Geraldwincedinspirit，seeinghersobeautifulandunknown。Shewaswearingasoftbluedress，andherstockingswereofdarkred。
Winifredadvancedwithodd，statelyformality。
`Wearesogladyou\'vecomeback，\'shesaid。`Theseareyourflowers。\'
Shepresentedthebouquet。
`Mine！\'criedGudrun。Shewassuspendedforamoment，thenavividflushwentoverher，shewasasifblindedforamomentwithaflameofpleasure。
Thenhereyes，strangeandflaming，liftedandlookedatthefather，andatGerald。AndagainGeraldshrankinspirit，asifitwouldbemorethanhecouldbear，asherhot，exposedeyesrestedonhim。Therewassomethingsorevealed，shewasrevealedbeyondbearing，tohiseyes。Heturnedhisfaceaside。Andhefelthewouldnotbeabletoaverther。Andhewrithedundertheimprisonment。
Gudrunputherfaceintotheflowers。
`Buthowbeautifultheyare！\'shesaid，inamuffledvoice。Then，withastrange，suddenlyrevealedpassion，shestoopedandkissedWinifred。
MrCrichwentforwardwithhishandheldouttoher。
`Iwasafraidyouweregoingtorunawayfromus，\'hesaid，playfully。
Gudrunlookedupathimwithaluminous，roguish，unknownface。
`Really！\'shereplied。`No，Ididn\'twanttostayinLondon。\'HervoiceseemedtoimplythatshewasgladtogetbacktoShortlands，hertonewaswarmandsubtlycaressing。
`Thatisagoodthing，\'smiledthefather。`Youseeyouareverywelcomehereamongus。\'
Gudrunonlylookedintohisfacewithdark—blue，warm，shyeyes。Shewasunconsciouslycarriedawaybyherownpower。
`Andyoulookasifyoucamehomeineverypossibletriumph，\'MrCrichcontinued，holdingherhand。
`No，\'shesaid，glowingstrangely。`Ihaven\'thadanytriumphtillI
camehere。\'
`Ah，come，come！We\'renotgoingtohearanyofthosetales。Haven\'twereadnoticesinthenewspaper，Gerald？\'
`Youcameoffprettywell，\'saidGeraldtoher，shakinghands。`Didyousellanything？\'
`No，\'shesaid，`notmuch。\'
`Justaswell，\'hesaid。
Shewonderedwhathemeant。Butshewasallaglowwithherreception，carriedawaybythislittleflatteringceremonialonherbehalf。
`Winifred，\'saidthefather，`haveyouapairofshoesforMissBrangwen？
Youhadbetterchangeatonce——\'
Gudrunwentoutwithherbouquetinherhand。
`Quitearemarkableyoungwoman，\'saidthefathertoGerald，whenshehadgone。
`Yes，\'repliedGeraldbriefly，asifhedidnotliketheobservation。
MrCrichlikedGudruntositwithhimforhalfanhour。Usuallyhewasashyandwretched，withallthelifegnawedoutofhim。Butassoonasherallied，helikedtomakebelievethathewasjustasbefore，quitewellandinthemidstoflife——notoftheouterworld，butinthemidstofastrongessentiallife。Andtothisbelief，Gudruncontributedperfectly。
Withher，hecouldgetbystimulationthoseprecioushalf—hoursofstrengthandexaltationandpurefreedom，whenheseemedtolivemorethanhehadeverlived。
Shecametohimashelayproppedupinthelibrary。Hisfacewaslikeyellowwax，hiseyesdarkened，asitweresightless。Hisblackbeard，nowstreakedwithgrey，seemedtospringoutofthewaxyfleshofacorpse。
Yettheatmosphereabouthimwasenergeticandplayful。Gudrunsubscribedtothis，perfectly。Toherfancy，hewasjustanordinaryman。Onlyhisratherterribleappearancewasphotographeduponhersoul，awaybeneathherconsciousness。Sheknewthat，inspiteofhisplayfulness，hiseyescouldnotchangefromtheirdarkenedvacancy，theyweretheeyesofamanwhoisdead。
