`Andhasn\'titnow？\'askedUrsula。Shewasalwaysangrywhenhetookthistone。
`No，ithasn\'t。WhenIseethatclear，beautifulchair，andIthinkofEngland，evenJaneAusten\'sEngland——ithadlivingthoughtstounfoldeventhen，andpurehappinessinunfoldingthem。Andnow，wecanonlyfishamongtherubbishheapsfortheremnantsoftheiroldexpression。Thereisnoproductioninusnow，onlysordidandfoulmechanicalness。\'
`Itisn\'ttrue，\'criedUrsula。`Whymustyoualwayspraisethepast，attheexpenseofthepresent？Really，Idon\'tthinksomuchofJaneAusten\'sEngland。Itwasmaterialisticenough，ifyoulike——\'
`Itcouldaffordtobematerialistic，\'saidBirkin，`becauseithadthepowertobesomethingother——whichwehaven\'t。Wearematerialisticbecausewehaven\'tthepowertobeanythingelse——tryaswemay，wecan\'tbringoffanythingbutmaterialism:mechanism，theverysoulofmaterialism。\'
Ursulawassubduedintoangrysilence。Shedidnotheedwhathesaid。
Shewasrebellingagainstsomethingelse。
`AndIhateyourpast。I\'msickofit，\'shecried。`IbelieveIevenhatethatoldchair，thoughitisbeautiful。Itisn\'tmysortofbeauty。Iwishithadbeensmashedupwhenitsdaywasover，notlefttopreachthebelovedpasttous。I\'msickofthebelovedpast。\'
`NotsosickasIamoftheaccursedpresent，\'hesaid。
`Yes，justthesame。Ihatethepresent——butIdon\'twantthepasttotakeitsplace——Idon\'twantthatoldchair。\'
Hewasratherangryforamoment。Thenhelookedattheskyshiningbeyondthetowerofthepublicbaths，andheseemedtogetoveritall。
Helaughed。
`Allright，\'hesaid，`thenletusnothaveit。I\'msickofitall，too。Atanyrateonecan\'tgoonlivingontheoldbonesofbeauty。\'
`Onecan\'t，\'shecried。`Idon\'twantoldthings。\'
`Thetruthis，wedon\'twantthingsatall，\'hereplied。`Thethoughtofahouseandfurnitureofmyownishatefultome。\'
Thisstartledherforamoment。Thenshereplied:
`Soitistome。Butonemustlivesomewhere。\'
`Notsomewhere——anywhere，\'hesaid。`Oneshouldjustliveanywhere——nothaveadefiniteplace。Idon\'twantadefiniteplace。Assoonasyougetaroom，anditiscomplete，youwanttorunfromit。NowmyroomsattheMillarequitecomplete，Iwantthematthebottomofthesea。Itisahorribletyrannyofafixedmilieu，whereeachpieceoffurnitureisacommandment—stone。\'
Sheclungtohisarmastheywalkedawayfromthemarket。
`Butwhatarewegoingtodo？\'shesaid。`Wemustlivesomehow。AndIdowantsomebeautyinmysurroundings。Iwantasortofnaturalgrandeureven，splendour。\'
`You\'llnevergetitinhousesandfurniture——orevenclothes。Housesandfurnitureandclothes，theyarealltermsofanoldbaseworld，adetestablesocietyofman。AndifyouhaveaTudorhouseandold，beautifulfurniture，itisonlythepastperpetuatedontopofyou，horrible。AndifyouhaveaperfectmodernhousedoneforyoubyPoiret，itissomethingelseperpetuatedontopofyou。Itisallhorrible。Itisallpossessions，possessions，bullyingyouandturningyouintoageneralisation。YouhavetobelikeRodin，Michelangelo，andleaveapieceofrawrockunfinishedtoyourfigure。
Youmustleaveyoursurroundingssketchy，unfinished，sothatyouarenevercontained，neverconfined，neverdominatedfromtheoutside。\'
