`Idoubtyoucan’t，’herepliedeasily。
Theytrampedinridiculousfiledownthelaneagain，insilence。Anowlstillhooted。Heknewheoughttoshootit。
Thecarstooduntouched，alittledewy。Hildagotinandstartedtheengine。Theothertwowaited。
`AllImean，’shesaidfromherentrenchment，`isthatIdoubtifyou’llfindit’sbeenworthit，eitherofyou!’
`Oneman’smeatisanotherman’spoison，’hesaid，outofthedarkness。
`Butit’smeatan’drinktome。
Thelightsflaredout。
`Don’tmakemewaitinthemorning，’
`No，Iwon’t。Goodnight!’
Thecarroseslowlyontothehighroad，thenslidswiftlyaway，leavingthenightsilent。
Connietimidlytookhisarm，andtheywentdownthelane。Hedidnotspeak。Atlengthshedrewhimtoastandstill。
`Kissme!’shemurmured。
`Nay，waitabit!Letmesimmerdown，’hesaid。
Thatamusedher。Shestillkeptholdofhisarm，andtheywentquicklydownthelane，insilence。Shewassogladtobewithhim，justnow。Sheshivered，knowingthatHildamighthavesnatchedheraway。Hewasinscrutablysilent。
Whentheywereinthecottageagain，shealmostjumpedwithpleasure，thatsheshouldbefreeofhersister。
`ButyouwerehorridtoHilda，’shesaidtohim。
`Sheshouldha’beenslappedintime。’
`Butwhy？andshe’ssonice。’
Hedidn’tanswer，wentrounddoingtheeveningchores，withaquiet，inevitablesortofmotion。Hewasoutwardlyangry，butnotwithher。SoConniefelt。Andhisangergavehimapeculiarhandsomeness，aninwardnessandglistenthatthrilledherandmadeherlimbsgomolten。
Stillhetooknonoticeofher。
Tillhesatdownandbegantounlacehisboots。Thenhelookedupatherfromunderhisbrows，onwhichtheangerstillsatfirm。
`Shan’tyougoup？’hesaid。`There’sacandle!’
Hejerkedhisheadswiftlytoindicatethecandleburningonthetable。
Shetookitobediently，andhewatchedthefullcurveofherhipsasshewentupthefirststairs。
Itwasanightofsensualpassion，inwhichshewasalittlestartledandalmostunwilling：yetpiercedagainwithpiercingthrillsofsensuality，different，sharper，moreterriblethanthethrillsoftenderness，but，atthemoment，moredesirable。Thoughalittlefrightened，shelethimhavehisway，andthereckless，shamelesssensualityshookhertoherfoundations，strippedhertotheverylast，andmadeadifferentwomanofher。Itwasnotreallylove。Itwasnotvoluptuousness。Itwassensualitysharpandsearingasfire，burningthesoultotinder。
Burningouttheshames，thedeepest，oldestshames，inthemostsecretplaces。Itcostheranefforttolethimhavehiswayandhiswillofher。
Shehadtobeapassive，consentingthing，likeaslave，aphysicalslave。
Yetthepassionlickedroundher，consuming，andwhenthesensualflameofitpressedthroughherbowelsandbreast，shereallythoughtshewasdying：yetapoignant，marvellousdeath。
ShehadoftenwonderedwhatAbé；lardmeant，whenhesaidthatintheiryearofloveheandHé；loï；sehadpassedthroughallthestagesandrefinementsofpassion。Thesamething，athousandyearsago：tenthousandyearsago!ThesameontheGreekvases，everywhere!Therefinementsofpassion，theextravagancesofsensuality!Andnecessary，forevernecessary，toburnoutfalseshamesandsmeltouttheheaviestoreofthebodyintopurity。Withthefireofsheersensuality。
Intheshortsummernightshelearntsomuch。Shewouldhavethoughtawomanwouldhavediedofshame。Insteadofwhich，theshamedied。Shame，whichisfear：thedeepOrganicshame，theold，oldphysicalfearwhichcrouchesinthebodilyrootsofus，andcanonlybechasedawaybythesensualfire，atlastitwasrousedupandroutedbythephallichuntoftheman，andshecametotheveryheartofthejungleofherself。Shefelt，now，shehadcometotherealbed-rockofhernature，andwasessentiallyshameless。Shewashersensualself，nakedandunashamed。Shefeltatriumph，almostavainglory。So!Thatwashowitwas!Thatwaslife!Thatwashowoneselfreallywas!Therewasnothinglefttodisguiseorbeashamedof。
Shesharedherultimatenakednesswithaman，anotherbeing。
Andwhatarecklessdevilthemanwas!reallylikeadevil!Onehadtobestrongtobearhim。Butittooksomegettingat，thecoreofthephysicaljungle，thelastanddeepestrecessoforganicshame。Thephallosalonecouldexploreit。Andhowhehadpressedinonher!
