`BecausewhenIfeelthehumanworldisdoomed，hasdoomeditselfbyitsownmingybeastliness，thenIfeeltheColoniesaren’tfarenough。
　　Themoonwouldn’tbefarenough，becauseeventhereyoucouldlookbackandseetheearth，dirty，beastly，unsavouryamongallthestars：madefoulbymen。ThenIfeelI’veswallowedgall，andit’seatingmyinsideout，andnowhere’sfarenoughawaytogetaway。ButwhenIgetaturn，Iforgetitallagain。Thoughit’sashame，what’sbeendonetopeopletheselasthundredyears：menturnedintonothingbutlabour-insects，andalltheirmanhoodtakenaway，andalltheirreallife。I’dwipethemachinesoffthefaceoftheearthagain，andendtheindustrialepochabsolutely，likeablackmistake。ButsinceIcan’t，an’nobodycan，I’dbetterholdmypeace，an’tryan’livemyownlife：ifI’vegotonetolive，whichIratherdoubt。’
　　Thethunderhadceasedoutside，buttherainwhichhadabated，suddenlycamestrikingdown，withalastblenchoflightningandmutterofdepartingstorm。Conniewasuneasy。Hehadtalkedsolongnow，andhewasreallytalkingtohimselfnottoher。Despairseemedtocomedownonhimcompletely，andshewasfeelinghappy，shehateddespair。Sheknewherleavinghim，whichhehadonlyjustrealizedinsidehimselfhadplungedhimbackintothismood。Andshetriumphedalittle。
　　Sheopenedthedoorandlookedatthestraightheavyrain，likeasteelcurtain，andhadasuddendesiretorushoutintoit，torushaway。Shegotup，andbeganswiftlypullingoffherstockings，thenherdressandunderclothing，andheheldhisbreath。Herpointedkeenanimalbreaststippedandstirredasshemoved。Shewasivory-colouredinthegreenishlight。Sheslippedonherrubbershoesagainandranoutwithawildlittlelaugh，holdingupherbreaststotheheavyrainandspreadingherarms，andrunningblurredintherainwiththeeurhythmicdancemovementsshehadlearnedsolongagoinDresden。Itwasastrangepallidfigureliftingandfalling，bendingsotherainbeatandglistenedonthefullhaunches，swayingupagainandcomingbelly-forwardthroughtherain，thenstoopingagainsothatonlythefullloinsandbuttockswereofferedinakindofhomagetowardshim，repeatingawildobeisance。
　　Helaughedwryly，andthrewoffhisclothes。Itwastoomuch。Hejumpedout，nakedandwhite，withalittleshiver，intothehardslantingrain。
　　Flossiesprangbeforehimwithafranticlittlebark。Connie，herhairallwetandstickingtoherhead，turnedherhotfaceandsawhim。Herblueeyesblazedwithexcitementassheturnedandranfast，withastrangechargingmovement，outoftheclearinganddownthepath，thewetboughswhippingher。Sheran，andhesawnothingbuttheroundwethead，thewetbackleaningforwardinflight，theroundedbuttockstwinkling：awonderfulcoweringfemalenakednessinflight。
　　Shewasnearlyatthewideridingwhenhecameupandflunghisnakedarmroundhersoft，naked-wetmiddle。Shegaveashriekandstraightenedherselfandtheheapofhersoft，chillfleshcameupagainsthisbody。
　　Hepresseditallupagainsthim，madly，theheapofsoft，chilledfemalefleshthatbecamequicklywarmasflame，incontact。Therainstreamedonthemtilltheysmoked。Hegatheredherlovely，heavyposteriorsoneineachhandandpressedthemintowardshiminafrenzy，quiveringmotionlessintherain。Thensuddenlyhetippedherupandfellwithheronthepath，intheroaringsilenceoftherain，andshortandsharp，hetookher，shortandsharpandfinished，likeananimal。
　　Hegotupinaninstant，wipingtherainfromhiseyes。
　　`Comein，’hesaid，andtheystartedrunningbacktothehut。Heranstraightandswift：hedidn’tliketherain。Butshecameslower，gatheringforget-me-notsandcampionandbluebells，runningafewstepsandwatchinghimfleeingawayfromher。
　　Whenshecamewithherflowers，pantingtothehut，hehadalreadystartedafire，andthetwigswerecrackling。Hersharpbreastsroseandfell，herhairwasplastereddownwithrain，herfacewasflushedruddyandherbodyglistenedandtrickled。Wide-eyedandbreathless，withasmallwetheadandfull，trickling，naï；vehaunches，shelookedanothercreature。
　　Hetooktheoldsheetandrubbedherdown，shestandinglikeachild。
　　Thenherubbedhimselfhavingshutthedoorofthehut。Thefirewasblazingup。Sheduckedherheadintheotherendofthesheet，andrubbedherwethair。
　　`We’redryingourselvestogetheronthesametowel，weshallquarrel!’