Shestoodinthestreetcontemplating。
`Andwearenevertohaveacompleteplaceofourown——neverahome？\'
shesaid。
`PrayGod，inthisworld，no，\'heanswered。
`Butthere\'sonlythisworld，\'sheobjected。
Hespreadouthishandswithagestureofindifference。
`Meanwhile，then，we\'llavoidhavingthingsofourown，\'hesaid。
`Butyou\'vejustboughtachair，\'shesaid。
`IcantellthemanIdon\'twantit，\'hereplied。
Sheponderedagain。Thenaqueerlittlemovementtwitchedherface。
`No，\'shesaid，`wedon\'twantit。I\'msickofoldthings。\'
`Newonesaswell，\'hesaid。
Theyretracedtheirsteps。
There——infrontofsomefurniture，stoodtheyoungcouple，thewomanwhowasgoingtohaveababy，andthenarrow—facedyouth。Shewasfair，rathershort，stout。Hewasofmediumheight，attractivelybuilt。Hisdarkhairfellsidewaysoverhisbrow，fromunderhiscap，hestoodstrangelyaloof，likeoneofthedamned。
`Letusgiveittothem，\'whisperedUrsula。`Looktheyaregettingahometogether。\'
`Iwon\'taidabettheminit，\'hesaidpetulantly，instantlysympathisingwiththealoof，furtiveyouth，againsttheactive，procreantfemale。
`Ohyes，\'criedUrsula。`It\'srightforthem——there\'snothingelseforthem。\'
`Verywell，\'saidBirkin，`youofferittothem。I\'llwatch。\'
Ursulawentrathernervouslytotheyoungcouple，whowerediscussinganironwashstand——orrather，themanwasglancingfurtivelyandwonderingly，likeaprisoner，attheabominablearticle，whilstthewomanwasarguing。
`Weboughtachair，\'saidUrsula，`andwedon\'twantit。Wouldyouhaveit？Weshouldbegladifyouwould。\'
Theyoungcouplelookedroundather，notbelievingthatshecouldbeaddressingthem。
`Wouldyoucareforit？\'repeatedUrsula。`It\'sreallyverypretty——but——but——\'shesmiledratherdazzlingly。
Theyoungcoupleonlystaredather，andlookedsignificantlyateachother，toknowwhattodo。Andthemancuriouslyobliteratedhimself，asifhecouldmakehimselfinvisible，asaratcan。
`Wewantedtogiveittoyou，\'explainedUrsula，nowovercomewithconfusionanddreadofthem。Shewasattractedbytheyoungman。Hewasastill，mindlesscreature，hardlyamanatall，acreaturethatthetownshaveproduced，strangelypure—bredandfineinonesense，furtive，quick，subtle。Hislashesweredarkandlongandfineoverhiseyes，thathadnomindinthem，onlyadreadfulkindofsubject，inwardconsciousness，glazedanddark。Hisdarkbrowsandallhislines，werefinelydrawn。Hewouldbeadreadful，butwonderfullovertoawoman，somarvellouslycontributed。
Hislegswouldbemarvellouslysubtleandalive，undertheshapeless，trousers，hehadsomeofthefinenessandstillnessandsilkinessofadark—eyed，silentrat。
Ursulahadapprehendedhimwithafinefrissonofattraction。
Thefull—builtwomanwasstaringoffensively。AgainUrsulaforgothim。
`Won\'tyouhavethechair？\'shesaid。
Themanlookedatherwithasidewayslookofappreciation，yetfaroff，almostinsolent。Thewomandrewherselfup。Therewasacertaincostermongerrichnessabouther。ShedidnotknowwhatUrsulawasafter，shewasonherguard，hostile。Birkinapproached，smilingwickedlyatseeingUrsulasononplussedandfrightened。
