Birkinwasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom，whenshewasshowninbythelandlady。Hetoowasmovedoutsidehimself。Shesawhimagitatedandshaken，afrail，unsubstantialbodysilentlikethenodeofsomeviolentforce，thatcameoutfromhimandshookheralmostintoaswoon。
　　`Youarealone？'hesaid。
　　`Yes—Gudruncouldnotcome。'
　　Heinstantlyguessedwhy。
　　Andtheywerebothseatedinsilence，intheterribletensionoftheroom。Shewasawarethatitwasapleasantroom，fulloflightandveryrestfulinitsform——awarealsoofafuchsiatree，withdanglingscarletandpurpleflowers。
　　`Hownicethefuchsiasare！'shesaid，tobreakthesilence。
　　`Aren'tthey！DidyouthinkIhadforgottenwhatIsaid？'
　　AswoonwentoverUrsula'smind。
　　`Idon'twantyoutorememberit——ifyoudon'twantto，'shestruggledtosay，throughthedarkmistthatcoveredher。
　　Therewassilenceforsomemoments。
　　`No，'hesaid。`Itisn'tthat。Only——ifwearegoingtoknoweachother，wemustpledgeourselvesforever。Ifwearegoingtomakearelationship，evenoffriendship，theremustbesomethingfinalandinfallibleaboutit。'
　　Therewasaclangofmistrustandalmostangerinhisvoice。Shedidnotanswer。Herheartwastoomuchcontracted。Shecouldnothavespoken。
　　Seeingshewasnotgoingtoreply，hecontinued，almostbitterly，givinghimselfaway:
　　`Ican'tsayitisloveIhavetooffer——anditisn'tloveIwant。
　　Itissomethingmuchmoreimpersonalandharder——andrarer。'
　　Therewasasilence，outofwhichshesaid:
　　`Youmeanyoudon'tloveme？'
　　Shesufferedfuriously，sayingthat。
　　`Yes，ifyouliketoputitlikethat。Thoughperhapsthatisn'ttrue。
　　Idon'tknow。Atanyrate，Idon'tfeeltheemotionofloveforyou——
　　no，andIdon'twantto。Becauseitgivesoutinthelastissues。'
　　`Lovegivesoutinthelastissues？'sheasked，feelingnumbtothelips。
　　`Yes，itdoes。Attheverylast，oneisalone，beyondtheinfluenceoflove。Thereisarealimpersonalme，thatisbeyondlove，beyondanyemotionalrelationship。Soitiswithyou。Butwewanttodeludeourselvesthatloveistheroot。Itisn't。Itisonlythebranches。Therootisbeyondlove，anakedkindofisolation，anisolatedme，thatdoesnotmeetandmingle，andnevercan。'
　　Shewatchedhimwithwide，troubledeyes。Hisfacewasincandescentinitsabstractearnestness。
　　`Andyoumeanyoucan'tlove？'sheasked，intrepidation。
　　`Yes，ifyoulike。Ihaveloved。Butthereisabeyond，wherethereisnotlove。'
　　Shecouldnotsubmittothis。Shefeltitswooningoverher。Butshecouldnotsubmit。
　　`Buthowdoyouknow——ifyouhaveneverreallyloved？'sheasked。
　　`Itistrue，whatIsay;thereisabeyond，inyou，inme，whichisfurtherthanlove，beyondthescope，asstarsarebeyondthescopeofvision，someofthem。'
　　`Thenthereisnolove，'criedUrsula。
　　`Ultimately，no，thereissomethingelse。But，ultimately，thereisnolove。'
　　Ursulawasgivenovertothisstatementforsomemoments。Thenshehalfrosefromherchair，saying，inafinal，repellentvoice:
　　`Thenletmegohome——whatamIdoinghere？'
　　`Thereisthedoor，'hesaid。`Youareafreeagent。'
　　Hewassuspendedfinelyandperfectlyinthisextremity。Shehungmotionlessforsomeseconds，thenshesatdownagain。
　　`Ifthereisnolove，whatisthere？'shecried，almostjeering。
　　`Something，'hesaid，lookingather，battlingwithhissoul，withallhismight。
　　`What？'
