。He’sbeautiful!An’lookatJonah!He’sclumsy，he’sugly，becausehe’sniverwillin’torousehimselfI’dtell’em：Look!lookatyourselves!oneshoulderhigherthant’other，legstwisted，feetalllumps!
　　Whathaveyerdoneteryerselves，wi’theblastedwork？Spoiltyerselves。
　　Noneedtoworkthatmuch。Takeyerclothesoffan’lookatyourselves。
　　Yeroughtterbealivean’beautiful，an’yeruglyan’halfdead。SoI’dtell’em。An’I’dgetmymentoweardifferentclothes：appencloseredtrousers，brightred，an’littleshortwhitejackets。Why，ifmenhadred，finelegs，thatalonewouldchangetheminamonth。They’dbegintobemenagain，tobemen!An’thewomencoulddressastheyliked。Becauseifoncethemenwalkedwithlegsclosebrightscarlet，andbuttocksniceandshowingscarletunderalittlewhitejacket：thenthewomen’udbegintobewomen。It’sbecauseth’menaren’tmen，thatth’womenhavetobe——An’intimepulldownTevershallandbuildafewbeautifulbuildings，thatwouldholdusall。An’cleanthecountryupagain。An’nothavemanychildren，becausetheworldisovercrowded。
　　`ButIwouldn’tpreachtothemen：onlystrip’eman’say：Lookatyourselves!
　　That’sworkin’formoney!——Harkatyourselves!That’sworkingformoney。
　　You’vebeenworkingformoney!LookatTevershall!It’shorrible。That’sbecauseitwasbuiltwhileyouwasworkingformoney。Lookatyourgirls!
　　Theydon’tcareaboutyou，youdon’tcareaboutthem。It’sbecauseyou’vespentyourtimeworkingan’caringformoney。Youcan’ttalknormovenorlive，youcan’tproperlybewithawoman。You’renotalive。Lookatyourselves!’
　　Therefellacompletesilence。Conniewashalflistening，andthreadinginthehairattherootofhisbellyafewforget-me-notsthatshehadgatheredonthewaytothehut。Outside，theworldhadgonestill，andalittleicy。
　　`You’vegotfourkindsofhair，’shesaidtohim。`Onyourchestit’snearlyblack，andyourhairisn’tdarkonyourhead：butyourmoustacheishardanddarkred，andyourhairhere，yourlove-hair，islikealittlebrushofbrightred-goldmistletoe。It’stheloveliestofall!’
　　Helookeddownandsawthemilkybitsofforget-me-notsinthehaironhisgroin。
　　`Ay!That’swheretoputforget-me-nots，intheman-hair，orthemaiden-hair。
　　Butdon’tyoucareaboutthefuture？’
　　Shelookedupathim。
　　`Oh，Ido，terribly!’shesaid。