　　hesaid。
　　Shelookedupforamoment，herhairalloddsandends。
　　`No!’shesaid，hereyeswide。`It’snotatowel，it’sasheet。’Andshewentonbusilyrubbingherhead，whilehebusilyrubbedhis。
　　Stillpantingwiththeirexertions，eachwrappedinanarmyblanket，butthefrontofthebodyopentothefire，theysatonalogsidebysidebeforetheblaze，togetquiet。Conniehatedthefeeloftheblanketagainstherskin。Butnowthesheetwasallwet。
　　Shedroppedherblanketandkneeledontheclayhearth，holdingherheadtothefire，andshakingherhairtodryit。Hewatchedthebeautifulcurvingdropofherhaunches。Thatfascinatedhimtoday。Howitslopedwitharichdown-slopetotheheavyroundnessofherbuttocks!Andinbetween，foldedinthesecretwarmth，thesecretentrances!
　　Hestrokedhertailwithhishand，longandsubtlytakinginthecurvesandtheglobe-fullness。
　　`Tha’sgotsuchanicetailonthee，’hesaid，inthethroatycaressivedialect。`Tha’sgotthenicestarseofanybody。It’sthenicest，nicestwoman’sarseasis!An’iverybitofitiswoman，womansureasnuts。Tha’rtnotoneo’thembutton-arsedlassesasshouldbelads，areter!Tha’sgotarealsoftslopingbottomonthee，asamanlovesin’isguts。It’sabottomascouldholdtheworldup，itis!’
　　Allthewhilehespokeheexquisitelystrokedtheroundedtail，tillitseemedasifaslipperysortoffirecamefromitintohishands。Andhisfinger-tipstouchedthetwosecretopeningstoherbody，timeaftertime，withasoftlittlebrushoffire。
　　`An’ifthashitsan’ifthapisses，I’mglad。Idon’twantawomanascouldnashitnorpiss。’
　　Conniecouldnothelpasuddensnortofastonishedlaughter，buthewentonunmoved。
　　`Tha’rtreal，thaart!Tha’artreal，evenabitofabitch。Herethashitsan’herethapisses：an’Ilaymyhandon’embothan’liketheeforit。Iliketheeforit。Tha’sgotaproper，woman’sarse，proudofitself。It’snoneashamedofitselfthisisna。’
　　Helaidhishandcloseandfirmoverhersecretplaces，inakindofclosegreeting。
　　`Ilikeit，’hesaid。`Ilikeit!An’ifIonlylivedtenminutes，an’
　　strokedthyarsean’gottoknowit，IshouldreckonI’dlivedonelife，seeter!Industrialsystemornot!Here’soneo’mylifetimes。’
　　Sheturnedroundandclimbedintohislap，clingingtohim。`Kissme!’