　　Hewassilentforalongtime，unabletobeincommunicationwithherwhileshewasinthisstateofopposition。
　　`Thereis，'hesaid，inavoiceofpureabstraction;`afinalmewhichisstarkandimpersonalandbeyondresponsibility。Sothereisafinalyou。AnditisthereIwouldwanttomeetyou——notintheemotional，lovingplane——buttherebeyond，wherethereisnospeechandnotermsofagreement。Therewearetwostark，unknownbeings，twoutterlystrangecreatures，Iwouldwanttoapproachyou，andyoume。Andtherecouldbenoobligation，becausethereisnostandardforactionthere，becausenounderstandinghasbeenreapedfromthatplane。Itisquiteinhuman，——
　　sotherecanbenocallingtobook，inanyformwhatsoever——becauseoneisoutsidethepaleofallthatisaccepted，andnothingknownapplies。
　　Onecanonlyfollowtheimpulse，takingthatwhichliesinfront，andresponsiblefornothing，askedfornothing，givingnothing，onlyeachtakingaccordingtotheprimaldesire。'
　　Ursulalistenedtothisspeech，herminddumbandalmostsenseless，whathesaidwassounexpectedandsountoward。
　　`Itisjustpurelyselfish，'shesaid。
　　`Ifitispure，yes。Butitisn'tselfishatall。BecauseIdon'tknowwhatIwantofyou。Idelivermyselfovertotheunknown，incomingtoyou，Iamwithoutreservesordefences，strippedentirely，intotheunknown。Onlythereneedsthepledgebetweenus，thatwewillbothcastoffeverything，castoffourselveseven，andceasetobe，sothatthatwhichisperfectlyourselvescantakeplaceinus。'
　　Sheponderedalongherownlineofthought。
　　`Butitisbecauseyouloveme，thatyouwantme？'shepersisted。
　　`Noitisn't。ItisbecauseIbelieveinyou——ifIdobelieveinyou。'
　　`Aren'tyousure？'shelaughed，suddenlyhurt。
　　Hewaslookingathersteadfastly，scarcelyheedingwhatshesaid。
　　`Yes，Imustbelieveinyou，orelseIshouldn'tbeheresayingthis，'
　　hereplied。`ButthatisalltheproofIhave。Idon'tfeelanyverystrongbeliefatthisparticularmoment。'
　　Shedislikedhimforthissuddenrelapseintowearinessandfaithlessness。
　　`Butdon'tyouthinkmegood—looking？'shepersisted，inamockingvoice。
　　Helookedather，toseeifhefeltthatshewasgood—looking。
　　`Idon'tfeelthatyou'regood—looking，'hesaid。
　　`Notevenattractive？'shemocked，bitingly。
　　Heknittedhisbrowsinsuddenexasperation。
　　`Don'tyouseethatit'snotaquestionofvisualappreciationintheleast，'hecried。`Idon'twanttoseeyou。I'veseenplentyofwomen，I'msickandwearyofseeingthem。IwantawomanIdon'tsee。'
　　`I'msorryIcan'tobligeyoubybeinginvisible，'shelaughed。
　　`Yes，'hesaid，`youareinvisibletome，ifyoudon'tforcemetobevisuallyawareofyou。ButIdon'twanttoseeyouorhearyou。'
　　`Whatdidyouaskmetoteafor，then？'shemocked。
　　Buthewouldtakenonoticeofher。Hewastalkingtohimself。
　　`Iwanttofindyou，whereyoudon'tknowyourownexistence，theyouthatyourcommonselfdeniesutterly。ButIdon'twantyourgoodlooks，andIdon'twantyourwomanlyfeelings，andIdon'twantyourthoughtsnoropinionsnoryourideas——theyareallbagatellestome。'
　　`Youareveryconceited，Monsieur，'shemocked。`Howdoyouknowwhatmywomanlyfeelingsare，ormythoughtsormyideas？Youdon'tevenknowwhatIthinkofyounow。'
　　`NordoIcareintheslightest。'
　　`Ithinkyouareverysilly。Ithinkyouwanttotellmeyouloveme，andyougoallthiswayroundtodoit。'
　　`Allright，'hesaid，lookingupwithsuddenexasperation。`Nowgoawaythen，andleavemealone。Idon'twantanymoreofyourmeretriciouspersiflage。'