Andhow，infear，shehadhatedit。Buthowshehadreallywantedit!
Sheknewnow。Atthebottomofhersoul，fundamentally，shehadneededthisphallichuntingOut，shehadsecretlywantedit，andshehadbelievedthatshewouldnevergetit。Nowsuddenlythereitwas，andamanwassharingherlastandfinalnakedness，shewasshameless。
Whatliarspoetsandeverybodywere!Theymadeonethinkonewantedsentiment。Whenwhatonesupremelywantedwasthispiercing，consuming，ratherawfulsensuality。Tofindamanwhodareddoit，withoutshameorsinorfinalmisgiving!Ifhehadbeenashamedafterwards，andmadeonefeelashamed，howawful!Whatapitymostmenaresodoggy，abitshameful，likeClifford!LikeMichaeliseven!Bothsensuallyabitdoggyandhumiliating。
Thesupremepleasureofthemind!Andwhatisthattoawoman？Whatisit，really，tothemaneither!Hebecomesmerelymessyanddoggy，eveninhismind。Itneedssheersensualityeventopurifyandquickenthemind。
Sheerfierysensuality，notmessiness。
Ah，God，howrareathingamanis!Theyarealldogsthattrotandsniffandcopulate。Tohavefoundamanwhowasnotafraidandnotashamed!
Shelookedathimnow，sleepingsolikeawildanimalasleep，gone，goneintheremotenessofit。Shenestleddown，nottobeawayfromhim。
Tillhisrousingwakedhercompletely。Hewassittingupinbed，lookingdownather。Shesawherownnakednessinhiseyes，immediateknowledgeofher。Andthefluid，maleknowledgeofherselfseemedtoflowtoherfromhiseyesandwraphervoluptuously。Oh，howvoluptuousandlovelyitwastohavelimbsandbodyhalf-asleep，heavyandsuffusedwithpassion。
`Isittimetowakeup？’shesaid。
`Halfpastsix。’
Shehadtobeatthelane-endateight。Always，always，alwaysthiscompulsiononone!
`Imightmakethebreakfastandbringituphere；shouldI？’hesaid。
`Ohyes!’
Flossiewhimperedgentlybelow。Hegotupandthrewoffhispyjamas，andrubbedhimselfwithatowel。Whenthehumanbeingisfullofcourageandfulloflife，howbeautifulitis!Soshethought，asshewatchedhiminsilence。
`Drawthecurtain，willyou？’
Thesunwasshiningalreadyonthetendergreenleavesofmorning，andthewoodstoodbluey-fresh，inthenearness。Shesatupinbed，lookingdreamilyoutthroughthedormerwindow，hernakedarmspushinghernakedbreaststogether。Hewasdressinghimself。Shewashalf-dreamingoflife，alifetogetherwithhim：justalife。
Hewasgoing，fleeingfromherdangerous，crouchingnakedness。
`HaveIlostmynightiealtogether？’shesaid。
Hepushedhishanddowninthebed，andpulledoutthebitofflimsysilk。
`IknowedIfeltsilkatmyankles，’hesaid。
Butthenight-dresswasslitalmostintwo。
`Nevermind!’shesaid。`Itbelongshere，really。I’llleaveit。’
`Ay，leaveit，Icanputitbetweenmylegsatnight，forcompany。There’snonamenormarkonit，isthere？’
Sheslippedonthetornthing，andsatdreamilylookingoutofthewindow。
ThewindowwasOpen，theairofmorningdriftedin，andthesoundofbirds。
Birdsflewcontinuouslypast。ThenshesawFlossieroamingout。Itwasmorning。
Downstairssheheardhimmakingthefire，pumpingwater，goingoutatthebackdoor。Byandbycamethesmellofbacon，andatlengthhecameupstairswithahugeblacktraythatwouldonlyjustgothroughthedoor。
Hesetthetrayonthebed，andpouredoutthetea。Conniesquattedinhertornnightdress，andfellonherfoodhungrily。Hesatontheonechair，withhisplateonhisknees。
`Howgooditis!’shesaid。`Hownicetohavebreakfasttogether。’
Heateinsilence，hismindonthetimethatwasquicklypassing。Thatmadeherremember。
`Oh，howIwishIcouldstayherewithyou，andWragbywereamillionmilesaway!It’sWragbyI’mgoingawayfromreally。Youknowthat，don’tyou？’
`Ay!’
