`Wait!’shefaltered。`Wait!What’scomebetweenus？’
Hewasbentover，lacinghisboot，anddidnotreply。Themomentspassed。
Adimnesscameoverher，likeaswoon。Allherconsciousnessdied，andshestoodtherewide-eyed，lookingathimfromtheunknown，knowingnothinganymore。
Helookedup，becauseofthesilence，andsawherwide-eyedandlost。
Andasifawindtossedhimhegotupandhobbledovertoher，oneshoeoffandoneshoeon，andtookherinhisarms，pressingheragainsthisbody，whichsomehowfelthurtrightthrough。Andthereheheldher，andtheresheremained。
Tillhishandsreachedblindlydownandfeltforher，andfeltundertheclothingtowhereshewassmoothandwarm。
`Malass!’hemurmured。`Malittlelass!Dunnalet’slight!Dunnalet’sniverlight!Ilovetheean’th’touchonthee。Dunnaarguewi’me!Dunna!
Dunna!Dunna!Let’sbetogether。’
Sheliftedherfaceandlookedathim。
`Don’tbeupset，’shesaidsteadily。`It’snogoodbeingupset。Doyoureallywanttobetogetherwithme？’
Shelookedwithwide，steadyeyesintohisface。Hestopped，andwentsuddenlystill，turninghisfaceaside。Allhisbodywentperfectlystill，butdidnotwithdraw。
Thenheliftedhisheadandlookedintohereyes，withhisodd，faintlymockinggrin，saying：`Ay-ay!Let’sbetogetheronoath。’
`Butreally？’shesaid，hereyesfillingwithtears。`Ayreally!Heartan’bellyan’cock。’
Hestillsmiledfaintlydownather，withtheflickerofironyinhiseyes，andatouchofbitterness。
Shewassilentlyweeping，andhelaywithherandwentintoherthereonthehearthrug，andsotheygainedameasureofequanimity。Andthentheywentquicklytobed，foritwasgrowingchill，andtheyhadtiredeachotherout。Andshenestleduptohim，feelingsmallandenfolded，andtheybothwenttosleepatonce，fastinonesleep。Andsotheylayandnevermoved，tillthesunroseoverthewoodanddaywasbeginning。
Thenhewokeupandlookedatthelight。Thecurtainsweredrawn。Helistenedtotheloudwildcallingofblackbirdsandthrushesinthewood。
Itwouldbeabrilliantmorning，abouthalfpastfive，hishourforrising。
Hehadsleptsofast!Itwassuchanewday!Thewomanwasstillcurledasleepandtender。Hishandmovedonher，andsheopenedherbluewonderingeyes，smilingunconsciouslyintohisface。
`Areyouawake？’shesaidtohim。
Hewaslookingintohereyes。Hesmiled，andkissedher。Andsuddenlysherousedandsatup。
`FancythatIamhere!’shesaid。
Shelookedroundthewhitewashedlittlebedroomwithitsslopingceilingandgablewindowwherethewhitecurtainswereclosed。Theroomwasbaresaveforalittleyellow-paintedchestofdrawers，andachair：andthesmallishwhitebedinwhichshelaywithhim。
`Fancythatwearehere!’shesaid，lookingdownathim。Hewaslyingwatchingher，strokingherbreastswithhisfingers，underthethinnightdress。
Whenhewaswarmandsmoothedout，helookedyoungandhandsome。Hiseyescouldlooksowarm。Andshewasfreshandyounglikeaflower。
`Iwanttotakethisoff!’shesaid，gatheringthethinbatistenightdressandpullingitoverherhead。Shesattherewithbareshouldersandlongishbreastsfaintlygolden。Helovedtomakeherbreastsswingsoftly，likebells。
`Youmusttakeoffyourpyjamastoo，’shesaid。
`Eh，nay!’
