`Hue！Hi—eee！\'cameasuddenloudshoutfromtheedgeofthegrove。
Thecattlebrokeandfellbackquitespontaneously，wentrunningupthehill，theirfleecewavinglikefiretotheirmotion。Gudrunstoodsuspendedoutonthegrass，Ursularosetoherfeet。
ItwasGeraldandBirkincometofindthem，andGeraldhadcriedouttofrightenoffthecattle。
`Whatdoyouthinkyou\'redoing？\'henowcalled，inahigh，wonderingvexedtone。
`Whyhaveyoucome？\'camebackGudrun\'sstridentcryofanger。
`Whatdoyouthinkyouweredoing？\'Geraldrepeated，auto—matically。
`Weweredoingeurythmics，\'laughedUrsula，inashakenvoice。
Gudrunstoodalooflookingatthemwithlargedarkeyesofresentment，suspendedforafewmoments。Thenshewalkedawayupthehill，afterthecattle，whichhadgatheredinalittle，spell—boundclusterhigherup。
`Whereareyougoing？\'Geraldcalledafterher。Andhefollowedherupthehill—side。Thesunhadgonebehindthehill，andshadowswereclingingtotheearth，theskyabovewasfulloftravellinglight。
`Apoorsongforadance，\'saidBirkintoUrsula，standingbeforeherwithasardonic，flickeringlaughonhisface。Andinanothersecond，hewassingingsoftlytohimself，anddancingagrotesquestep—danceinfrontofher，hislimbsandbodyshakingloose，hisfaceflickeringpalely，aconstantthing，whilsthisfeetbeatarapidmockingtattoo，andhisbodyseemedtohangalllooseandquakinginbetween，likeashadow。
`Ithinkwe\'veallgonemad，\'shesaid，laughingratherfrightened。
`Pitywearen\'tmadder，\'heanswered，ashekeptuptheincessantshakingdance。Thensuddenlyheleaneduptoherandkissedherfingerslightly，puttinghisfacetohersandlookingintohereyeswithapalegrin。Shesteppedback，affronted。
`Offended——？\'heaskedironically，suddenlygoingquitestillandreservedagain。`Ithoughtyoulikedthelightfantastic。\'
`Notlikethat，\'shesaid，confusedandbewildered，almostaffronted。
Yetsomewhereinsidehershewasfascinatedbythesightofhisloose，vibratingbody，perfectlyabandonedtoitsowndroppingandswinging，andbythepallid，sardonic—smilingfaceabove。Yetautomaticallyshestiffenedherselfaway，anddisapproved。Itseemedalmostanobscenity，inamanwhotalkedasarulesoveryseriously。
`Whynotlikethat？\'hemocked。Andimmediatelyhedroppedagainintotheincrediblyrapid，slack—wagglingdance，watchinghermalevolently。
Andmovingintherapid，stationarydance，hecamealittlenearer，andreachedforwardwithanincrediblymocking，satiricgleamonhisface，andwouldhavekissedheragain，hadshenotstartedback。
`No，don\'t！\'shecried，reallyafraid。
`Cordeliaafterall，\'hesaidsatirically。Shewasstung，asifthiswereaninsult。Sheknewheintendeditassuch，anditbewilderedher。
`Andyou，\'shecriedinretort，`whydoyoualwaystakeyoursoulinyourmouth，sofrightfullyfull？\'
`SothatIcanspititoutthemorereadily，\'hesaid，pleasedbyhisownretort。
GeraldCrich，hisfacenarrowingtoanintentgleam，followedupthehillwithquickstrides，straightafterGudrun。Thecattlestoodwiththeirnosestogetheronthebrowofaslope，watchingthescenebelow，themeninwhitehoveringaboutthewhiteformsofthewomen，watchingaboveallGudrun，whowasadvancingslowlytowardsthem。Shestoodamoment，glancingbackatGerald，andthenatthecattle。
