Helaughedatheragain，withmockinghumour。
`Butwhyareyouinabadtemper？’sheasked。`Doyoumeanyouarealwaysinabadtemper？’
`Prettywell，’hesaid，laughing。`Idon’tquitedigestmybile。’
`Butwhatbile？’shesaid。
`Bile!’hesaid。`Don’tyouknowwhatthatis？’Shewassilent，anddisappointed。Hewastakingnonoticeofher。
`I’mgoingawayforawhilenextmonth，’shesaid。
`Youare!Whereto？’
`Venice!WithSirClifford？Forhowlong？’
`Foramonthorso，’shereplied。`Cliffordwon’tgo。’
`He’llstayhere？’heasked。
`Yes!Hehatestotravelasheis。’
`Ay，poordevil!’hesaid，withsympathy。Therewasapause。
`Youwon’tforgetmewhenI’mgone，willyou？’sheasked。Againheliftedhiseyesandlookedfullather。
`Forget？’hesaid。`Youknownobodyforgets。It’snotaquestionofmemory；’
Shewantedtosay：`Whenthen？’butshedidn’t。Instead，shesaidinamutekindofvoice：`ItoldCliffordImighthaveachild。’
Nowhereallylookedather，intenseandsearching。
`Youdid？’hesaidatlast。`Andwhatdidhesay？’
`Oh，hewouldn’tmind。He’dbeglad，really，solongasitseemedtobehis。’Shedarednotlookupathim。
Hewassilentalongtime，thenhegazedagainonherface。
`Nomentionofme，ofcourse？’hesaid。
`No。Nomentionofyou，’shesaid。
`No，he’dhardlyswallowmeasasubstitutebreeder。Thenwhereareyousupposedtobegettingthechild？’
`Imighthavealove-affairinVenice，’shesaid。
`Youmight，’herepliedslowly。`Sothat’swhyyou’regoing？’
`Nottohavethelove-affair，’shesaid，lookingupathim，pleading。
`Justtheappearanceofone，’hesaid。
Therewassilence。Hesatstaringoutthewindow，withafaintgrin，halfmockery，halfbitterness，onhisface。Shehatedhisgrin。
`You’venottakenanyprecautionsagainsthavingachildthen？’heaskedhersuddenly。`BecauseIhaven’t。’
`No，’shesaidfaintly。`Ishouldhatethat。’
Helookedather，thenagainwiththepeculiarsubtlegrinoutofthewindow。Therewasatensesilence。
Atlastheturnedhisheadandsaidsatirically：
`Thatwaswhyyouwantedme，then，togetachild？’
Shehungherhead。
`No。Notreally，’shesaid。`Whatthen，really？’heaskedratherbitingly。
Shelookedupathimreproachfully，saying：`Idon’tknow。’
Hebrokeintoalaugh。
`ThenI’mdamnedifIdo，’hesaid。
Therewasalongpauseofsilence，acoldsilence。
`Well，’hesaidatlast。`It’sasyourLadyshiplikes。Ifyougetthebaby，SirClifford’swelcometoit。Ishan’thavelostanything。Onthecontrary，I’vehadaveryniceexperience，veryniceindeed!’——andhestretchedinahalf-suppressedsortofyawn。`Ifyou’vemadeuseofme，’
hesaid，`it’snotthefirsttimeI’vebeenmadeuseof；andIdon’tsupposeit’severbeenaspleasantasthistime；thoughofcourseonecan’tfeeltremendouslydignifiedaboutit。’——Hestretchedagain，curiously，hismusclesquivering，andhisjawoddlyset。
`ButIdidn’tmakeuseofyou，’shesaid，pleading。
`AtyourLadyship’sservice，’hereplied。
`No，’shesaid。`Ilikedyourbody。’
`Didyou？’hereplied，andhelaughed。`Well，then，we’requits，becauseIlikedyours。’
Helookedatherwithqueerdarkenedeyes。
`Wouldyouliketogoupstairsnow？’heaskedher，inastrangledsortofvoice。
`No，nothere。Notnow!’shesaidheavily，thoughifhehadusedanypoweroverher，shewouldhavegone，forshehadnostrengthagainsthim。
Heturnedhisfaceawayagain，andseemedtoforgether。`Iwanttotouchyoulikeyoutouchme，’shesaid。`I’veneverreallytouchedyourbody。’
Helookedather，andsmiledagain。`Now？’hesaid。`No!No!Nothere!