`Yes!Yes!’shecommanded。
Andhetookoffhisoldcottonpyjama-jacket，andpusheddownthetrousers。
Saveforhishandsandwristsandfaceandneckhewaswhiteasmilk，withfineslendermuscularflesh。ToConniehewassuddenlypiercinglybeautifulagain，aswhenshehadseenhimthatafternoonwashinghimself。
Goldofsunshinetouchedtheclosedwhitecurtain。Shefeltitwantedtocomein。
`Oh，dolet’sdrawthecurtains!Thebirdsaresingingso!Doletthesunin，’shesaid。
Heslippedoutofbedwithhisbacktoher，nakedandwhiteandthin，andwenttothewindow，stoopingalittle，drawingthecurtainsandlookingoutforamoment。Thebackwaswhiteandfine，thesmallbuttocksbeautifulwithanexquisite，delicatemanliness，thebackoftheneckruddyanddelicateandyetstrong。
Therewasaninward，notanoutwardstrengthinthedelicatefinebody。
`Butyouarebeautiful!’shesaid。`Sopureandfine!Come!’Sheheldherarmsout。
Hewasashamedtoturntoher，becauseofhisarousednakedness。
Hecaughthisshirtoffthefloor，andheldittohim，comingtoher。
`No!’shesaidstillholdingoutherbeautifulslimarmsfromherdroppingbreasts。`Letmeseeyou!’
Hedroppedtheshirtandstoodstilllookingtowardsher。Thesunthroughthelowwindowsentinabeamthatlituphisthighsandslimbellyandtheerectphallosrisingdarkishandhot-lookingfromthelittlecloudofvividgold-redhair。Shewasstartledandafraid。
`Howstrange!’shesaidslowly。`Howstrangehestandsthere!Sobig!
andsodarkandcock-sure!Ishelikethat？’
Themanlookeddownthefrontofhisslenderwhitebody，andlaughed。
Betweentheslimbreaststhehairwasdark，almostblack。Butattherootofthebelly，wherethephallosrosethickandarching，itwasgold-red，vividinalittlecloud。
`Soproud!’shemurmured，uneasy。`Andsolordly!NowIknowwhymenaresooverbearing!Buthe’slovely，really。Likeanotherbeing!
Abitterrifying!Butlovelyreally!Andhecomestome!——’Shecaughtherlowerlipbetweenherteeth，infearandexcitement。
Themanlookeddowninsilenceatthetensephallos，thatdidnotchange——`Ay!’
hesaidatlast，inalittlevoice。`Aymalad!tha’retheerrightenough。
Yi，thamunrearthyhead!Theeronthyown，eh？an’ta’esnocountO’
nob’dy!Thama’esnowtO’me，JohnThomas。Artboss？ofme？Ehwell，tha’remorecockythanme，an’thasaysless。JohnThomas!Dostwanther？
DostwantmyladyJane？Tha’sdippedmeinagain，thahast。Ay，an’thacomesupsmilin’——Ax’erthen!AxladyJane!Say：Liftupyourheads，Oyegates，thatthekingofglorymaycomein。Ay，th’cheekonthee!
Cunt，that’swhattha’reafter。TellladyJanethawantscunt。JohnThomas，an’th’cuntO’ladyJane!——’
`Oh，don’tteasehim，’saidConnie，crawlingonherkneesonthebedtowardshimandputtingherarmsroundhiswhiteslenderloins，anddrawinghimtohersothatherhanging，swingingbreaststouchedthetipofthestirring，erectphallos，andcaughtthedropofmoisture。Sheheldthemanfast。
`Liedown!’hesaid。`Liedown!Letmecome!’Hewasinahurrynow。
Andafterwards，whentheyhadbeenquitestill，thewomanhadtouncoverthemanagain，tolookatthemysteryofthephallos。
`Andnowhe’stiny，andsoftlikealittlebudoflife!’shesaid，takingthesoftsmallpenisinherhand。`Isn’thesomehowlovely!soonhisown，sostrange!Andsoinnocent!Andhecomessofarintome!Youmustneverinsulthim，youknow。He’sminetoo。He’snotonlyyours。He’smine!Andsolovelyandinnocent!’Andsheheldthepenissoftinherhand。
Helaughed。
`Blestbethetiethatbindsourheartsinkindredlove，’hesaid。
`Ofcourse!’shesaid。`Evenwhenhe’ssoftandlittleIfeelmyheartsimplytiedtohim。Andhowlovelyyourhairishere!quite，quitedifferent!’
