Andtoconvertintooilwasasyettoocostlyandtooelaborate。Tokeepindustryalivetheremustbemoreindustry，likeamadness。
Itwasamadness，anditrequiredamadmantosucceedinit。Well，hewasalittlemad。Conniethoughtso。Hisveryintensityandacumenintheaffairsofthepitsseemedlikeamanifestationofmadnesstoher，hisveryinspirationsweretheinspirationsofinsanity。
Hetalkedtoherofallhisseriousschemes，andshelistenedinakindofwonder，andlethimtalk。Thentheflowceased，andheturnedontheloudspeaker，andbecameablank，whileapparentlyhisschemescoiledoninsidehimlikeakindofdream。
Andeverynightnowheplayedpontoon，thatgameoftheTommies，withMrsBolton，gamblingwithsixpences。Andagain，inthegamblinghewasgoneinakindofunconsciousness，orblankintoxication，orintoxicationofblankness，whateveritwas。Conniecouldnotbeartoseehim。Butwhenshehadgonetobed，heandMrsBoltonwouldgambleontilltwoandthreeinthemorning，safely，andwithstrangelust。MrsBoltonwascaughtinthelustasmuchasClifford：themoreso，asshenearlyalwayslost。
ShetoldConnieoneday：`Ilosttwenty-threeshillingstoSirCliffordlastnight。’
`Anddidhetakethemoneyfromyou？’askedConnieaghast。
`Whyofcourse，myLady!Debtofhonour!’
Connieexpostulatedroundly，andwasangrywithbothofthem。Theupshotwas，SirCliffordraisedMrsBolton’swagesahundredayear，andshecouldgambleonthat。Meanwhile，itseemedtoConnie，Cliffordwasreallygoingdeader。
Shetoldhimatlengthshewasleavingontheseventeenth。
`Seventeenth!’hesaid。`Andwhenwillyoubeback？’
`BythetwentiethofJulyatthelatest。’
`Yes!thetwentiethofJuly。’
Strangelyandblanklyhelookedather，withthevaguenessofachild，butwiththequeerblankcunningofanoldman。
`Youwon’tletmedown，now，willyou？’hesaid。
`How？’
`Whileyou’reaway，Imean，you’resuretocomeback？’
`I’massureasIcanbeofanything，thatIshallcomeback。’
`Yes!Well!TwentiethofJuly!’
Helookedathersostrangely。
Yethereallywantedhertogo。Thatwassocurious。Hewantedhertogo，positively，tohaveherlittleadventuresandperhapscomehomepregnant，andallthat。Atthesametime，hewasafraidofhergoing。
Shewasquivering，watchingherrealopportunityforleavinghimaltogether，waitingtillthetime，herselfhimselfshouldberipe。
Shesatandtalkedtothekeeperofhergoingabroad。
`AndthenwhenIcomeback，’shesaid，`IcantellCliffordImustleavehim。AndyouandIcangoaway。Theyneverneedevenknowitisyou。Wecangotoanothercountry，shallwe？ToAfricaorAustralia。Shallwe？’
Shewasquitethrilledbyherplan。
`You’veneverbeentotheColonies，haveyou？’heaskedher。
`No!Haveyou？’
`I’vebeeninIndia，andSouthAfrica，andEgypt。’
`Whyshouldn’twegotoSouthAfrica？’
`Wemight!’hesaidslowly。
`Ordon’tyouwantto？’sheasked。
`Idon’tcare。Idon’tmuchcarewhatIdo。’
`Doesn’titmakeyouhappy？Whynot？Weshan’tbepoor。Ihaveaboutsixhundredayear，Iwroteandasked。It’snotmuch，butit’senough，isn’tit？’
`It’srichestome。’
`Oh，howlovelyitwillbe!’
`ButIoughttogetdivorced，andsooughtyou，unlesswe’regoingtohavecomplications。’
Therewasplentytothinkabout。
Anotherdaysheaskedhimabouthimself。Theywereinthehut，andtherewasathunderstorm。
`Andweren’tyouhappy，whenyouwerealieutenantandanofficerandagentleman？’
`Happy？Allright。IlikedmyColonel。’
`Didyoulovehim？’
`Yes!Ilovedhim。’
`Anddidheloveyou？’
`Yes!Inaway，helovedme。’
`Tellmeabouthim。’
`Whatistheretotell？Hehadrisenfromtheranks。Helovedthearmy。
Andhehadnevermarried。Hewastwentyyearsolderthanme。Hewasaveryintelligentman：andaloneinthearmy，assuchamanis：apassionatemaninhisway：andaverycleverofficer。IlivedunderhisspellwhileIwaswithhim。Isortoflethimrunmylife。AndIneverregretit。’
`Anddidyoumindverymuchwhenhedied？’
`Iwasasneardeathmyself。ButwhenIcameto，Iknewanotherpartofmewasfinished。ButthenIhadalwaysknownitwouldfinishindeath。
Allthingsdo，asfarasthatgoes。’
Shesatandruminated。Thethundercrashedoutside。ItwaslikebeinginalittlearkintheFlood。
`Youseemtohavesuchalotbehindyou，’shesaid。
`DoI？ItseemstomeI’vediedonceortwicealready。YethereIam，peggingon，andinformoretrouble。’
Shewasthinkinghard，yetlisteningtothestorm。
`Andweren’tyouhappyasanofficerandagentleman，whenyourColonelwasdead？’
`No!Theywereamingylot。’Helaughedsuddenly。`TheColonelusedtosay：Lad，theEnglishmiddleclasseshavetocheweverymouthfulthirtytimesbecausetheirgutsaresonarrow，abitasbigasapeawouldgivethemastoppage。They’rethemingiestsetofladylikesnipeeverinvented：
fullofconceitofthemselves，frightenedeveniftheirboot-lacesaren’tcorrect，rottenashighgame，andalwaysintheright。That’swhatfinishesmeup。Kow-tow，kow-tow，arse-lickingtilltheirtonguesaretough：yetthey’realwaysintheright。Prigsontopofeverything。Prigs!Agenerationofladylikeprigswithhalfaballeach——’
Connielaughed。Therainwasrushingdown。
`Hehatedthem!’