`Ah，thisisMissBrangwen，\'hesaid，suddenlyrousingassheentered，announcedbytheman—servant。`Thomas，putMissBrangwenachairhere——
that\'sright。\'Helookedathersoft，freshfacewithpleasure。Itgavehimtheillusionoflife。`Now，youwillhaveaglassofsherryandalittlepieceofcake。Thomas——\'
`Nothankyou，\'saidGudrun。Andassoonasshehadsaidit，herheartsankhorribly。Thesickmanseemedtofallintoagapofdeath，athercontradiction。Sheoughttoplayuptohim，nottocontravenehim。Inaninstantshewassmilingherratherroguishsmile。
`Idon\'tlikesherryverymuch，\'shesaid。`ButIlikealmostanythingelse。\'
Thesickmancaughtatthisstrawinstantly。
`Notsherry！No！Somethingelse！Whatthen？Whatisthere，Thomas？\'
`Portwine——curacao——\'
`Iwouldlovesomecuracao——\'saidGudrun，lookingatthesickmanconfidingly。
`Youwould。WellthenThomas，curacao——andalittlecake，orabiscuit？\'
`Abiscuit，\'saidGudrun。Shedidnotwantanything，butshewaswise。
`Yes。\'
Hewaitedtillshewassettledwithherlittleglassandherbiscuit。
Thenhewassatisfied。
`Youhaveheardtheplan，\'hesaidwithsomeexcitement，`forastudioforWinifred，overthestables？\'
`No！\'exclaimedGudrun，inmockwonder。
`Oh！——IthoughtWinniewroteittoyou，inherletter！\'
`Oh——yes——ofcourse。ButIthoughtperhapsitwasonlyherownlittleidea——\'Gudrunsmiledsubtly，indulgently。Thesickmansmiledalso，elated。
`Ohno。Itisarealproject。Thereisagoodroomundertheroofofthestables——withslopingrafters。Wehadthoughtofconvertingitintoastudio。\'
`Howverynicethatwouldbe！\'criedGudrun，withexcitedwarmth。
Thethoughtoftheraftersstirredher。
`Youthinkitwould？Well，itcanbedone。\'
`ButhowperfectlysplendidforWinifred！Ofcourse，itisjustwhatisneeded，ifsheistoworkatallseriously。Onemusthaveone\'sworkshop，otherwiseoneneverceasestobeanamateur。\'
`Isthatso？Yes。Ofcourse，IshouldlikeyoutoshareitwithWinifred。\'
`Thankyousomuch。\'
Gudrunknewallthesethingsalready，butshemustlookshyandverygrateful，asifovercome。
`Ofcourse，whatIshouldlikebest，wouldbeifyoucouldgiveupyourworkattheGrammarSchool，andjustavailyourselfofthestudio，andworkthere——well，asmuchoraslittleasyouliked——\'
HelookedatGudrunwithdark，vacanteyes。Shelookedbackathimasiffullofgratitude。Thesephrasesofadyingmanweresocompleteandnatural，cominglikeechoesthroughhisdeadmouth。
`Andastoyourearnings——youdon\'tmindtakingfrommewhatyouhavetakenfromtheEducationCommittee，doyou？Idon\'twantyoutobealoser。\'
`Oh，\'saidGudrun，`ifIcanhavethestudioandworkthere，Icanearnmoneyenough，reallyIcan。\'
`Well，\'hesaid，pleasedtobethebenefactor，`wecanseeaboutallthat。Youwouldn\'tmindspendingyourdayshere？\'
`Iftherewereastudiotoworkin，\'saidGudrun，`Icouldaskfornothingbetter。\'
`Isthatso？\'
Hewasreallyverypleased。Butalreadyhewasgettingtired。Shecouldseethegrey，awfulsemi—consciousnessofmerepainanddissolutioncomingoverhimagain，thetorturecomingintothevacancyofhisdarkenedeyes。
Itwasnotoveryet，thisprocessofdeath。Sherosesoftlysaying:
`Perhapsyouwillsleep。ImustlookforWinifred。\'