`What\'sthematter？\'hesaid，smiling。Hiseyelidshaddroppedslightly，therewasabouthimthesamesuggestive，mockingsecrecythatwasinthebearingofthetwocitycreatures。Themanjerkedhisheadalittleononeside，indicatingUrsula，andsaid，withcuriousamiable，jeeringwarmth:
`Whatshewarnt？——eh？\'Anoddsmilewrithedhislips。
Birkinlookedathimfromunderhisslack，ironicaleyelids。
`Togiveyouachair——that——withthelabelonit，\'hesaid，pointing。
Themanlookedattheobjectindicated。Therewasacurioushostilityinmale，outlawedunderstandingbetweenthetwomen。
`What\'sshewarnttogiveitusfor，guvnor，\'hereplied，inatoneoffreeintimacythatinsultedUrsula。
`Thoughtyou\'dlikeit——it\'saprettychair。Weboughtitanddon\'twantit。Noneedforyoutohaveit，don\'tbefrightened，\'saidBirkin，withawrysmile。
Themanglancedupathim，halfinimical，halfrecognising。
`Whydon\'tyouwantitforyourselves，ifyou\'vejustboughtit？\'askedthewomancoolly。`\'Taintgoodenoughforyou，nowyou\'vehadalookatit。Frightenedit\'sgotsomethinginit，eh？\'
ShewaslookingatUrsula，admiringly，butwithsomeresentment。
`I\'dneverthoughtofthat，\'saidBirkin。`Butno，thewood\'stoothineverywhere。\'
`Yousee，\'saidUrsula，herfaceluminousandpleased。`Wearejustgoingtogetmarried，andwethoughtwe\'dbuythings。Thenwedecided，justnow，thatwewouldn\'thavefurniture，we\'dgoabroad。\'
Thefull—built，slightlyblowsycitygirllookedatthefinefaceoftheotherwoman，withappreciation。Theyappreciatedeachother。Theyouthstoodaside，hisfaceexpressionlessandtimeless，thethinlineoftheblackmoustachedrawnstrangelysuggestiveoverhisratherwide，closedmouth。Hewasimpassive，abstract，likesomedarksuggestivepresence，agutter—presence。
`It\'sallrighttobesomefolks，\'saidthecitygirl，turningtoherownyoungman。Hedidnotlookather，buthesmiledwiththelowerpartofhisface，puttinghisheadasideinanoddgestureofassent。Hiseyeswereunchanging，glazedwithdarkness。
`Cawstssomethingtochangeyourmind，\'hesaid，inanincrediblylowaccent。
`Onlytenshillingsthistime，\'saidBirkin。
Themanlookedupathimwithagrimaceofasmile，furtive，unsure。
`Cheapat\'arfaquid，guvnor，\'hesaid。`Notlikegettingdivawced。\'
`We\'renotmarriedyet，\'saidBirkin。
`No，nomorearen\'twe，\'saidtheyoungwomanloudly。`Butweshallbe，aSaturday。\'
Againshelookedattheyoungmanwithadetermined，protectivelook，atonceoverbearingandverygentle。Hegrinnedsicklily，turningawayhishead。Shehadgothismanhood，butLord，whatdidhecare！Hehadastrangefurtiveprideandslinkingsingleness。
`Goodlucktoyou，\'saidBirkin。
`Sametoyou，\'saidtheyoungwoman。Then，rathertentatively:`When\'syourscomingoff，then？\'
BirkinlookedroundatUrsula。
`It\'sfortheladytosay，\'hereplied。`Wegototheregistrarthemomentshe\'sready。\'
Ursulalaughed，coveredwithconfusionandbewilderment。
`No\'urry，\'saidtheyoungman，grinningsuggestive。
`Oh，don\'tbreakyournecktogetthere，\'saidtheyoungwoman。`\'Slikewhenyou\'redead——you\'relongtimemarried。\'