　　shewhispered。
　　Andsheknewthethoughtoftheirseparationwaslatentinboththeirminds，andatlastshewassad。
　　Shesatonhisthighs，herheadagainsthisbreast，andherivory-gleaminglegslooselyapart，thefireglowingunequallyuponthem。Sittingwithhisheaddropped，helookedatthefoldsofherbodyinthefire-glow，andatthefleeceofsoftbrownhairthathungdowntoapointbetweenheropenthighs。Hereachedtothetablebehind，andtookupherbunchofflowers，stillsowetthatdropsofrainfellontoher。
　　`Flowersstopsoutofdoorsallweathers，’hesaid。`Theyhavenohouses。’
　　`Notevenahut!’shemurmured。
　　Withquietfingershethreadedafewforget-me-notflowersinthefinebrownfleeceofthemoundofVenus。
　　`There!’hesaid。`There’sforget-me-notsintherightplace!’
　　Shelookeddownatthemilkyoddlittleflowersamongthebrownmaiden-hairatthelowertipofherbody。
　　`Doesn’titlookpretty!’shesaid。
　　`Prettyaslife，’hereplied。
　　Andhestuckapinkcampion-budamongthehair。
　　`There!That’smewhereyouwon’tforgetme!That’sMosesinthebull-rushes。’
　　`Youdon’tmind，doyou，thatI’mgoingaway？’sheaskedwistfully，lookingupintohisface。
　　Buthisfacewasinscrutable，undertheheavybrows。Hekeptitquiteblank。
　　`Youdoasyouwish，’hesaid。
　　AndhespokeingoodEnglish。
　　`ButIwon’tgoifyoudon’twishit，’shesaid，clingingtohim。
　　Therewassilence。Heleanedandputanotherpieceofwoodonthefire。
　　Theflameglowedonhissilent，abstractedface。Shewaited，buthesaidnothing。
　　`OnlyIthoughtitwouldbeagoodwaytobeginabreakwithClifford。
　　Idowantachild。Anditwouldgivemeachanceto，to——，’sheresumed。
　　`Toletthemthinkafewlies，’hesaid。
　　`Yes，thatamongotherthings。Doyouwantthemtothinkthetruth？’
　　`Idon’tcarewhattheythink。’
　　`Ido!Idon’twantthemhandlingmewiththeirunpleasantcoldminds，notwhileI’mstillatWragby。TheycanthinkwhattheylikewhenI’mfinallygone。’
　　Hewassilent。
　　`ButSirCliffordexpectsyoutocomebacktohim？’
　　`Oh，Imustcomeback，’shesaid：andtherewassilence。
　　`AndwouldyouhaveachildinWragby？’heasked。
　　Sheclosedherarmroundhisneck。
　　`Ifyouwouldn’ttakemeaway，Ishouldhaveto，’shesaid。
　　`Takeyouwhereto？’
　　`Anywhere!away!ButrightawayfromWragby。’
　　`When？’
　　`Why，whenIcomeback。’
　　`Butwhat’sthegoodofcomingback，doingthethingtwice，ifyou’reoncegone？’hesaid。
　　`Oh，Imustcomeback。I’vepromised!I’vepromisedsofaithfully。Besides，Icomebacktoyou，really。’
　　`Toyourhusband’sgame-keeper？’
　　`Idon’tseethatthatmatters，’shesaid。
　　`No？’Hemusedawhile。`Andwhenwouldyouthinkofgoingawayagain，then；finally？Whenexactly？’
　　`Oh，Idon’tknow。I’dcomebackfromVenice。Andthenwe’dprepareeverything。’
　　`Howprepare？’
　　`Oh，I’dtellClifford。I’dhavetotellhim。’
　　`Wouldyou!’