　　`Isitreallypersiflage？'shemocked，herfacereallyrelaxingintolaughter。Sheinterpretedit，thathehadmadeadeepconfessionoflovetoher。Buthewassoabsurdinhiswords，also。
　　Theyweresilentformanyminutes，shewaspleasedandelatedlikeachild。Hisconcentrationbroke，hebegantolookathersimplyandnaturally。
　　`WhatIwantisastrangeconjunctionwithyou——'hesaidquietly;
　　`notmeetingandmingling——youarequiteright——butanequilibrium，apurebalanceoftwosinglebeings——asthestarsbalanceeachother。'
　　Shelookedathim。Hewasveryearnest，andearnestnesswasalwaysratherridiculous，commonplace，toher。Itmadeherfeelunfreeanduncomfortable。
　　Yetshelikedhimsomuch。Butwhydraginthestars。
　　`Isn'tthisrathersudden？'shemocked。
　　Hebegantolaugh。
　　`Besttoreadthetermsofthecontract，beforewesign，'hesaid。
　　Ayounggreycatthathadbeensleepingonthesofajumpeddownandstretched，risingonitslonglegs，andarchingitsslimback。Thenitsatconsideringforamoment，erectandkingly。Andthen，likeadart，ithadshotoutoftheroom，throughtheopenwindow—doors，andintothegarden。
　　`What'sheafter？'saidBirkin，rising。
　　Theyoungcattrottedlordlydownthepath，wavinghistail。Hewasanordinarytabbywithwhitepaws，aslenderyounggentleman。Acrouching，fluffy，brownish—greycatwasstealingupthesideofthefence。TheMinowalkedstatelilyuptoher，withmanlynonchalance。Shecrouchedbeforehimandpressedherselfonthegroundinhumility，afluffysoftoutcast，lookingupathimwithwildeyesthatweregreenandlovelyasgreatjewels。
　　Helookedcasuallydownonher。Soshecreptafewinchesfurther，proceedingonherwaytothebackdoor，crouchinginawonderful，soft，self—obliteratingmanner，andmovinglikeashadow。
　　He，goingstatelilyonhisslimlegs，walkedafterher，thensuddenly，forpureexcess，hegaveheralightcuffwithhispawonthesideofherface。Sheranoffafewsteps，likeablownleafalongtheground，thencrouchedunobtrusively，insubmissive，wildpatience。TheMinopretendedtotakenonoticeofher。Heblinkedhiseyessuperblyatthelandscape。
　　Inaminuteshedrewherselftogetherandmovedsoftly，afleecybrown—greyshadow，afewpacesforward。Shebegantoquickenherpace，inamomentshewouldbegonelikeadream，whentheyounggreylordsprangbeforeher，andgaveheralighthandsomecuff。Shesubsidedatonce，submissively。
　　`Sheisawildcat，'saidBirkin。`Shehascomeinfromthewoods。'
　　Theeyesofthestraycatflaredroundforamoment，likegreatgreenfiresstaringatBirkin。Thenshehadrushedinasoftswiftrush，halfwaydownthegarden。Thereshepausedtolookround。TheMinoturnedhisfaceinpuresuperioritytohismaster，andslowlyclosedhiseyes，standinginstatuesqueyoungperfection。Thewildcat'sround，green，wonderingeyeswerestaringallthewhilelikeuncannyfires。Thenagain，likeashadow，sheslidtowardsthekitchen。
　　Inalovelyspringingleap，likeawind，theMinowasuponher，andhadboxedhertwice，verydefinitely，withawhite，delicatefist。Shesankandslidback，unquestioning。Hewalkedafterher，andcuffedheronceortwice，leisurely，withsuddenlittleblowsofhismagicwhitepaws。
　　`Nowwhydoeshedothat？'criedUrsulainindignation。
　　`Theyareonintimateterms，'saidBirkin。
　　`Andisthatwhyhehitsher？'
　　`Yes，'laughedBirkin，`Ithinkhewantstomakeitquiteobvioustoher。'