Theyoungmanturnedasideasifthishithim。
`Thelongerthebetter，letushope，\'saidBirkin。
`That\'sit，guvnor，\'saidtheyoungmanadmiringly。`Enjoyitwhileitlarsts——niverwhipadeaddonkey。\'
`Onlywhenhe\'sshammingdead，\'saidtheyoungwoman，lookingatheryoungmanwithcaressivetendernessofauthority。
`Aw，there\'sadifference，\'hesaidsatirically。
`Whataboutthechair？\'saidBirkin。
`Yes，allright，\'saidthewoman。
Theytrailedofftothedealer，thehandsomebutabjectyoungfellowhangingalittleaside。
`That\'sit，\'saidBirkin。`Willyoutakeitwithyou，orhavetheaddressaltered。\'
`Oh，Fredcancarryit。Makehimdowhathecanforthedearold\'ome。\'
`Mikeuseof\'im，\'saidFred，grimlyhumorous，ashetookthechairfromthedealer。Hismovementsweregraceful，yetcuriouslyabject，slinking。
`\'Ere\'smother\'scosychair，\'hesaid。`Warntsacushion。\'Andhestooditdownonthemarketstones。
`Don\'tyouthinkit\'spretty？\'laughedUrsula。
`Oh，Ido，\'saidtheyoungwoman。
`\'Aveasitinit，you\'llwishyou\'dkeptit，\'saidtheyoungman。
Ursulapromptlysatdowninthemiddleofthemarket—place。
`Awfullycomfortable，\'shesaid。`Butratherhard。Youtryit。\'Sheinvitedtheyoungmantoaseat。Butheturneduncouthly，awkwardlyaside，glancingupatherwithquickbrighteyes，oddlysuggestive，likeaquick，liverat。
`Don\'tspoilhim，\'saidtheyoungwoman。`He\'snotusedtoarm—chairs，\'eisn\'t。
Theyoungmanturnedaway，andsaid，withavertedgrin:
`Onlywarntslegson\'is。\'
Thefourparted。Theyoungwomanthankedthem。
`Thankyouforthechair——it\'lllasttillitgivesway。\'
`Keepitforanornyment，\'saidtheyoungman。
`Goodafternoon——Goodafternoon，\'saidUrsulaandBirkin。
`Goo\'—lucktoyou，\'saidtheyoungman，glancingandavoidingBirkin\'seyes，asheturnedasidehishead。
Thetwocoupleswentasunder，UrsulaclingingtoBirkin\'sarm。Whentheyhadgonesomedistance，sheglancedbackandsawtheyoungmangoingbesidethefull，easyyoungwoman。Histrouserssankoverhisheels，hemovedwithasortofslinkingevasion，morecrushedwithoddself—consciousnessnowhehadtheslimoldarm—chairtocarry，hisarmovertheback，thefourfine，squaretaperinglegsswayingperilouslynearthegranitesettsofthepavement。Andyethewassomewhereindomitableandseparate，likeaquick，vitalrat。Hehadaqueer，subterraneanbeauty，repulsivetoo。
`Howstrangetheyare！\'saidUrsula。
`Childrenofmen，\'hesaid。`TheyremindmeofJesus:\"Themeekshallinherittheearth。\"\'
`Buttheyaren\'tthemeek，\'saidUrsula。
`Yes，Idon\'tknowwhy，buttheyare，\'hereplied。
Theywaitedforthetramcar。Ursulasatontopandlookedoutonthetown。Theduskwasjustdimmingthehollowsofcrowdedhouses。
`Andaretheygoingtoinherittheearth？\'shesaid。
`Yes——they。\'
`Thenwhatarewegoingtodo？\'sheasked。`We\'renotlikethem——arewe？We\'renotthemeek？\'
`No。We\'vegottoliveinthechinkstheyleaveus。\'
`Howhorrible！\'criedUrsula。`Idon\'twanttoliveinchinks。\'
`Don\'tworry，\'hesaid。`Theyarethechildrenofmen，theylikemarket—placesandstreet—cornersbest。Thatleavesplentyofchinks。\'
`Alltheworld，\'shesaid。