Theninasuddenmotion，sheliftedherarmsandrushedsheeruponthelong—hornedbullocks，inshudderingirregularruns，pausingforasecondandlookingatthem，thenliftingherhandsandrunningforwardwithaflash，tilltheyceasedpawingtheground，andgaveway，snortingwithterror，liftingtheirheadsfromthegroundandflingingthemselvesaway，gallopingoffintotheevening，becomingtinyinthedistance，andstillnotstopping。
Gudrunremainedstaringafterthem，withamask—likedefiantface。
`Whydoyouwanttodrivethemmad？\'askedGerald，comingupwithher。
Shetooknonoticeofhim，onlyavertedherfacefromhim。`It\'snotsafe，youknow，\'hepersisted。`They\'renasty，whentheydoturn。\'
`Turnwhere？Turnaway？\'shemockedloudly。
`No，\'hesaid，`turnagainstyou。\'
`Turnagainstme？\'shemocked。
Hecouldmakenothingofthis。
`Anyway，theygoredoneofthefarmer\'scowstodeath，theotherday，\'
hesaid。
`WhatdoIcare？\'shesaid。
`Icaredthough，\'hereplied，`seeingthatthey\'remycattle。\'
`Howaretheyyours！Youhaven\'tswallowedthem。Givemeoneofthemnow，\'shesaid，holdingoutherhand。
`Youknowwheretheyare，\'hesaid，pointingoverthehill。`Youcanhaveoneifyou\'dlikeitsenttoyoulateron。\'
Shelookedathiminscrutably。
`YouthinkI\'mafraidofyouandyourcattle，don\'tyou？\'sheasked。
Hiseyesnarroweddangerously。Therewasafaintdomineeringsmileonhisface。
`WhyshouldIthinkthat？\'hesaid。
Shewaswatchinghimallthetimewithherdark，dilated，inchoateeyes。
Sheleanedforwardandswungroundherarm，catchinghimalightblowonthefacewiththebackofherhand。
`That\'swhy，\'shesaid，mocking。
Andshefeltinhersoulanunconquerabledesirefordeepviolenceagainsthim。Sheshutoffthefearanddismaythatfilledherconsciousmind。Shewantedtodoasshedid，shewasnotgoingtobeafraid。
Herecoiledfromtheslightblowonhisface。Hebecamedeadlypale，andadangerousflamedarkenedhiseyes。Forsomesecondshecouldnotspeak，hislungsweresosuffusedwithblood，hisheartstretchedalmosttoburstingwithagreatgushofungovernableemotion。Itwasasifsomereservoirofblackemotionhadburstwithinhim，andswampedhim。
`Youhavestruckthefirstblow，\'hesaidatlast，forcingthewordsfromhislungs，inavoicesosoftandlow，itsoundedlikeadreamwithinher，notspokenintheouterair。
`AndIshallstrikethelast，\'sheretortedinvoluntarily，withconfidentassurance。Hewassilent，hedidnotcontradicther。
Shestoodnegligently，staringawayfromhim，intothedistance。Ontheedgeofherconsciousnessthequestionwasaskingitself，automatically:
`Whyareyoubehavinginthisimpossibleandridiculousfashion。\'Butshewassullen，shehalfshovedthequestionoutofherself。
Shecouldnotgetitcleanaway，soshefeltself—conscious。
Gerald，verypale，waswatchingherclosely。Hiseyeswerelitupwithintentlights，absorbedandgleaming。Sheturnedsuddenlyonhim。
`It\'syouwhomakemebehavelikethis，youknow，\'shesaid，almostsuggestive。
`I？How？\'hesaid。
Butsheturnedaway，andsetofftowardsthelake。Below，onthewater，lanternswerecomingalight，faintghostsofwarmflamefloatinginthepallorofthefirsttwilight。Theearthwasspreadwithdarkness，likelacquer，overheadwasapalesky，allprimrose，andthelakewaspaleasmilkinonepart。Awayatthelandingstage，tiniestpointsofcolouredrayswerestringingthemselvesinthedusk。Thelaunchwasbeingilluminated。
Allround，shadowwasgatheringfromthetrees。