　　Heremainedsilent。Sheputherarmsroundhisneck。
　　`Don’tmakeitdifficultforme，’shepleaded。
　　`Makewhatdifficult？’
　　`FormetogotoVeniceandarrangethings。’
　　Alittlesmile，halfagrin，flickeredonhisface。
　　`Idon’tmakeitdifficult，’hesaid。`Ionlywanttofindoutjustwhatyouareafter。Butyoudon’treallyknowyourself。Youwanttotaketime：getawayandlookatit。Idon’tblameyou。Ithinkyou’rewise。
　　YoumayprefertostaymistressofWragby。Idon’tblameyou。I’venoWragbystooffer。Infact，youknowwhatyou’llgetoutofme。No，no，Ithinkyou’reright!Ireallydo!AndI’mnotkeenoncomingtoliveonyou，beingkeptbyyou。There’sthattoo。’
　　Shefeltsomehowasifheweregivinghertitfortat。
　　`Butyouwantme，don’tyou？’sheasked。
　　`Doyouwantme？’
　　`YouknowIdo。That’sevident。’
　　`Quite!Andwhendoyouwantme？’
　　`YouknowwecanarrangeitallwhenIcomeback。NowI’moutofbreathwithyou。Imustgetcalmandclear。’
　　`Quite!Getcalmandclear!’
　　Shewasalittleoffended。
　　`Butyoutrustme，don’tyou？’shesaid。
　　`Oh，absolutely!’
　　Sheheardthemockeryinhistone。
　　`Tellmethen，’shesaidflatly；`doyouthinkitwouldbebetterifIdon’tgotoVenice？’
　　`I’msureit’sbetterifyoudogotoVenice，’herepliedinthecool，slightlymockingvoice。
　　`Youknowit’snextThursday？’shesaid。
　　`Yes!’
　　Shenowbegantomuse。Atlastshesaid：
　　`AndweshallknowbetterwherewearewhenIcomeback，shan’twe？’
　　`Ohsurely!’
　　Thecuriousgulfofsilencebetweenthem!
　　`I’vebeentothelawyeraboutmydivorce，’hesaid，alittleconstrainedly。
　　Shegaveaslightshudder。
　　`Haveyou!’shesaid。`Andwhatdidhesay？’
　　`HesaidIoughttohavedoneitbefore；thatmaybeadifficulty。ButsinceIwasinthearmy，hethinksitwillgothroughallright。Ifonlyitdoesn’tbringherdownonmyhead!’
　　`Willshehavetoknow？’
　　`Yes!sheisservedwithanotice：soisthemansheliveswith，theco-respondent。’
　　`Isn’tithateful，alltheperformances!IsupposeI’dhavetogothroughitwithClifford。’
　　Therewasasilence。
　　`Andofcourse，’hesaid，`Ihavetoliveanexemplarylifeforthenextsixoreightmonths。SoifyougotoVenice，there’stemptationremovedforaweekortwo，atleast。’
　　`AmItemptation!’shesaid，strokinghisface。`I’msogladI’mtemptationtoyou!Don’tlet’sthinkaboutit!Youfrightenmewhenyoustartthinking：
　　yourollmeoutflat。Don’tlet’sthinkaboutit。Wecanthinksomuchwhenweareapart。That’sthewholepoint!I’vebeenthinking，ImustcometoyouforanothernightbeforeIgo。Imustcomeoncemoretothecottage。ShallIcomeonThursdaynight？’
　　`Isn’tthatwhenyoursisterwillbethere？’
　　`Yes!Butshesaidwewouldstartattea-time。Sowecouldstartattea-time。ButshecouldsleepsomewhereelseandIcouldsleepwithyou。
　　`Butthenshe’dhavetoknow。’
　　`Oh，Ishalltellher。I’vemoreorlesstoldheralready。ImusttalkitalloverwithHilda。She’sagreathelp，sosensible。’
　　Hewasthinkingofherplan。
　　`Soyou’dstartofffromWragbyattea-time，asifyouweregoingtoLondon？Whichwaywereyougoing？’
　　`ByNottinghamandGrantham。’
　　`Andthenyoursisterwoulddropyousomewhereandyou’dwalkordrivebackhere？Soundsveryrisky，tome。’
　　`Doesit？Well，then，Hildacouldbringmeback。ShecouldsleepatMansfield，andbringmebackhereintheevening，andfetchmeagaininthemorning。It’squiteeasy。’