Atthehut。Wouldyoumind？’
`HowdoItouchyou？’heasked。
`Whenyoufeelme。’
Helookedather，andmetherheavy，anxiouseyes。
`AnddoyoulikeitwhenIfeelyou？’heasked，laughingatherstill。
`Yes，doyou？’shesaid。
`Oh，me!’Thenhechangedhistone。`Yes，’hesaid。`Youknowwithoutasking。’Whichwastrue。
Sheroseandpickedupherhat。`Imustgo，’shesaid。
`Willyougo？’herepliedpolitely。
Shewantedhimtotouchher，tosaysomethingtoher，buthesaidnothing，onlywaitedpolitely。
`Thankyouforthetea，’shesaid。
`Ihaven’tthankedyourLadyshipfordoingmethehonoursofmytea-pot，’
hesaid。
Shewentdownthepath，andhestoodinthedoorway，faintlygrinning。
Flossiecamerunningwithhertaillifted。AndConniehadtoploddumblyacrossintothewood，knowinghewasstandingtherewatchingher，withthatincomprehensiblegrinonhisface。
Shewalkedhomeverymuchdowncastandannoyed。Shedidn’tatalllikehissayinghehadbeenmadeuseofbecause，inasense，itwastrue。Butheoughtn’ttohavesaidit。Therefore，again，shewasdividedbetweentwofeelings：resentmentagainsthim，andadesiretomakeitupwithhim。
Shepassedaveryuneasyandirritatedtea-time，andatoncewentuptoherroom。Butwhenshewasthereitwasnogood；shecouldneithersitnorstand。Shewouldhavetodosomethingaboutit。Shewouldhavetogobacktothehut；ifhewasnotthere，wellandgood。
Sheslippedoutofthesidedoor，andtookherwaydirectandalittlesullen。Whenshecametotheclearingshewasterriblyuneasy。Buttherehewasagain，inhisshirt-sleeves，stooping，lettingthehensoutofthecoops，amongthechicksthatwerenowgrowingalittlegawky，butweremuchmoretrimthanhen-chickens。
Shewentstraightacrosstohim。`YouseeI’vecome!’shesaid。
`Ay，Iseeit!’hesaid，straighteninghisback，andlookingatherwithafaintamusement。
`Doyouletthehensoutnow？’sheasked。
`Yes，they’vesatthemselvestoskinandbone，’hesaid。`An’nowthey’renotallthatanxioustocomeoutan’feed。There’snoselfinasittinghen；she’sallintheeggsorthechicks。’
Thepoormother-hens；suchblinddevotion!eventoeggsnottheirown!
Connielookedatthemincompassion。Ahelplesssilencefellbetweenthemanandthewoman。
`Shallusgoi’th’’ut？’heasked。
`Doyouwantme？’sheasked，inasortofmistrust。
`Ay，ifyouwanttocome。’
Shewassilent。
`Comethen!’hesaid。
Andshewentwithhimtothehut。Itwasquitedarkwhenhehadshutthedoor，sohemadeasmalllightinthelantern，asbefore。
`Haveyouleftyourunderthingsoff？’heaskedher。
`Yes!’
`Ay，well，thenI’lltakemythingsofftoo。’
Hespreadtheblankets，puttingoneatthesideforacoverlet。Shetookoffherhat，andshookherhair。Hesatdown，takingoffhisshoesandgaiters，andundoinghiscordbreeches。
`Liedownthen!’hesaid，whenhestoodinhisshirt。Sheobeyedinsilence，andhelaybesideher，andpulledtheblanketoverthemboth。
`There!’hesaid。
Andheliftedherdressrightback，tillhecameeventoherbreasts。
Hekissedthemsoftly，takingthenipplesinhislipsintinycaresses。
`Eh，buttha’rtnice，tha’rtnice!’hesaid，suddenlyrubbinghisfacewithasnugglingmovementagainstherwarmbelly。
Andsheputherarmsroundhimunderhisshirt，butshewasafraid，afraidofhisthin，smooth，nakedbody，thatseemedsopowerful，afraidoftheviolentmuscles。Sheshrank，afraid。
Andwhenhesaid，withasortoflittlesigh：`Eh，tha’rtnice!’somethinginherquivered，andsomethinginherspiritstiffenedinresistance：stiffenedfromtheterriblyphysicalintimacy，andfromthepeculiarhasteofhispossession。Andthistimethesharpecstasyofherownpassiondidnotovercomeher；shelaywithherendsinertonhisstrivingbody，anddowhatshemight，herspiritseemedtolookonfromthetopofherhead，andthebuttingofhishaunchesseemedridiculoustoher，andthesortofanxietyofhispenistocometoitslittleevacuatingcrisisseemedfarcical。Yes，thiswaslove，thisridiculousbouncingofthebuttocks，andthewiltingofthepoor，insignificant，moistlittlepenis。Thiswasthedivinelove!Afterall，themodernswererightwhentheyfeltcontemptfortheperformance；foritwasaperformance。Itwasquitetrue，assomepoetssaid，thattheGodwhocreatedmanmusthavehadasinistersenseofhumour，creatinghimareasonablebeing，yetforcinghimtotakethisridiculousposture，anddrivinghimwithblindcravingforthisridiculousperformance。EvenaMaupassantfounditahumiliatinganti-climax。Mendespisedtheintercourseact，andyetdidit。