Gerald，whitelikeapresenceinhissummerclothes，wasfollowingdowntheopengrassyslope。Gudrunwaitedforhimtocomeup。Thenshesoftlyputoutherhandandtouchedhim，sayingsoftly:
`Don\'tbeangrywithme。\'
Aflameflewoverhim，andhewasunconscious。Yethestammered:
`I\'mnotangrywithyou。I\'minlovewithyou。\'
Hismindwasgone，hegraspedforsufficientmechanicalcontrol，tosavehimself。Shelaughedasilverylittlemockery，yetintolerablycaressive。
`That\'sonewayofputtingit，\'shesaid。
Theterribleswooningburdenonhismind，theawfulswooning，thelossofallhiscontrol，wastoomuchforhim。Hegraspedherarminhisonehand，asifhishandwereiron。
`It\'sallright，then，isit？\'hesaid，holdingherarrested。
Shelookedatthefacewiththefixedeyes，setbeforeher，andherbloodrancold。
`Yes，it\'sallright，\'shesaidsoftly，asifdrugged，hervoicecrooningandwitch—like。
Hewalkedonbesideher，astriding，mindlessbody。Butherecoveredalittleashewent。Hesufferedbadly。Hehadkilledhisbrotherwhenaboy，andwassetapart，likeCain。
TheyfoundBirkinandUrsulasittingtogetherbytheboats，talkingandlaughing。BirkinhadbeenteasingUrsula。
`Doyousmellthislittlemarsh？\'hesaid，sniffingtheair。Hewasverysensitivetoscents，andquickinunderstandingthem。
`It\'srathernice，\'shesaid。
`No，\'hereplied，`alarming。\'
`Whyalarming？\'shelaughed。
`Itseethesandseethes，ariverofdarkness，\'hesaid，`puttingforthliliesandsnakes，andtheignisfatuus，androllingallthetimeonward。
That\'swhatwenevertakeintocount——thatitrollsonwards。\'
`Whatdoes？\'
`Theotherriver，theblackriver。Wealwaysconsiderthesilverriveroflife，rollingonandquickeningalltheworldtoabrightness，onandontoheaven，flowingintoabrighteternalsea，aheavenofangelsthronging。
Buttheotherisourrealreality——\'
`Butwhatother？Idon\'tseeanyother，\'saidUrsula。
`Itisyourreality，nevertheless，\'hesaid;`thatdarkriverofdissolution。
Youseeitrollsinusjustastheotherrolls——theblackriverofcorruption。
Andourflowersareofthis——oursea—bornAphrodite，allourwhitephosphorescentflowersofsensuousperfection，allourreality，nowadays。\'
`YoumeanthatAphroditeisreallydeathly？\'askedUrsula。
`Imeansheisthefloweringmysteryofthedeath—process，yes，\'hereplied。`Whenthestreamofsyntheticcreationlapses，wefindourselvespartoftheinverseprocess，thebloodofdestructivecreation。Aphroditeisborninthefirstspasmofuniversaldissolution——thenthesnakesandswansandlotus——marsh—flowers——andGudrunandGerald——bornintheprocessofdestructivecreation。\'
`Andyouandme——？\'sheasked。
`Probably，\'hereplied。`Inpart，certainly。Whetherwearethat，intoto，Idon\'tyetknow。\'
`Youmeanweareflowersofdissolution——fleursdumal？Idon\'tfeelasifIwere，\'sheprotested。
Hewassilentforatime。
`Idon\'tfeelasifwewere，altogether，\'hereplied。`Somepeoplearepureflowersofdarkcorruption——lilies。Butthereoughttobesomeroses，warmandflamy。YouknowHerakleitossays\"adrysoulisbest。\"
Iknowsowellwhatthatmeans。Doyou？\'
`I\'mnotsure，\'Ursulareplied。`Butwhatifpeopleareallflowersofdissolution——whenthey\'reflowersatall——whatdifferencedoesitmake？\'