　　`Isn'tithorridofhim！'shecried;andgoingoutintothegardenshecalledtotheMino:
　　`Stopit，don'tbully。Stophittingher。'
　　Thestraycatvanishedlikeaswift，invisibleshadow。TheMinoglancedatUrsula，thenlookedfromherdisdainfullytohismaster。
　　`Areyouabully，Mino？'Birkinasked。
　　Theyoungslimcatlookedathim，andslowlynarroweditseyes。Thenitglancedawayatthelandscape，lookingintothedistanceasifcompletelyobliviousofthetwohumanbeings。
　　`Mino，'saidUrsula，`Idon'tlikeyou。Youareabullylikeallmales。'
　　`No，'saidBirkin，`heisjustified。Heisnotabully。Heisonlyinsistingtothepoorstraythatsheshallacknowledgehimasasortoffate，herownfate:becauseyoucanseesheisfluffyandpromiscuousasthewind。
　　Iamwithhimentirely。Hewantssuperfinestability。'
　　`Yes，Iknow！'criedUrsula。`Hewantshisownway——Iknowwhatyourfinewordsworkdownto——bossiness，Icallit，bossiness。'
　　TheyoungcatagainglancedatBirkinindisdainofthenoisywoman。
　　`Iquiteagreewithyou，Miciotto，'saidBirkintothecat。`Keepyourmaledignity，andyourhigherunderstanding。'
　　AgaintheMinonarrowedhiseyesasifhewerelookingatthesun。Then，suddenlyaffectingtohavenoconnectionatallwiththetwopeople，hewenttrottingoff，withassumedspontaneityandgaiety，histailerect，hiswhitefeetblithe。
　　`Nowhewillfindthebellesauvageoncemore，andentertainherwithhissuperiorwisdom，'laughedBirkin。
　　Ursulalookedatthemanwhostoodinthegardenwithhishairblowingandhiseyessmilingironically，andshecried:
　　`Ohitmakesmesocross，thisassumptionofmalesuperiority！Anditissuchalie！Onewouldn'tmindiftherewereanyjustificationforit。'
　　`Thewildcat，'saidBirkin，`doesn'tmind。Sheperceivesthatitisjustified。'
　　`Doesshe！'criedUrsula。`AndtellittotheHorseMarines。'
　　`Tothemalso。'
　　`ItisjustlikeGeraldCrichwithhishorse——alustforbullying——arealWillezurMacht——sobase，sopetty。'
　　`IagreethattheWillezurMachtisabaseandpettything。ButwiththeMino，itisthedesiretobringthisfemalecatintoapurestableequilibrium，atranscendentandabidingrapportwiththesinglemale。Whereaswithouthim，asyousee，sheisamerestray，afluffysporadicbitofchaos。Itisavolontedepouvoir，ifyoulike，awilltoability，takingpouvoirasaverb。'
　　`Ah——！Sophistries！It'stheoldAdam。'
　　`Ohyes。AdamkeptEveintheindestructibleparadise，whenhekepthersinglewithhimself，likeastarinitsorbit。'
　　`Yes——yes——'criedUrsula，pointingherfingerathim。`Thereyouare——astarinitsorbit！Asatellite——asatelliteofMars——that'swhatsheistobe！There——there——you'vegivenyourselfaway！Youwantasatellite，Marsandhissatellite！You'vesaidit——you'vesaidit——
　　you'vedishedyourself！'
　　Hestoodsmilinginfrustrationandamusementandirritationandadmirationandlove。Shewassoquick，andsolambent，likediscerniblefire，andsovindictive，andsorichinherdangerousflamysensitiveness。
　　`I'venotsaiditatall，'hereplied，`ifyouwillgivemeachancetospeak。'
　　`No，no！'shecried。`Iwon'tletyouspeak。You'vesaidit，asatellite，you'renotgoingtowriggleoutofit。You'vesaidit。'
　　`You'llneverbelievenowthatIhaven'tsaidit，'heanswered。
　　`Ineitherimpliednorindicatednormentionedasatellite，norintendedasatellite，never。'
　　`Youprevaricator！'shecried，inrealindignation。