Shewentout，tellingthenursethatshehadlefthim。Daybydaythetissueofthesickmanwasfurtherandfurtherreduced，nearerandnearertheprocesscame，towardsthelastknotwhichheldthehumanbeinginitsunity。Butthisknotwashardandunrelaxed，thewillofthedyingmannevergaveway。Hemightbedeadinnine—tenths，yettheremainingtenthremainedunchanged，tillittoowastornapart。Withhiswillheheldtheunitofhimselffirm，butthecircleofhispowerwaseverandeverreduced，itwouldbereducedtoapointatlast，thensweptaway。
Toadheretolife，hemustadheretohumanrelationships，andhecaughtateverystraw。Winifred，thebutler，thenurse，Gudrun，thesewerethepeoplewhomeantalltohim，intheselastresources。Gerald，inhisfather\'spresence，stiffenedwithrepulsion。Itwasso，toalessdegree，withalltheotherchildrenexceptWinifred。Theycouldnotseeanythingbutthedeath，whentheylookedattheirfather。Itwasasifsomesubterraneandislikeovercamethem。Theycouldnotseethefamiliarface，hearthefamiliarvoice。Theywereoverwhelmedbytheantipathyofvisibleandaudibledeath。
Geraldcouldnotbreatheinhisfather\'spresence。Hemustgetoutatonce。
Andso，inthesameway，thefathercouldnotbearthepresenceofhisson。Itsentafinalirritationthroughthesoulofthedyingman。
Thestudiowasmadeready，GudrunandWinifredmovedin。Theyenjoyedsomuchtheorderingandtheappointingofit。Andnowtheyneedhardlybeinthehouseatall。Theyhadtheirmealsinthestudio，theylivedtheresafely。Forthehousewasbecomingdreadful。Thereweretwonursesinwhite，flittingsilentlyabout，likeheraldsofdeath。Thefatherwasconfinedtohisbed，therewasacomeandgoofsotto—vocesistersandbrothersandchildren。
Winifredwasherfather\'sconstantvisitor。Everymorning，afterbreakfast，shewentintohisroomwhenhewaswashedandproppedupinbed，tospendhalfanhourwithhim。
`Areyoubetter，Daddie？\'sheaskedhiminvariably。
Andinvariablyheanswered:
`Yes，IthinkI\'malittlebetter，pet。\'
Sheheldhishandinbothherown，lovinglyandprotectively。Andthiswasverydeartohim。
Sheraninagainasaruleatlunchtime，totellhimthecourseofevents，andeveryevening，whenthecurtainsweredrawn，andhisroomwascosy，shespentalongtimewithhim。Gudrunwasgonehome，Winifredwasaloneinthehouse:shelikedbesttobewithherfather。Theytalkedandprattledatrandom，healwaysasifhewerewell，justthesameaswhenhewasgoingabout。SothatWinifred，withachild\'ssubtleinstinctforavoidingthepainfulthings，behavedasifnothingseriouswasthematter。
Instinctively，shewithheldherattention，andwashappy。Yetinherremotersoul，sheknewaswellastheadultsknew:perhapsbetter。
Herfatherwasquitewellinhismake—beliefwithher。Butwhenshewentaway，herelapsedunderthemiseryofhisdissolution。Butstilltherewerethesebrightmoments，thoughashisstrengthwaned，hisfacultyforattentiongrewweaker，andthenursehadtosendWinifredaway，tosavehimfromexhaustion。
Heneveradmittedthathewasgoingtodie。Heknewitwasso，heknewitwastheend。Yeteventohimselfhedidnotadmitit。Hehatedthefact，mortally。Hiswillwasrigid。Hecouldnotbearbeingovercomebydeath。