`Nodifference——andallthedifference。Dissolutionrollson，justasproductiondoes，\'hesaid。`Itisaprogressiveprocess——anditendsinuniversalnothing——theendoftheworld，ifyoulike。Butwhyisn\'ttheendoftheworldasgoodasthebeginning？\'
`Isupposeitisn\'t，\'saidUrsula，ratherangry。
`Ohyes，ultimately，\'hesaid。`Itmeansanewcycleofcreationafter——butnotforus。Ifitistheend，thenweareoftheend——fleursdumalifyoulike。Ifwearefleursdumal，wearenotrosesofhappiness，andthereyouare。\'
`ButIthinkIam，\'saidUrsula。`IthinkIamaroseofhappiness。\'
`Ready—made？\'heaskedironically。
`No——real，\'shesaid，hurt。
`Ifwearetheend，wearenotthebeginning，\'hesaid。
`Yesweare，\'shesaid。`Thebeginningcomesoutoftheend。\'
`Afterit，notoutofit。Afterus，notoutofus。\'
`Youareadevil，youknow，really，\'shesaid。`Youwanttodestroyourhope。Youwantustobedeathly。\'
`No，\'hesaid，`Ionlywantustoknowwhatweare。\'
`Ha！\'shecriedinanger。`Youonlywantustoknowdeath。\'
`You\'requiteright，\'saidthesoftvoiceofGerald，outoftheduskbehind。
Birkinrose。GeraldandGudruncameup。Theyallbegantosmoke，inthemomentsofsilence。Oneafteranother，Birkinlightedtheircigarettes。
Thematchflickeredinthetwilight，andtheywereallsmokingpeacefullybythewater—side。Thelakewasdim，thelightdyingfromoffit，inthemidstofthedarkland。Theairallroundwasintangible，neitherherenorthere，andtherewasanunrealnoiseofbanjoes，orsuchlikemusic。
Asthegoldenswimoflightoverheaddiedout，themoongainedbrightness，andseemedtobegintosmileforthherascendancy。Thedarkwoodsontheoppositeshoremeltedintouniversalshadow。Andamidthisuniversalunder—shadow，therewasascatteredintrusionoflights。Fardownthelakewerefantasticpalestringsofcolour，likebeadsofwanfire，greenandredandyellow。
Themusiccameoutinalittlepuff，asthelaunch，allilluminated，veeredintothegreatshadow，stirringheroutlinesofhalf—livinglights，puffingouthermusicinlittledrifts。
Allwerelightingup。Hereandthere，closeagainstthefaintwater，andatthefarendofthelake，wherethewaterlaymilkyinthelastwhitenessofthesky，andtherewasnoshadow，solitary，frailflamesoflanternsfloatedfromtheunseenboats。Therewasasoundofoars，andaboatpassedfromthepallorintothedarknessunderthewood，whereherlanternsseemedtokindleintofire，hanginginruddylovelyglobes。Andagain，inthelake，shadowyredgleamshoveredinreflectionabouttheboat。Everywherewerethesenoiselessruddycreaturesoffiredriftingnearthesurfaceofthewater，caughtatbytherarest，scarcevisiblereflections。
Birkinbroughtthelanternsfromthebiggerboat，andthefourshadowywhitefiguresgatheredround，tolightthem。Ursulaheldupthefirst，Birkinloweredthelightfromtherosy，glowingcupofhishands，intothedepthsofthelantern。Itwaskindled，andtheyallstoodbacktolookatthegreatbluemoonoflightthathungfromUrsula\'shand，castingastrangegleamonherface。Itflickered，andBirkinwentbendingoverthewelloflight。Hisfaceshoneoutlikeanapparition，sounconscious，andagain，somethingdemoniacal。Ursulawasdimandveiled，loomingoverhim。
`Thatisallright，\'saidhisvoicesoftly。
Sheheldupthelantern。Ithadaflightofstorksstreamingthroughaturquoiseskyoflight，overadarkearth。
`Thisisbeautiful，\'shesaid。
`Lovely，\'echoedGudrun，whowantedtoholdonealso，andliftitupfullofbeauty。