　　`Teaisready，sir，'saidthelandladyfromthedoorway。
　　Theybothlookedather，verymuchasthecatshadlookedatthem，alittlewhilebefore。
　　`Thankyou，MrsDaykin。'
　　Aninterruptedsilencefelloverthetwoofthem，amomentofbreach。
　　`Comeandhavetea，'hesaid。
　　`Yes，Ishouldloveit，'shereplied，gatheringherselftogether。
　　Theysatfacingeachotheracrosstheteatable。
　　`Ididnotsay，norimply，asatellite。Imeanttwosingleequalstarsbalancedinconjunction——'
　　`Yougaveyourselfaway，yougaveawayyourlittlegamecompletely，'
　　shecried，beginningatoncetoeat。Hesawthatshewouldtakenofurtherheedofhisexpostulation，sohebegantopourthetea。
　　`Whatgoodthingstoeat！'shecried。
　　`Takeyourownsugar，'hesaid。
　　Hehandedherhercup。Hehadeverythingsonice，suchprettycupsandplates，paintedwithmauve—lustreandgreen，alsoshapelybowlsandglassplates，andoldspoons，onawovenclothofpalegreyandblackandpurple。
　　Itwasveryrichandfine。ButUrsulacouldseeHermione'sinfluence。
　　`Yourthingsaresolovely！'shesaid，almostangrily。
　　`Ilikethem。Itgivesmerealpleasuretousethingsthatareattractiveinthemselves——pleasantthings。AndMrsDaykinisgood。Shethinkseverythingiswonderful，formysake。'
　　`Really，'saidUrsula，`landladiesarebetterthanwives，nowadays。
　　Theycertainlycareagreatdealmore。Itismuchmorebeautifulandcompleteherenow，thanifyouweremarried。'
　　`Butthinkoftheemptinesswithin，'helaughed。
　　`No，'shesaid。`Iamjealousthatmenhavesuchperfectlandladiesandsuchbeautifullodgings。Thereisnothingleftthemtodesire。'
　　`Inthehouse—keepingway，we'llhopenot。Itisdisgusting，peoplemarryingforahome。'
　　`Still，'saidUrsula，`amanhasverylittleneedforawomannow，hashe？'
　　`Inouterthings，maybe——excepttosharehisbedandbearhischildren。
　　Butessentially，thereisjustthesameneedasthereeverwas。Onlynobodytakesthetroubletobeessential。'
　　`Howessential？'shesaid。
　　`Idothink，'hesaid，`thattheworldisonlyheldtogetherbythemysticconjunction，theultimateunisonbetweenpeople——abond。Andtheimmediatebondisbetweenmanandwoman。'
　　`Butit'ssucholdhat，'saidUrsula。`Whyshouldlovebeabond？No，I'mnothavingany。'
　　`Ifyouarewalkingwestward，'hesaid，`youforfeitthenorthernandeastwardandsoutherndirection。Ifyouadmitaunison，youforfeitallthepossibilitiesofchaos。'
　　`Butloveisfreedom，'shedeclared。
　　`Don'tcanttome，'hereplied。`Loveisadirectionwhichexcludesallotherdirections。It'safreedomtogether，ifyoulike。'
　　`No，'shesaid，`loveincludeseverything。'
　　`Sentimentalcant，'hereplied。`Youwantthestateofchaos，that'sall。Itisultimatenihilism，thisfreedom—in—lovebusiness，thisfreedomwhichisloveandlovewhichisfreedom。Asamatteroffact，ifyouenterintoapureunison，itisirrevocable，anditisneverpuretillitisirrevocable。Andwhenitisirrevocable，itisoneway，likethepathofastar。'
　　`Ha！'shecriedbitterly。`Itistheolddeadmorality。'
　　`No，'hesaid，`itisthelawofcreation。Oneiscommitted。Onemustcommitoneselftoaconjunctionwiththeother——forever。Butitisnotselfless——itisamaintainingoftheselfinmysticbalanceandintegrity——likeastarbalancedwithanotherstar。'
　　`Idon'ttrustyouwhenyoudraginthestars，'shesaid。`Ifyouwerequitetrue，itwouldn'tbenecessarytobesofar—fetched。'