Forhim，therewasnodeath。Andyet，attimes，hefeltagreatneedtocryoutandtowailandcomplain。HewouldhavelikedtocryaloudtoGerald，sothathissonshouldbehorrifiedoutofhiscomposure。Geraldwasinstinctivelyawareofthis，andherecoiled，toavoidanysuchthing。Thisuncleannessofdeathrepelledhimtoomuch。Oneshoulddiequickly，liketheRomans，oneshouldbemasterofone\'sfateindyingasinliving。Hewasconvulsedintheclaspofthisdeathofhisfather\'s，asinthecoilsofthegreatserpentofLaocoon。Thegreatserpenthadgotthefather，andthesonwasdraggedintotheembraceofhorrifyingdeathalongwithhim。Heresistedalways。Andinsomestrangeway，hewasatowerofstrengthtohisfather。
ThelasttimethedyingmanaskedtoseeGudrunhewasgreywithneardeath。Yethemustseesomeone，hemust，intheintervalsofconsciousness，catchintoconnectionwiththelivingworld，lestheshouldhavetoaccepthisownsituation。Fortunatelyhewasmostofhistimedazedandhalfgone。
Andhespentmanyhoursdimlythinkingofthepast，asitwere，dimlyre—livinghisoldexperiences。Butthereweretimeseventotheendwhenhewascapableofrealisingwhatwashappeningtohiminthepresent，thedeaththatwasonhim。Andthesewerethetimeswhenhecalledinoutsidehelp，nomatterwhose。Fortorealisethisdeaththathewasdyingwasadeathbeyonddeath，nevertobeborne。Itwasanadmissionnevertobemade。
Gudrunwasshockedbyhisappearance，andbythedarkened，almostdisintegratedeyes，thatstillwereunconqueredandfirm。
`Well，\'hesaidinhisweakenedvoice，`andhowareyouandWinifredgettingon？\'
`Oh，verywellindeed，\'repliedGudrun。
Therewereslightdeadgapsintheconversation，asiftheideascalledupwereonlyelusivestrawsfloatingonthedarkchaosofthesickman\'sdying。
`Thestudioanswersallright？\'hesaid。
`Splendid。Itcouldn\'tbemorebeautifulandperfect，\'saidGudrun。
Shewaitedforwhathewouldsaynext。
`AndyouthinkWinifredhasthemakingsofasculptor？\'
Itwasstrangehowhollowthewordswere，meaningless。
`I\'msureshehas。Shewilldogoodthingsoneday。\'
`Ah！Thenherlifewon\'tbealtogetherwasted，youthink？\'
Gudrunwasrathersurprised。
`Sureitwon\'t！\'sheexclaimedsoftly。
`That\'sright。\'
AgainGudrunwaitedforwhathewouldsay。
`Youfindlifepleasant，itisgoodtolive，isn\'tit？\'heasked，withapitifulfaintsmilethatwasalmosttoomuchforGudrun。
`Yes，\'shesmiled——shewouldlieatrandom——`IgetaprettygoodtimeIbelieve。\'
`That\'sright。Ahappynatureisagreatasset。\'
AgainGudrunsmiled，thoughhersoulwasdrywithrepulsion。Didonehavetodielikethis——havingthelifeextractedforciblyfromone，whilstonesmiledandmadeconversationtotheend？Wastherenootherway？Mustonegothroughallthehorrorofthisvictoryoverdeath，thetriumphoftheintegralwill，thatwouldnotbebrokentillitdisappearedutterly？
Onemust，itwastheonlyway。Sheadmiredtheself—possessionandthecontrolofthedyingmanexceedingly。Butsheloathedthedeathitself。
Shewasgladtheeverydayworldheldgood，andsheneednotrecogniseanythingbeyond。
`Youarequiteallrighthere？——nothingwecandoforyou？——nothingyoufindwronginyourposition？\'
`Exceptthatyouaretoogoodtome，\'saidGudrun。
`Ah，well，thefaultofthatlieswithyourself，\'hesaid，andhefeltalittleexultation，thathehadmadethisspeech。
Hewasstillsostrongandliving！Butthenauseaofdeathbegantocreepbackonhim，inreaction。
Gudrunwentaway，backtoWinifred。Mademoisellehadleft，GudrunstayedagooddealatShortlands，andatutorcameintocarryonWinifred\'seducation。