`Lightoneforme，\'shesaid。Geraldstoodbyher，incapacitated。Birkinlitthelanternsheheldup。Herheartbeatwithanxiety，toseehowbeautifulitwouldbe。Itwasprimroseyellow，withtallstraightflowersgrowingdarklyfromtheirdarkleaves，liftingtheirheadsintotheprimroseday，whilebutterflieshoveredaboutthem，inthepureclearlight。
Gudrungavealittlecryofexcitement，asifpiercedwithdelight。
`Isn\'titbeautiful，oh，isn\'titbeautiful！\'
Hersoulwasreallypiercedwithbeauty，shewastranslatedbeyondherself。
Geraldleanedneartoher，intoherzoneoflight，asiftosee。Hecameclosetoher，andstoodtouchingher，lookingwithherattheprimrose—shiningglobe。Andsheturnedherfacetohis，thatwasfaintlybrightinthelightofthelantern，andtheystoodtogetherinoneluminousunion，closetogetherandringedroundwithlight，alltherestexcluded。
Birkinlookedaway，andwenttolightUrsula\'ssecondlantern。Ithadapaleruddysea—bottom，withblackcrabsandsea—weedmovingsinuouslyunderatransparentsea，thatpassedintoflamyruddinessabove。
`You\'vegottheheavensabove，andthewatersundertheearth，\'saidBirkintoher。
`Anythingbuttheearthitself，\'shelaughed，watchinghislivehandsthathoveredtoattendtothelight。
`I\'mdyingtoseewhatmysecondoneis，\'criedGudrun，inavibratingratherstridentvoice，thatseemedtorepeltheothersfromher。
Birkinwentandkindledit。Itwasofalovelydeepbluecolour，witharedfloor，andagreatwhitecuttle—fishflowinginwhitesoftstreamsalloverit。Thecuttle—fishhadafacethatstaredstraightfromtheheartofthelight，veryfixedandcoldlyintent。
`Howtrulyterrifying！\'exclaimedGudrun，inavoiceofhorror。Gerald，atherside，gavealowlaugh。
`Butisn\'titreallyfearful！\'shecriedindismay。
Againhelaughed，andsaid:
`ChangeitwithUrsula，forthecrabs。\'
Gudrunwassilentforamoment。
`Ursula，\'shesaid，`couldyoubeartohavethisfearfulthing？\'
`Ithinkthecolouringislovely，\'saidUrsula。
`SodoI，\'saidGudrun。`Butcouldyoubeartohaveitswingingtoyourboat？Don\'tyouwanttodestroyitatonce？\'
`Ohno，\'saidUrsula。`Idon\'twanttodestroyit。\'
`Welldoyoumindhavingitinsteadofthecrabs？Areyousureyoudon\'tmind？\'
Gudruncameforwardtoexchangelanterns。
`No，\'saidUrsula，yieldingupthecrabsandreceivingthecuttle—fish。
YetshecouldnothelpfeelingratherresentfulatthewayinwhichGudrunandGeraldshouldassumearightoverher，aprecedence。
`Comethen，\'saidBirkin。`I\'llputthemontheboats。\'
HeandUrsulaweremovingawaytothebigboat。
`Isupposeyou\'llrowmeback，Rupert，\'saidGerald，outofthepaleshadowoftheevening。
`Won\'tyougowithGudruninthecanoe？\'saidBirkin。`It\'llbemoreinteresting。\'
Therewasamoment\'spause。BirkinandUrsulastooddimly，withtheirswinginglanterns，bythewater\'sedge。Theworldwasallillusive。
`Isthatallright？\'saidGudruntohim。
`It\'llsuitmeverywell，\'hesaid。`Butwhataboutyou，andtherowing？Idon\'tseewhyyoushouldpullme。\'
`Whynot？\'shesaid。`IcanpullyouaswellasIcouldpullUrsula。\'
Byhertonehecouldtellshewantedtohavehimintheboattoherself，andthatshewassubtlygratifiedthatsheshouldhavepoweroverthemboth。Hegavehimself，inastrange，electricsubmission。
Shehandedhimthelanterns，whilstshewenttofixthecaneattheendofthecanoe。Hefollowedafterher，andstoodwiththelanternsdanglingagainsthiswhite—flannelledthighs，emphasisingtheshadowaround。