Coldandderisiveherqueerfemalemindstoodapart，andthoughshelayperfectlystill，herimpulsewastoheaveherloins，andthrowthemanout，escapehisuglygrip，andthebuttingover-ridingofhisabsurdhaunches。Hisbodywasafoolish，impudent，imperfectthing，alittledisgustinginitsunfinishedclumsiness。Forsurelyacompleteevolutionwouldeliminatethisperformance，this`function’。
Andyetwhenhehadfinished，soonover，andlayveryverystill，recedingintosilence，andastrangemotionlessdistance，far，fartherthanthehorizonofherawareness，herheartbegantoweep。Shecouldfeelhimebbingaway，ebbingaway，leavinghertherelikeastoneonashore。Hewaswithdrawing，hisspiritwasleavingher。Heknew。
Andinrealgrief，tormentedbyherowndoubleconsciousnessandreaction，shebegantoweep。Hetooknonotice，ordidnotevenknow。Thestormofweepingswelledandshookher，andshookhim。
`Ay!’hesaid。`Itwasnogoodthattime。Youwasn’tthere。’——Soheknew!Hersobsbecameviolent。
`Butwhat’samiss？’hesaid。`It’sonceinawhilethatway。’
`I……Ican’tloveyou，’shesobbed，suddenlyfeelingherheartbreaking。
`Cannater？Well，dunnafret!There’snolawsaysastha’sgotto。Ta’eitforwhatitis。’
Hestilllaywithhishandonherbreast。Butshehaddrawnbothherhandsfromhim。
Hiswordsweresmallcomfort。Shesobbedaloud。
`Nay，nay!’hesaid。`Ta’ethethickwi’th’thin。Thisworabito’
thinforonce。’
Sheweptbitterly，sobbing。`ButIwanttoloveyou，andIcan’t。Itonlyseemshorrid。’
Helaughedalittle，halfbitter，halfamused。
`Itisnahorrid，’hesaid，`evenifthathinksitis。An’thacannama’eithorrid。Dunnafretthysenaboutlovin’me。Tha’ltniverforcethysento`t。There’ssuretobeabadnutinabasketful。Thamunta’eth’roughwi’th’smooth。’
Hetookhishandawayfromherbreast，nottouchingher。Andnowshewasuntouchedshetookanalmostperversesatisfactioninit。Shehatedthedialect：thetheeandthethaandthethysen。
Hecouldgetupifheliked，andstandthere，aboveher，buttoningdownthoseabsurdcorduroybreeches，straightinfrontofher。Afterall，Michaelishadhadthedecencytoturnaway。Thismanwassoassuredinhimselfhedidn’tknowwhataclownotherpeoplefoundhim，ahalf-bredfellow。
Yet，ashewasdrawingaway，torisesilentlyandleaveher，sheclungtohiminterror。
`Don’t!Don’tgo!Don’tleaveme!Don’tbecrosswithme!Holdme!Holdmefast!’shewhisperedinblindfrenzy，notevenknowingwhatshesaid，andclingingtohimwithuncannyforce。Itwasfromherselfshewantedtobesaved，fromherowninwardangerandresistance。Yethowpowerfulwasthatinwardresistancethatpossessedher!
Hetookherinhisarmsagainanddrewhertohim，andsuddenlyshebecamesmallinhisarms，smallandnestling。Itwasgone，theresistancewasgone，andshebegantomeltinamarvellouspeace。Andasshemeltedsmallandwonderfulinhisarms，shebecameinfinitelydesirabletohim，allhisblood-vesselsseemedtoscaldwithintenseyettenderdesire，forher，forhersoftness，forthepenetratingbeautyofherinhisarms，passingintohisblood。Andsoftly，withthatmarvellousswoon-likecaressofhishandinpuresoftdesire，softlyhestrokedthesilkyslopeofherloins，down，downbetweenhersoftwarmbuttocks，comingnearerandnearertotheveryquickofher。Andshefelthimlikeaflameofdesire，yettender，andshefeltherselfmeltingintheflame。Sheletherselfgo。ShefelthispenisrisenagainstherwithsilentamazingforceandassertionandsheletherselfgotohimSheyieldedwithaquiverthatwaslikedeath，shewentallopentohim。Andoh，ifhewerenottendertohernow，howcruel，forshewasallopentohimandhelpless!
Shequiveredagainatthepotentinexorableentryinsideher，sostrangeandterrible。Itmightcomewiththethrustofaswordinhersoftly-openedbody，andthatwouldbedeath。Sheclunginasuddenanguishofterror。
Butitcamewithastrangeslowthrustofpeace，thedarkthrustofpeaceandaponderous，primordialtenderness，suchasmadetheworldinthebeginning。
Andherterrorsubsidedinherbreast，herbreastdaredtobegoneinpeace，sheheldnothing。Shedaredtoletgoeverything，allherselfandbegoneintheflood。