Buthedidnotliveinthehouse，hewasconnectedwiththeGrammarSchool。
Oneday，GudrunwastodrivewithWinifredandGeraldandBirkintotown，inthecar。Itwasadark，showeryday。WinifredandGudrunwerereadyandwaitingatthedoor。Winifredwasveryquiet，butGudrunhadnotnoticed。Suddenlythechildasked，inavoiceofunconcern:
`Doyouthinkmyfather\'sgoingtodie，MissBrangwen？\'
Gudrunstarted。
`Idon\'tknow，\'shereplied。
`Don\'tyoutruly？\'
`Nobodyknowsforcertain。Hemaydie，ofcourse。\'
Thechildponderedafewmoments，thensheasked:
`Butdoyouthinkhewilldie？\'
Itwasputalmostlikeaquestioningeographyorscience，insistent，asifshewouldforceanadmissionfromtheadult。Thewatchful，slightlytriumphantchildwasalmostdiabolical。
`DoIthinkhewilldie？\'repeatedGudrun。`Yes，Ido。\'
ButWinifred\'slargeeyeswerefixedonher，andthegirldidnotmove。
`Heisveryill，\'saidGudrun。
AsmallsmilecameoverWinifred\'sface，subtleandsceptical。
`Idon\'tbelievehewill，\'thechildasserted，mockingly，andshemovedawayintothedrive。Gudrunwatchedtheisolatedfigure，andherheartstoodstill。Winifredwasplayingwithalittlerivuletofwater，absorbedlyasifnothinghadbeensaid。
`I\'vemadeaproperdam，\'shesaid，outofthemoistdistance。
Geraldcametothedoorfromoutofthehallbehind。
`Itisjustaswellshedoesn\'tchoosetobelieveit，\'hesaid。
Gudrunlookedathim。Theireyesmet;andtheyexchangedasardonicunderstanding。
`Justaswell，\'saidGudrun。
Helookedatheragain，andafireflickeredupinhiseyes。
`BesttodancewhileRomeburns，sinceitmustburn，don\'tyouthink？\'
hesaid。
Shewasrathertakenaback。But，gatheringherselftogether，shereplied:
`Oh——betterdancethanwail，certainly。\'
`SoIthink。\'
Andtheybothfeltthesubterraneandesiretoletgo，toflingawayeverything，andlapseintoasheerunrestraint，brutalandlicentious。
AstrangeblackpassionsurgeduppureinGudrun。Shefeltstrong。Shefeltherhandssostrong，asifshecouldteartheworldasunderwiththem。
SherememberedtheabandonmentsofRomanlicence，andherheartgrewhot。
Sheknewshewantedthisherselfalso——orsomething，somethingequivalent。
Ah，ifthatwhichwasunknownandsuppressedinherwereonceletloose，whatanorgiasticandsatisfyingeventitwouldbe。Andshewantedit，shetrembledslightlyfromtheproximityoftheman，whostoodjustbehindher，suggestiveofthesameblacklicentiousnessthatroseinherself。
Shewanteditwithhim，thisunacknowledgedfrenzy。Foramomenttheclearperceptionofthispreoccupiedher，distinctandperfectinitsfinalreality。
Thensheshutitoffcompletely，saying:
`WemightaswellgodowntothelodgeafterWinifred——wecangetinthecarethere。\'
`Sowecan，\'heanswered，goingwithher。
TheyfoundWinifredatthelodgeadmiringthelitterofpurebredwhitepuppies。Thegirllookedup，andtherewasaratherugly，unseeingcastinhereyesassheturnedtoGeraldandGudrun。Shedidnotwanttoseethem。
`Look！\'shecried。`Threenewpuppies！Marshallsaysthisoneseemsperfect。Isn\'titasweetling？Butitisn\'tsoniceasitsmother。\'Sheturnedtocaressthefinewhitebull—terrierbitchthatstooduneasilynearher。