`Ahno——butsomeroom。\'
Thetramcarmountedslowlyupthehill，wheretheuglywinter—greymassesofhouseslookedlikeavisionofhellthatiscoldandangular。Theysatandlooked。Awayinthedistancewasanangryrednessofsunset。Itwasallcold，somehowsmall，crowded，andliketheendoftheworld。
`Idon\'tminditeventhen，\'saidUrsula，lookingattherepulsivenessofitall。`Itdoesn\'tconcernme。\'
`Nomoreitdoes，\'hereplied，holdingherhand。`Oneneedn\'tsee。Onegoesone\'sway。Inmyworlditissunnyandspacious——\'
`Itis，mylove，isn\'tit？\'shecried，huggingneartohimonthetopofthetramcar，sothattheotherpassengersstaredatthem。
`Andwewillwanderaboutonthefaceoftheearth，\'hesaid，`andwe\'lllookattheworldbeyondjustthisbit。\'
Therewasalongsilence。Herfacewasradiantlikegold，asshesatthinking。
`Idon\'twanttoinherittheearth，\'shesaid。`Idon\'twanttoinheritanything。\'
Heclosedhishandoverhers。
`NeitherdoI。Iwanttobedisinherited。\'
Sheclaspedhisfingersclosely。
`Wewon\'tcareaboutanything，\'shesaid。
Hesatstill，andlaughed。
`Andwe\'llbemarried，andhavedonewiththem，\'sheadded。
Againhelaughed。
`It\'sonewayofgettingridofeverything，\'shesaid，`togetmarried。\'
`Andonewayofacceptingthewholeworld，\'headded。
`Awholeotherworld，yes，\'shesaidhappily。
`Perhapsthere\'sGerald——andGudrun——\'hesaid。
`Ifthereisthereis，yousee，\'shesaid。`It\'snogoodourworrying。
Wecan\'treallyalterthem，canwe？\'
`No，\'hesaid。`Onehasnorighttotry——notwiththebestintentionsintheworld。\'
`Doyoutrytoforcethem？\'sheasked。
`Perhaps，\'hesaid。`WhyshouldIwanthimtobefree，ifitisn\'thisbusiness？\'
Shepausedforatime。
`Wecan\'tmakehimhappy，anyhow，\'shesaid。`He\'dhavetobeitofhimself。\'
`Iknow，\'hesaid。`Butwewantotherpeoplewithus，don\'twe？\'
`Whyshouldwe？\'sheasked。
`Idon\'tknow，\'hesaiduneasily。`Onehasahankeringafterasortoffurtherfellowship。\'
`Butwhy？\'sheinsisted。`Whyshouldyouhankerafterotherpeople？
Whyshouldyouneedthem？\'
Thishithimrightonthequick。Hisbrowsknitted。
`Doesitendwithjustourtwoselves？\'heasked，tense。
`Yes——whatmoredoyouwant？Ifanybodylikestocomealong，letthem。
Butwhymustyourunafterthem？\'
Hisfacewastenseandunsatisfied。
`Yousee，\'hesaid，`Ialwaysimagineourbeingreallyhappywithsomefewotherpeople——alittlefreedomwithpeople。\'
Sheponderedforamoment。
`Yes，onedoeswantthat。Butitmusthappen。Youcan\'tdoanythingforitwithyourwill。Youalwaysseemtothinkyoucanforcetheflowerstocomeout。Peoplemustloveusbecausetheyloveus——youcan\'tmakethem。\'
`Iknow，\'hesaid。`Butmustonetakenostepsatall？Mustonejustgoasifonewerealoneintheworld——theonlycreatureintheworld？\'
`You\'vegotme，\'shesaid。`Whyshouldyouneedothers？Whymustyouforcepeopletoagreewithyou？Whycan\'tyoubesinglebyyourself，asyouarealwayssaying？YoutrytobullyGerald——asyoutriedtobullyHermione。Youmustlearntobealone。Andit\'ssohorridofyou。You\'vegotme。Andyetyouwanttoforceotherpeopletoloveyouaswell。Youdotrytobullythemtoloveyou。Andeventhen，youdon\'twanttheirlove。\'