`Andyoupromisewewilllivetogetherandhavealifetogether，youandme!Youpromiseme，don’tyou？’
`Ay!Whenwecan。’
`Yes!Andwewill!wewill，won’twe？’sheleanedover，makingtheteaspill，catchinghiswrist。
`Ay!’hesaid，tidyingupthetea。
`Wecan’tpossiblynotlivetogethernow，canwe？’shesaidappealingly。
Helookedupatherwithhisflickeringgrin。
`No!’hesaid。`Onlyyou’vegottostartintwenty-fiveminutes。’
`HaveI？’shecried。Suddenlyheheldupawarningfinger，androsetohisfeet。
Flossiehadgivenashortbark，thenthreeloudsharpyapsofwarning。
Silent，heputhisplateonthetrayandwentdownstairs。Constanceheardhimgodownthegardenpath。Abicyclebelltinkledoutsidethere。
`Morning，MrMellors!Registeredletter!’
`Ohay!Gotapencil？’
`Herey’are!’
Therewasapause。
`Canada!’saidthestranger’svoice。
`Ay!That’samateo’mineoutthereinBritishColumbia。Dunnowhathe’sgottoregister。’
`’Appensenty’afortune，like。’
`Morelikewantssummat。’
Pause。
`Well!Lovelydayagain!’
`Ay!’
`Morning!’
`Morning!’
Afteratimehecameupstairsagain，lookingalittleangry。
`Postman，’hesaid。
`Veryearly!’shereplied。
`Ruralround；he’smostlyherebyseven，whenhedoescome。
`Didyourmatesendyouafortune？’
`No!OnlysomephotographsandpapersaboutaplaceoutthereinBritishColumbia。’
`Wouldyougothere？’
`Ithoughtperhapswemight。’
`Ohyes!Ibelieveit’slovely!’Buthewasputoutbythepostman’scoming。
`Themdamnbikes，they’reonyouaforeyouknowwhereyouare。Ihopehetwiggednothing。’
`Afterall，whatcouldhetwig!’
`Youmustgetupnow，andgetready。I’mjustgoin’terlookroundoutside。’
Shesawhimgoreconnoitringintothelane，withdogandgun。Shewentdownstairsandwashed，andwasreadybythetimehecameback，withthefewthingsinthelittlesilkbag。
Helockedup，andtheysetoff，butthroughthewood，notdownthelane。
Hewasbeingwary。
`Don’tyouthinkonelivesfortimeslikelastnight？’shesaidtohim。
`Ay!Butthere’stheresto’timestothinkon，’hereplied，rathershort。
Theyploddedondowntheovergrownpath，heinfront，insilence。
`Andwewilllivetogetherandmakealifetogether，won’twe？’
shepleaded。
`Ay!’hereplied，stridingonwithoutlookinground。`Whent’timecomes!
Justnowyou’reofftoVeniceorsomewhere。’
Shefollowedhimdumbly，withsinkingheart。Oh，nowshewaswaetogo!
Atlasthestopped。
`I’lljuststrikeacrosshere，’hesaid，pointingtotheright。
Butsheflungherarmsroundhisneck，andclungtohim。
`Butyou’llkeepthetendernessforme，won’tyou？’shewhispered。`I
lovedlastnight。Butyou’llkeepthetendernessforme，won’tyou？’
Hekissedherandheldhercloseforamoment。Thenhesighed，andkissedheragain。
`Imustgoan’lookifth’car’sthere。’
Hestrodeoverthelowbramblesandbracken，leavingatrailthroughthefern。Foraminuteortwohewasgone。Thenhecamestridingback。
`Car’snotthereyet，’hesaid。`Butthere’sthebaker’scartont’
road。’
Heseemedanxiousandtroubled。
`Hark!’
Theyheardacarsoftlyhootasitcamenearer。Itsloweduponthebridge。
Sheplungedwithuttermournfulnessinhistrackthroughthefern，andcametoahugehollyhedge。Hewasjustbehindher。
`Here!Gothroughthere!’hesaid，pointingtoagap。`Ishan’tcomeout。
Shelookedathimindespair。Buthekissedherandmadehergo。Shecreptinsheermiserythroughthehollyandthroughthewoodenfence，stumbleddownthelittleditchandupintothelane，whereHildawasjustgettingoutofthecarinvexation。
`Whyyou’rethere!’saidHilda。`Where’she？’
`He’snotcoming。’
Connie’sfacewasrunningwithtearsasshegotintothecarwithherlittlebag。Hildasnatchedupthemotoringhelmetwiththedisfiguringgoggles。
`Putiton!’shesaid。AndConniepulledonthedisguise，thenthelongmotoringcoat，andshesatdown，agogglinginhuman，unrecognizablecreature。
Hildastartedthecarwithabusinesslikemotion。Theyheavedoutofthelane，andwereawaydowntheroad。Conniehadlookedround，buttherewasnosightofhim。Away!Away!Shesatinbittertears。Thepartinghadcomesosuddenly，sounexpectedly。Itwaslikedeath。
`Thankgoodnessyou’llbeawayfromhimforsometime!’saidHilda，turningtoavoidCrosshillvillage。