`That’sJohnThomas’shair，notmine!’hesaid。
`JohnThomas!JohnThomas!’andshequicklykissedthesoftpenis，thatwasbeginningtostiragain。
`Ay!’saidtheman，stretchinghisbodyalmostpainfully。`He’sgothisrootinmysoul，hasthatgentleman!An’sometimesIdon’knowwhatterdowi’him。Ay，he’sgotawillofhisown，an’it’shardtosuithim。
YetIwouldn’thavehimkilled。’
`Nowondermenhavealwaysbeenafraidofhim!’shesaid。`He’sratherterrible。’
Thequiverwasgoingthroughtheman’sbody，asthestreamofconsciousnessagainchangeditsdirection，turningdownwards。Andhewashelpless，asthepenisinslowsoftundulationsfilledandsurgedandroseup，andgrewhard，standingtherehardandoverweening，initscurioustoweringfashion。
Thewomantootrembledalittleasshewatched。
`There!Takehimthen!He’sthine，’saidtheman。
Andshequivered，andherownmindmeltedout。Sharpsoftwavesofunspeakablepleasurewashedoverherasheenteredher，andstartedthecuriousmoltenthrillingthatspreadandspreadtillshewascarriedawaywiththelast，blindflushofextremity。
HeheardthedistanthootersofStacksGateforseveno’clock。ItwasMondaymorning。Heshiveredalittle，andwithhisfacebetweenherbreastspressedhersoftbreastsupoverhisears，todeafenhim。
Shehadnotevenheardthehooters。Shelayperfectlystill，hersoulwashedtransparent。
`Youmustgetup，mustn’tyou？’hemuttered。
`Whattime？’camehercolourlessvoice。
`Seven-o’clockblowersabitsin’。’
`IsupposeImust。’
Shewasresentingasshealwaysdid，thecompulsionfromoutside。
Hesatupandlookedblanklyoutofthewindow。`Youdoloveme，don’tyou？’sheaskedcalmly。Helookeddownather。
`Thaknowswhatthaknows。Whatdostaxfor!’hesaid，alittlefretfully。
`Iwantyoutokeepme，nottoletmego，’shesaid。
Hiseyesseemedfullofawarm，softdarknessthatcouldnotthink。
`When？Now？’
`Nowinyourheart。ThenIwanttocomeandlivewithyou，always，soon。’
Hesatnakedonthebed，withhisheaddropped，unabletothink。
`Don’tyouwantit？’sheasked。
`Ay!’hesaid。
Thenwiththesameeyesdarkenedwithanotherflameofconsciousness，almostlikesleep，helookedather。
`Dunnaaxmenowtnow，’hesaid。`Letmebe。Ilikethee。Iluvtheewhenthaliestheer。Awoman’salovelythingwhen’er’sdeepterfuck，andcunt’sgood。Ahluvthee，thylegs，an’th’shapeonthee，an’th’
womannessonthee。Ahluvth’womannessonthee。Ahluvtheewi’mybasan’wi’myheart。Butdunnaaxmenowt。Dunnama’emesaynowt。LetmestopasIamwhileIcan。Thacanaxmeiverythingafter。Nowletmebe，letmebe!’