`MydearestLadyCrich，\'shesaid，`youarebeautifulasanangelonearth。Angel——angel——don\'tyouthinkshe\'sgoodenoughandbeautifulenoughtogotoheaven，Gudrun？Theywillbeinheaven，won\'tthey——andespeciallymydarlingLadyCrich！MrsMarshall，Isay！\'
`Yes，MissWinifred？\'saidthewoman，appearingatthedoor。
`OhdocallthisoneLadyWinifred，ifsheturnsoutperfect，willyou？
DotellMarshalltocallitLadyWinifred。\'
`I\'lltellhim——butI\'mafraidthat\'sagentlemanpuppy，MissWinifred。\'
`Ohno！\'Therewasthesoundofacar。`There\'sRupert！\'criedthechild，andsherantothegate。
Birkin，drivinghiscar，pulledupoutsidethelodgegate。
`We\'reready！\'criedWinifred。`Iwanttositinfrontwithyou，Rupert。
MayI？\'
`I\'mafraidyou\'llfidgetaboutandfallout，\'hesaid。
`NoIwon\'t。Idowanttositinfrontnexttoyou。Itmakesmyfeetsolovelyandwarm，fromtheengines。\'
Birkinhelpedherup，amusedatsendingGeraldtositbyGudruninthebodyofthecar。
`Haveyouanynews，Rupert？\'Geraldcalled，astheyrushedalongthelanes。
`News？\'exclaimedBirkin。
`Yes，\'GeraldlookedatGudrun，whosatbyhisside，andhesaid，hiseyesnarrowlylaughing，`IwanttoknowwhetherIoughttocongratulatehim，butIcan\'tgetanythingdefiniteoutofhim。\'
Gudrunflusheddeeply。
`Congratulatehimonwhat？\'sheasked。
`Therewassomementionofanengagement——atleast，hesaidsomethingtomeaboutit。\'
Gudrunflusheddarkly。
`YoumeanwithUrsula？\'shesaid，inchallenge。
`Yes。Thatisso，isn\'tit？\'
`Idon\'tthinkthere\'sanyengagement，\'saidGudrun，coldly。
`Thatso？Stillnodevelopments，Rupert？\'hecalled。
`Where？Matrimonial？No。\'
`How\'sthat？\'calledGudrun。
Birkinglancedquicklyround。Therewasirritationinhiseyesalso。
`Why？\'hereplied。`Whatdoyouthinkofit，Gudrun？\'
`Oh，\'shecried，determinedtoflingherstonealsointothepool，sincetheyhadbegun，`Idon\'tthinkshewantsanengagement。Naturally，she\'sabirdthatprefersthebush。\'Gudrun\'svoicewasclearandgong—like。
ItremindedRupertofherfather\'s，sostrongandvibrant。
`AndI，\'saidBirkin，hisfaceplayfulbutyetdetermined，`Iwantabindingcontract，andamnotkeenonlove，particularlyfreelove。\'
Theywerebothamused。Whythispublicavowal？Geraldseemedsuspendedamoment，inamusement。
`Loveisn\'tgoodenoughforyou？\'hecalled。
`No！\'shoutedBirkin。
`Ha，wellthat\'sbeingover—refined，\'saidGerald，andthecarranthroughthemud。
`What\'sthematter，really？\'saidGerald，turningtoGudrun。
ThiswasanassumptionofasortofintimacythatirritatedGudrunalmostlikeanaffront。ItseemedtoherthatGeraldwasdeliberatelyinsultingher，andinfringingonthedecentprivacyofthemall。
`Whatisit？\'shesaid，inherhigh，repellentvoice。`Don\'taskme！
——Iknownothingaboutultimatemarriage，Iassureyou:orevenpenultimate。\'
`Onlytheordinaryunwarrantablebrand！\'repliedGerald。`Justso——
samehere。Iamnoexpertonmarriage，anddegreesofultimateness。ItseemstobeabeethatbuzzesloudlyinRupert\'sbonnet。\'
`Exactly！Butthatishistrouble，exactly！Insteadofwantingawomanforherself，hewantshisideasfulfilled。Which，whenitcomestoactualpractice，isnotgoodenough。\'
`Ohno。Bestgoslapforwhat\'swomanlyinwoman，likeabullatagate。\'
Thenheseemedtoglimmerinhimself。`Youthinkloveistheticket，doyou？\'heasked。