`No，’saidhe。`Hedidn’tbother。Hejustdislikedthem。There’sadifference。
Because，ashesaid，theTommiesaregettingjustaspriggishandhalf-balledandnarrow-gutted。It’sthefateofmankind，togothatway。’
`Thecommonpeopletoo，theworkingpeople？’
`Allthelot。Theirspunkisgonedead。Motor-carsandcinemasandaeroplanessuckthatlastbitoutofthem。Itellyou，everygenerationbreedsamorerabbitygeneration，withindiarubbertubingforgutsandtinlegsandtinfaces。Tinpeople!It’sallasteadysortofbolshevismjustkillingoffthehumanthing，andworshippingthemechanicalthing。Money，money，money!Allthemodernlotgettheirrealkickoutofkillingtheoldhumanfeelingoutofman，makingmincemeatoftheoldAdamandtheoldEve。They’reallalike。Theworldisallalike：killoffthehumanreality，aquidforeveryforeskin，twoquidforeachpairofballs。Whatiscuntbutmachine-fucking!——It’sallalike。Pay’emmoneytocutofftheworld’scock。Paymoney，money，moneytothemthatwilltakespunkoutofmankind，andleave’emalllittletwiddlingmachines。’
Hesatthereinthehut，hisfacepulledtomockingirony。Yeteventhen，hehadoneearsetbackwards，listeningtothestormoverthewood。
Itmadehimfeelsoalone。
`Butwon’titevercometoanend？’shesaid。
`Ay，itwill。It’llachieveitsownsalvation。Whenthelastrealmaniskilled，andthey’realltame：white，black，yellow，allcoloursoftameones：thenthey’llallbeinsane。Becausetherootofsanityisintheballs。Thenthey’llallbeinsane，andthey’llmaketheirgrand~autodafe。Youknowautodafemeansactoffaith？Ay，well，they’llmaketheirowngrandlittleactoffaith。They’llofferoneanotherup。’
`Youmeankilloneanother？’
`Ido，duckie!Ifwegoonatourpresentratetheninahundredyears’
timetherewon’tbetenthousandpeopleinthisisland：theremaynotbeten。They’llhavelovinglywipedeachotherout。Thethunderwasrollingfurtheraway。
`Hownice!’shesaid。
`Quitenice!Tocontemplatetheexterminationofthehumanspeciesandthelongpausethatfollowsbeforesomeotherspeciescropsup，itcalmsyoumorethananythingelse。Andifwegooninthisway，witheverybody，intellectuals，artists，government，industrialistsandworkersallfranticallykillingoffthelasthumanfeeling，thelastbitoftheirintuition，thelasthealthyinstinct；ifitgoesoninalgebraicalprogression，asitisgoingon：thenta-tah!tothehumanspecies!Goodbye!darling!theserpentswallowsitselfandleavesavoid，considerablymessedup，butnothopeless。
Verynice!WhensavagewilddogsbarkinWragby，andsavagewildpit-poniesstamponTevershallpit-bank!tedeumlaudamus!’
Connielaughed，butnotveryhappily。
`Thenyououghttobepleasedthattheyareallbolshevists，’shesaid。
`Yououghttobepleasedthattheyhurryontowardstheend。’
`SoIam。Idon’tstop’em。BecauseIcouldn’tifIwould。’
`Thenwhyareyousobitter？’
`I’mnot!Ifmycockgivesitslastcrow，Idon’tmind。’
`Butifyouhaveachild？’shesaid。
Hedroppedhishead。
`Why，’hesaidatlast。`Itseemstomeawrongandbitterthingtodo，tobringachildintothisworld。’
`No!Don’tsayit!Don’tsayit!’shepleaded。`IthinkI’mgoingtohaveone。Sayyou’llhepleased。’Shelaidherhandonhis。
`I’mpleasedforyoutobepleased，’hesaid。`Butformeitseemsaghastlytreacherytotheunborncreature。
`Ahno!’shesaid，shocked。`Thenyoucan’teverreallywantme!Youcan’twantme，ifyoufeelthat!’