Hisfacewasfullofrealperplexity。
`Don\'tI？\'hesaid。`It\'stheproblemIcan\'tsolve。IknowI
wantaperfectandcompleterelationshipwithyou:andwe\'venearlygotit——wereallyhave。Butbeyondthat。DoIwantareal，ultimaterelationshipwithGerald？DoIwantafinal，almostextra—humanrelationshipwithhim——arelationshipintheultimateofmeandhim——ordon\'tI？\'
Shelookedathimforalongtime，withstrangebrighteyes，butshedidnotanswer。
WomenInLove:Chapter27CHAPTERXXVIIFlittingTHATEVENINGUrsulareturnedhomeverybright—eyedandwondrous——whichirritatedherpeople。Herfathercamehomeatsuppertime，tiredaftertheeveningclass，andthelongjourneyhome。Gudrunwasreading，themothersatinsilence。
SuddenlyUrsulasaidtothecompanyatlarge，inabrightvoice，`RupertandIaregoingtobemarriedtomorrow。\'
Herfatherturnedround，stiffly。
`Youwhat？\'hesaid。
`Tomorrow！\'echoedGudrun。
`Indeed！\'saidthemother。
ButUrsulaonlysmiledwonderfully，anddidnotreply。
`Marriedtomorrow！\'criedherfatherharshly。`Whatareyoutalkingabout。\'
`Yes，\'saidUrsula。`Whynot？\'Thosetwowords，fromher，alwaysdrovehimmad。`Everythingisallright——weshallgototheregistrar\'soffice——\'
Therewasasecond\'shushintheroom，afterUrsula\'sblithevagueness。
`Really，Ursula！\'saidGudrun。
`Mightweaskwhytherehasbeenallthissecrecy？\'demandedthemother，rathersuperbly。
`Buttherehasn\'t，\'saidUrsula。`Youknew。\'
`Whoknew？\'nowcriedthefather。`Whoknew？Whatdoyoumeanbyyour\"youknew\"？\'
Hewasinoneofhisstupidrages，sheinstantlyclosedagainsthim。
`Ofcourseyouknew，\'shesaidcoolly。`Youknewweweregoingtogetmarried。\'
Therewasadangerouspause。
`Weknewyouweregoingtogetmarried，didwe？Knew！Why，doesanybodyknowanythingaboutyou，youshiftybitch！\'
`Father！\'criedGudrun，flushingdeepinviolentremonstrance。Then，inacold，butgentlevoice，asiftoremindhersistertobetractable:
`Butisn\'titafearfullysuddendecision，Ursula？\'sheasked。
`No，notreally，\'repliedUrsula，withthesamemaddeningcheerfulness。
`He\'sbeenwantingmetoagreeforweeks——he\'shadthelicenceready。OnlyI——Iwasn\'treadyinmyself。NowIamready——isthereanythingtobedisagreeableabout？\'
`Certainlynot，\'saidGudrun，butinatoneofcoldreproof。`Youareperfectlyfreetodoasyoulike。\'
`\"Readyinyourself\"——yourself，that\'sallthatmatters，isn\'tit！\"Iwasn\'treadyinmyself，\"\'hemimickedherphraseoffensively。`Youandyourself，you\'reofsomeimportance，aren\'tyou？\'
Shedrewherselfupandsetbackherthroat，hereyesshiningyellowanddangerous。
`Iamtomyself，\'shesaid，woundedandmortified。`IknowIamnottoanybodyelse。Youonlywantedtobullyme——younevercaredformyhappiness。\'
Hewasleaningforwardwatchingher，hisfaceintenselikeaspark。
`Ursula，whatareyousaying？Keepyourtonguestill，\'criedhermother。
Ursulaswunground，andthelightsinhereyesflashed。
`No，Iwon\'t，\'shecried。`Iwon\'tholdmytongueandbebullied。WhatdoesitmatterwhichdayIgetmarried——whatdoesitmatter！Itdoesn\'taffectanybodybutmyself。\'