`Certainly，whileitlasts——youonlycan\'tinsistonpermanency，\'
cameGudrun\'svoice，stridentabovethenoise。
`Marriageornomarriage，ultimateorpenultimateorjustso—so？——
taketheloveasyoufindit。\'
`Asyouplease，orasyoudon\'tplease，\'sheechoed。`Marriageisasocialarrangement，Itakeit，andhasnothingtodowiththequestionoflove。\'
Hiseyeswereflickeringonherallthetime。Shefeltasishewerekissingherfreelyandmalevolently。Itmadethecolourburninhercheeks，butherheartwasquitefirmandunfailing。
`YouthinkRupertisoffhisheadabit？\'Geraldasked。
Hereyesflashedwithacknowledgment。
`Asregardsawoman，yes，\'shesaid，`Ido。Thereissuchathingastwopeoplebeinginloveforthewholeoftheirlives——perhaps。Butmarriageisneitherherenorthere，eventhen。Iftheyareinlove，wellandgood。Ifnot——whybreakeggsaboutit！\'
`Yes，\'saidGerald。`That\'showitstrikesme。ButwhataboutRupert？\'
`Ican\'tmakeout——neithercanhenoranybody。Heseemstothinkthatifyoumarryyoucangetthroughmarriageintoathirdheaven，orsomething——allveryvague。\'
`Very！Andwhowantsathirdheaven？Asamatteroffact，Ruperthasagreatyearningtobesafe——totiehimselftothemast。\'
`Yes。Itseemstomehe\'smistakentheretoo，\'saidGudrun。`I\'msureamistressismorelikelytobefaithfulthanawife——justbecausesheisherownmistress。No——hesayshebelievesthatamanandwifecangofurtherthananyothertwobeings——butwhere，isnotexplained。
Theycanknoweachother，heavenlyandhellish，butparticularlyhellish，soperfectlythattheygobeyondheavenandhell——into——thereitallbreaksdown——intonowhere。\'
`IntoParadise，hesays，\'laughedGerald。
Gudrunshruggedhershoulders。`Fem\'enficheofyourParadise！\'
shesaid。
`NotbeingaMohammedan，\'saidGerald。Birkinsatmotionless，drivingthecar，quiteunconsciousofwhattheysaid。AndGudrun，sittingimmediatelybehindhim，feltasortofironicpleasureinthusexposinghim。
`Hesays，\'sheadded，withagrimaceofirony，`thatyoucanfindaneternalequilibriuminmarriage，ifyouaccepttheunison，andstillleaveyourselfseparate，don\'ttrytofuse。\'
`Doesn\'tinspireme，\'saidGerald。
`That\'sjustit，\'saidGudrun。
`Ibelieveinlove，inarealabandon，ifyou\'recapableofit，\'
saidGerald。
`SodoI，\'saidshe。
`AndsodoesRupert，too——thoughheisalwaysshouting。\'
`No，\'saidGudrun。`Hewon\'tabandonhimselftotheotherperson。Youcan\'tbesureofhim。That\'sthetroubleIthink。\'
`Yethewantsmarriage！Marriage——etpuis？\'
`Leparadis！\'mockedGudrun。
Birkin，ashedrove，feltacreepingofthespine，asifsomebodywasthreateninghisneck。Butheshruggedwithindifference。Itbegantorain。
Herewasachange。Hestoppedthecarandgotdowntoputupthehood。
WomenInLove:Chapter22CHAPTERXXIIWomantoWomanTHEYCAMEtothetown，andleftGeraldattherailwaystation。GudrunandWinifredweretocometoteawithBirkin，whoexpectedUrsulaalso。Intheafternoon，however，thefirstpersontoturnupwasHermione。Birkinwasout，soshewentinthedrawing—room，lookingathisbooksandpapers，andplayingonthepiano。ThenUrsulaarrived。Shewassurprised，unpleasantlyso，toseeHermione，ofwhomshehadheardnothingforsometime。
`Itisasurprisetoseeyou，\'shesaid。
`Yes，\'saidHermione——`I\'vebeenawayatAix——\'
`Oh，foryourhealth？\'
`Yes。\'