Againhewassilent，hisfacesullen。Outsidetherewasonlythethreshingoftherain。
`It’snotquitetrue!’shewhispered。`It’snotquitetrue!There’sanothertruth。’Shefelthewasbitternowpartlybecauseshewasleavinghim，deliberatelygoingawaytoVenice。Andthishalfpleasedher。
Shepulledopenhisclothinganduncoveredhisbelly，andkissedhisnavel。Thenshelaidhercheekonhisbellyandpressedherarmroundhiswarm，silentloins。Theywerealoneintheflood。
`Tellmeyouwantachild，inhope!’shemurmured，pressingherfaceagainsthisbelly。`Tellmeyoudo!’
`Why!’hesaidatlast：andshefeltthecuriousquiverofchangingconsciousnessandrelaxationgoingthroughhisbody。`WhyI’vethoughtsometimesifonebuttried，hereamongth’collierseven!They’reworkin’
badnow，an’notearnin’much。Ifamancouldsayto’em：Dunnathinko’
nowtbutth’money。Whenitcomesterwants，wewantbutlittle。
Let’snotliveformoney——’
Shesoftlyrubbedhercheekonhisbelly，andgatheredhisballsinherhand。Thepenisstirredsoftly，withstrangelife，butdidnotriseup。Therainbeatbruisinglyoutside。
`Let’sliveforsummatelse。Let’snotlivetermakemoney，neitherforus-selvesnorforanybodyelse。Nowwe’reforcedto。We’reforcedtomakeabitforus-selves，an’afairlotforth’bosses。Let’sstopit!
Bitbybit，let’sstopit。Weneedn’trantan’rave。Bitbybit，let’sdropthewholeindustriallifean’goback。Theleastlittlebito’money’lldo。Foreverybody，mean’you，bossesan’masters，eventh’king。Theleastlittlebito’money’llreallydo。Justmakeupyourmindtoit，an’you’vegotouto’th’mess。’Hepaused，thenwenton：
`An’I’dtell’em：Look!LookatJoe!Hemoveslovely!Lookhowhemoves，aliveandaware。He’sbeautiful!An’lookatJonah!He’sclumsy，he’sugly，becausehe’sniverwillin’torousehimselfI’dtell’em：Look!lookatyourselves!oneshoulderhigherthant’other，legstwisted，feetalllumps!
Whathaveyerdoneteryerselves，wi’theblastedwork？Spoiltyerselves。
Noneedtoworkthatmuch。Takeyerclothesoffan’lookatyourselves。
Yeroughtterbealivean’beautiful，an’yeruglyan’halfdead。SoI’dtell’em。An’I’dgetmymentoweardifferentclothes：appencloseredtrousers，brightred，an’littleshortwhitejackets。Why，ifmenhadred，finelegs，thatalonewouldchangetheminamonth。They’dbegintobemenagain，tobemen!An’thewomencoulddressastheyliked。Becauseifoncethemenwalkedwithlegsclosebrightscarlet，andbuttocksniceandshowingscarletunderalittlewhitejacket：thenthewomen’udbegintobewomen。It’sbecauseth’menaren’tmen，thatth’womenhavetobe——An’intimepulldownTevershallandbuildafewbeautifulbuildings，thatwouldholdusall。An’cleanthecountryupagain。An’nothavemanychildren，becausetheworldisovercrowded。
`ButIwouldn’tpreachtothemen：onlystrip’eman’say：Lookatyourselves!
That’sworkin’formoney!——Harkatyourselves!That’sworkingformoney。
You’vebeenworkingformoney!LookatTevershall!It’shorrible。That’sbecauseitwasbuiltwhileyouwasworkingformoney。Lookatyourgirls!
Theydon’tcareaboutyou，youdon’tcareaboutthem。It’sbecauseyou’vespentyourtimeworkingan’caringformoney。Youcan’ttalknormovenorlive，youcan’tproperlybewithawoman。You’renotalive。Lookatyourselves!’
Therefellacompletesilence。Conniewashalflistening，andthreadinginthehairattherootofhisbellyafewforget-me-notsthatshehadgatheredonthewaytothehut。Outside，theworldhadgonestill，andalittleicy。
`You’vegotfourkindsofhair，’shesaidtohim。`Onyourchestit’snearlyblack，andyourhairisn’tdarkonyourhead：butyourmoustacheishardanddarkred，andyourhairhere，yourlove-hair，islikealittlebrushofbrightred-goldmistletoe。It’stheloveliestofall!’
Helookeddownandsawthemilkybitsofforget-me-notsinthehaironhisgroin。
`Ay!That’swheretoputforget-me-nots，intheman-hair，orthemaiden-hair。
Butdon’tyoucareaboutthefuture？’
Shelookedupathim。
`Oh，Ido，terribly!’shesaid。