`Kissmebeforewego，\'camehisvoicesoftlyfromoutoftheshadowabove。
Shestoppedherworkinreal，momentaryastonishment。
`Butwhy？\'sheexclaimed，inpuresurprise。
`Why？\'heechoed，ironically。
Andshelookedathimfixedlyforsomemoments。Thensheleanedforwardandkissedhim，withaslow，luxuriouskiss，lingeringonthemouth。Andthenshetookthelanternsfromhim，whilehestoodswooningwiththeperfectfirethatburnedinallhisjoints。
Theyliftedthecanoeintothewater，Gudruntookherplace，andGeraldpushedoff。
`Areyousureyoudon\'thurtyourhand，doingthat？\'sheasked，solicitous。
`BecauseIcouldhavedoneitperfectly。\'
`Idon\'thurtmyself，\'hesaidinalow，softvoice，thatcaressedherwithinexpressiblebeauty。
Andshewatchedhimashesatnearher，veryneartoher，inthesternofthecanoe，hislegscomingtowardshers，hisfeettouchinghers。Andshepaddledsoftly，lingeringly，longingforhimtosaysomethingmeaningfultoher。Butheremainedsilent。
`Youlikethis，doyou？\'shesaid，inagentle，solicitousvoice。
Helaughedshortly。
`Thereisaspacebetweenus，\'hesaid，inthesamelow，unconsciousvoice，asifsomethingwerespeakingoutofhim。Andshewasasifmagicallyawareoftheirbeingbalancedinseparation，intheboat。Sheswoonedwithacutecomprehensionandpleasure。
`ButI\'mverynear，\'shesaidcaressively，gaily。
`Yetdistant，distant，\'hesaid。
Againshewassilentwithpleasure，beforesheanswered，speakingwithareedy，thrilledvoice:
`Yetwecannotverywellchange，whilstweareonthewater。\'Shecaressedhimsubtlyandstrangely，havinghimcompletelyathermercy。
Adozenormoreboatsonthelakeswungtheirrosyandmoon—likelanternslowonthewater，thatreflectedasfromafire。Inthedistance，thesteamertwangedandthrummedandwashedwithherfaintly—splashingpaddles，trailingherstringsofcolouredlights，andoccasionallylightingupthewholesceneluridlywithaneffusionoffireworks，Romancandlesandsheafsofstarsandothersimpleeffects，illuminatingthesurfaceofthewater，andshowingtheboatscreepinground，lowdown。Thenthelovelydarknessfellagain，thelanternsandthelittlethreadedlightsglimmeredsoftly，therewasamuffledknockingofoarsandawavingofmusic。
Gudrunpaddledalmostimperceptibly。Geraldcouldsee，notfarahead，therichblueandtheroseglobesofUrsula\'slanternsswayingsoftlycheektocheekasBirkinrowed，andiridescent，evanescentgleamschasinginthewake。Hewasaware，too，ofhisowndelicatelycolouredlightscastingtheirsoftnessbehindhim。
Gudrunrestedherpaddleandlookedround。Thecanoeliftedwiththelightestebbingofthewater。Gerald\'swhitekneeswereveryneartoher。
`Isn\'titbeautiful！\'shesaidsoftly，asifreverently。
Shelookedathim，asheleanedbackagainstthefaintcrystalofthelantern—light。Shecouldseehisface，althoughitwasapureshadow。Butitwasapieceoftwilight。Andherbreastwaskeenwithpassionforhim，hewassobeautifulinhismalestillnessandmystery。Itwasacertainpureeffluenceofmaleness，likeanaromafromhissoftly，firmlymouldedcontours，acertainrichperfectionofhispresence，thattouchedherwithanecstasy，athrillofpureintoxication。Shelovedtolookathim。Forthepresentshedidnotwanttotouchhim，toknowthefurther，satisfyingsubstanceofhislivingbody。Hewaspurelyintangible，yetsonear。Herhandslayonthepaddlelikeslumber，sheonlywantedtoseehim，likeacrystalshadow，tofeelhisessentialpresence。