Herfatherwastenseandgatheredtogetherlikeacatabouttospring。
`Doesn\'tit？\'hecried，comingnearertoher。Sheshrankaway。
`No，howcanit？\'shereplied，shrinkingbutstubborn。
`Itdoesn\'tmattertomethen，whatyoudo——whatbecomesofyou？\'hecried，inastrangevoicelikeacry。
ThemotherandGudrunstoodbackasifhypnotised。
`No，\'stammeredUrsula。Herfatherwasveryneartoher。`Youonlywantto——\'
Sheknewitwasdangerous，andshestopped。Hewasgatheredtogether，everymuscleready。
`What？\'hechallenged。
`Bullyme，\'shemuttered，andevenasherlipsweremoving，hishandhadcaughthersmackatthesideofthefaceandshewassentupagainstthedoor。
`Father！\'criedGudruninahighvoice，`itisimpossible！\'
Hestoodunmoving。Ursularecovered，herhandwasonthedoorhandle。
Sheslowlydrewherselfup。Heseemeddoubtfulnow。
`It\'strue，\'shedeclared，withbrillianttearsinhereyes，herheadliftedupindefiance。`Whathasyourlovemeant，whatdiditevermean？
——bullying，anddenial——itdid——\'
Hewasadvancingagainwithstrange，tensemovements，andclenchedfist，andthefaceofamurderer。Butswiftaslightningshehadflashedoutofthedoor，andtheyheardherrunningupstairs。
Hestoodforamomentlookingatthedoor。Then，likeadefeatedanimal，heturnedandwentbacktohisseatbythefire。
Gudrunwasverywhite。Outoftheintensesilence，themother\'svoicewasheardsaying，coldandangry:
`Well，youshouldn\'ttakesomuchnoticeofher。\'
Againthesilencefell，eachfollowedaseparatesetofemotionsandthoughts。
Suddenlythedooropenedagain:Ursula，dressedinhatandfurs，withasmallvaliseinherhand:
`Good—bye！\'shesaid，inhermaddening，bright，almostmockingtone。
`I\'mgoing。\'
Andinthenextinstantthedoorwasclosed，theyheardtheouterdoor，thenherquickstepsdownthegardenpath，thenthegatebanged，andherlightfootfallwasgone。Therewasasilencelikedeathinthehouse。
Ursulawentstraighttothestation，hasteningheedlesslyonwingedfeet。Therewasnotrain，shemustwalkontothejunction。Asshewentthroughthedarkness，shebegantocry，andsheweptbitterly，withadumb，heart—broken，child\'sanguish，allthewayontheroad，andinthetrain。
Timepassedunheededandunknown，shedidnotknowwhereshewas，norwhatwastakingplace。Onlysheweptfromfathomlessdepthsofhopeless，hopelessgrief，theterriblegriefofachild，thatknowsnoextenuation。
YethervoicehadthesamedefensivebrightnessasshespoketoBirkin\'slandladyatthedoor。
`Goodevening！IsMrBirkinin？CanIseehim？\'
`Yes，he\'sin。He\'sinhisstudy。\'
Ursulaslippedpastthewoman。Hisdooropened。Hehadheardhervoice。
`Hello！\'heexclaimedinsurprise，seeingherstandingtherewiththevaliseinherhand，andmarksoftearsonherface。Shewasonewhoweptwithoutshowingmanytraces，likeachild。
`DoIlookasight？\'shesaid，shrinking。
`No——why？Comein，\'hetookthebagfromherhandandtheywentintothestudy。
There——immediately，herlipsbegantotremblelikethoseofachildthatremembersagain，andthetearscamerushingup。
`What\'sthematter？\'heasked，takingherinhisarms。Shesobbedviolentlyonhisshoulder，whilstheheldherstill，waiting。