Andsoftly，helaidhishandoverhermoundofVenus，onthesoftbrownmaiden-hair，andhimself-satstillandnakedonthebed，hisfacemotionlessinphysicalabstraction，almostlikethefaceofBuddha。Motionless，andintheinvisibleflameofanotherconsciousness，hesatwithhishandonher，andwaitedfortheturn。
Afterawhile，hereachedforhisshirtandputiton，dressedhimselfswiftlyinsilence，lookedatheronceasshestilllaynakedandfaintlygoldenlikeaGloiredeDijonroseonthebed，andwasgone。Sheheardhimdownstairsopeningthedoor。
Andstillshelaymusing，musing。Itwasveryhardtogo：togooutofhisarms。Hecalledfromthefootofthestairs：`Halfpastseven!’
Shesighed，andgotoutofbed。Thebarelittleroom!Nothinginitatallbutthesmallchestofdrawersandthesmallishbed。Buttheboardfloorwasscrubbedclean。Andinthecornerbythewindowgablewasashelfwithsomebooks，andsomefromacirculatinglibrary。Shelooked。TherewerebooksaboutBolshevistRussia，booksoftravel，avolumeabouttheatomandtheelectron，anotheraboutthecompositionoftheearth’score，andthecausesofearthquakes：thenafewnovels：thenthreebooksonIndia。
So!Hewasareaderafterall。
Thesunfellonhernakedlimbsthroughthegablewindow。OutsideshesawthedogFlossieroaminground。Thehazel-brakewasmistedwithgreen，anddark-greendogs-mercuryunder。Itwasaclearcleanmorningwithbirdsflyingandtriumphantlysinging。Ifonlyshecouldstay!Ifonlythereweren’ttheotherghastlyworldofsmokeandiron!Ifonlyhewouldmakeheraworld。
Shecamedownstairs，downthesteep，narrowwoodenstairs。Stillshewouldbecontentwiththislittlehouse，ifonlyitwereinaworldofitsown。
Hewaswashedandfresh，andthefirewasburning。`Willyoueatanything？’
hesaid。
`No!Onlylendmeacomb。’
Shefollowedhimintothescullery，andcombedherhairbeforethehandbreadthofmirrorbythebackdoor。Thenshewasreadytogo。
Shestoodinthelittlefrontgarden，lookingatthedewyflowers，thegreybedofpinksinbudalready。
`Iwouldliketohavealltherestoftheworlddisappear，’shesaid，`andlivewithyouhere。’
`Itwon’tdisappear，’hesaid。
Theywentalmostinsilencethroughthelovelydewywood。Buttheyweretogetherinaworldoftheirown。
ItwasbittertohertogoontoWragby。
`Iwantsoontocomeandlivewithyoualtogether，’shesaidasshelefthim。
Hesmiled，unanswering。
Shegothomequietlyandunremarked，andwentuptoherroom。
Chapter15
TherewasaletterfromHildaonthebreakfast-tray。`FatherisgoingtoLondonthisweek，andIshallcallforyouonThursdayweek，June17th。
Youmustbereadysothatwecangoatonce。Idon’twanttowastetimeatWragby，it’sanawfulplace。IshallprobablystaythenightatRetfordwiththeColemans，soIshouldbewithyouforlunch，Thursday。Thenwecouldstartatteatime，andsleepperhapsinGrantham。ItisnouseourspendinganeveningwithClifford。Ifhehatesyourgoing，itwouldbenopleasuretohim。’
So!Shewasbeingpushedroundonthechess-boardagain。
Cliffordhatedhergoing，butitwasonlybecausehedidn’tfeelsafeinherabsence。Herpresence，forsomereason，madehimfeelsafe，andfreetodothethingshewasoccupiedwith。Hewasagreatdealatthepits，andwrestlinginspiritwiththealmosthopelessproblemsofgettingouthiscoalinthemosteconomicalfashionandthensellingitwhenhe’dgotitout。Heknewheoughttofindsomewayofusingit，orconvertingit，sothatheneedn’tsellit，orneedn’thavethechagrinoffailingtosellit。Butifhemadeelectricpower，couldhesellthatoruseit？