`Yes，\'hesaidvaguely。`Itisverybeautiful。\'
Hewaslisteningtothefaintnearsounds，thedroppingofwater—dropsfromtheoar—blades，theslightdrummingofthelanternsbehindhim，astheyrubbedagainstoneanother，theoccasionalrustlingofGudrun\'sfullskirt，analienlandnoise。Hismindwasalmostsubmerged，hewasalmosttransfused，lapsedoutforthefirsttimeinhislife，intothethingsabouthim。Forhealwayskeptsuchakeenattentiveness，concentratedandunyieldinginhimself。Nowhehadletgo，imperceptiblyhewasmeltingintoonenesswiththewhole。Itwaslikepure，perfectsleep，hisfirstgreatsleepoflife。Hehadbeensoinsistent，soguarded，allhislife。
Butherewassleep，andpeace，andperfectlapsingout。
`ShallIrowtothelanding—stage？\'askedGudrunwistfully。
`Anywhere，\'heanswered。`Letitdrift。\'
`Tellmethen，ifwearerunningintoanything，\'shereplied，inthatveryquiet，tonelessvoiceofsheerintimacy。
`Thelightswillshow，\'hesaid。
Sotheydriftedalmostmotionless，insilence。Hewantedsilence，pureandwhole。Butshewasuneasyyetforsomeword，forsomeassurance。
`Nobodywillmissyou？\'sheasked，anxiousforsomecommunication。
`Missme？\'heechoed。`No！Why？\'
`Iwonderedifanybodywouldbelookingforyou。\'
`Whyshouldtheylookforme？\'Andthenherememberedhismanners。`Butperhapsyouwanttogetback，\'hesaid，inachangedvoice。
`No，Idon\'twanttogetback，\'shereplied。`No，Iassureyou。\'
`You\'requitesureit\'sallrightforyou？\'
`Perfectlyallright。\'
Andagaintheywerestill。Thelaunchtwangedandhooted，somebodywassinging。Thenasifthenightsmashed，suddenlytherewasagreatshout，aconfusionofshouting，warringonthewater，thenthehorridnoiseofpaddlesreversedandchurnedviolently。
Geraldsatup，andGudrunlookedathiminfear。
`Somebodyinthewater，\'hesaid，angrily，anddesperately，lookingkeenlyacrossthedusk。`Canyourowup？\'
`Where，tothelaunch？\'askedGudrun，innervouspanic。
`Yes。\'
`You\'lltellmeifIdon\'tsteerstraight，\'shesaid，innervousapprehension。
`Youkeepprettylevel，\'hesaid，andthecanoehastenedforward。
Theshoutingandthenoisecontinued，soundinghorridthroughthedusk，overthesurfaceofthewater。
`Wasn\'tthisboundtohappen？\'saidGudrun，withheavyhatefulirony。Buthehardlyheard，andsheglancedoverhershouldertoseeherway。Thehalf—darkwatersweresprinkledwithlovelybubblesofswayinglights，thelaunchdidnotlookfaroff。Shewasrockingherlightsintheearlynight。Gudrunrowedashardasshecould。Butnowthatitwasaseriousmatter，sheseemeduncertainandclumsyinherstroke，itwasdifficulttopaddleswiftly。Sheglancedathisface。Hewaslookingfixedlyintothedarkness，verykeenandalertandsingleinhimself，instrumental。
Herheartsank，sheseemedtodieadeath。`Ofcourse，\'shesaidtoherself，`nobodywillbedrowned。Ofcoursetheywon\'t。Itwouldbetooextravagantandsensational。\'Butherheartwascold，becauseofhissharpimpersonalface。Itwasasifhebelongednaturallytodreadandcatastrophe，asifhewerehimselfagain。
Thentherecameachild\'svoice，agirl\'shigh，piercingshriek:
`Di——Di——Di——Di——OhDi——OhDi——OhDi！\'
ThebloodrancoldinGudrun\'sveins。