　　`Don'ttrustmethen，'hesaid，angry。`ItisenoughthatItrustmyself。'
　　`Andthatiswhereyoumakeanothermistake，'shereplied。`Youdon'ttrustyourself。Youdon'tfullybelieveyourselfwhatyouaresaying。Youdon'treallywantthisconjunction，otherwiseyouwouldn'ttalksomuchaboutit，you'dgetit。'
　　Hewassuspendedforamoment，arrested。
　　`How？'hesaid。
　　`Byjustloving，'sheretortedindefiance。
　　Hewasstillamoment，inanger。Thenhesaid:
　　`Itellyou，Idon'tbelieveinlovelikethat。Itellyou，youwantlovetoadministertoyouregoism，tosubserveyou。Loveisaprocessofsubserviencewithyou——andwitheverybody。Ihateit。'
　　`No，'shecried，pressingbackherheadlikeacobra，hereyesflashing。
　　`Itisaprocessofpride——Iwanttobeproud——'
　　`Proudandsubservient，proudandsubservient，Iknowyou，'heretorteddryly。`Proudandsubservient，thensubservienttotheproud——Iknowyouandyourlove。Itisatick—tack，tick—tack，adanceofopposites。'
　　`Areyousure？'shemockedwickedly，`whatmyloveis？'
　　`Yes，Iam，'heretorted。
　　`Sococksure！'shesaid。`Howcananybodyeverberight，whoissococksure？
　　Itshowsyouarewrong。'
　　Hewassilentinchagrin。
　　Theyhadtalkedandstruggledtilltheywerebothweariedout。
　　`Tellmeaboutyourselfandyourpeople，'hesaid。
　　AndshetoldhimabouttheBrangwens，andabouthermother，andaboutSkrebensky，herfirstlove，andaboutherlaterexperiences。Hesatverystill，watchingherasshetalked。Andheseemedtolistenwithreverence。
　　Herfacewasbeautifulandfullofbaffledlightasshetoldhimallthethingsthathadhurtherorperplexedhersodeeply。Heseemedtowarmandcomforthissoulatthebeautifullightofhernature。
　　`Ifshereallycouldpledgeherself，'hethoughttohimself，withpassionateinsistencebuthardlyanyhope。Yetacuriouslittleirresponsiblelaughterappearedinhisheart。
　　`Wehaveallsufferedsomuch，'hemocked，ironically。
　　Shelookedupathim，andaflashofwildgaietywentoverherface，astrangeflashofyellowlightcomingfromhereyes。
　　`Haven'twe！'shecried，inahigh，recklesscry。`Itisalmostabsurd，isn'tit？'
　　`Quiteabsurd，'hesaid。`Sufferingboresme，anymore。'
　　`Soitdoesme。'
　　Hewasalmostafraidofthemockingrecklessnessofhersplendidface。
　　Herewasonewhowouldgotothewholelengthsofheavenorhell，whichevershehadtogo。Andhemistrustedher，hewasafraidofawomancapableofsuchabandon，suchdangerousthoroughnessofdestructivity。Yethechuckledwithinhimselfalso。
　　Shecameovertohimandputherhandonhisshoulder，lookingdownathimwithstrangegolden—lightedeyes，verytender，butwithacuriousdevilishlooklurkingunderneath。
　　`Sayyouloveme，say"mylove"tome，'shepleadedHelookedbackintohereyes，andsaw。Hisfaceflickeredwithsardoniccomprehension。
　　`Iloveyourightenough，'hesaid，grimly。`ButIwantittobesomethingelse。'
　　`Butwhy？Butwhy？'sheinsisted，bendingherwonderfulluminousfacetohim。`Whyisn'titenough？'
　　`Becausewecangoonebetter，'hesaid，puttinghisarmsroundher。
　　`No，wecan't，'shesaid，inastrong，voluptuousvoiceofyielding。
　　`Wecanonlyloveeachother。Say"mylove"tome，sayit，sayit。'
　　Sheputherarmsroundhisneck。Heenfoldedher，andkissedhersubtly，murmuringinasubtlevoiceoflove，andirony，andsubmission:
　　`Yes，——mylove，yes，——mylove。Letlovebeenoughthen。Iloveyouthen——Iloveyou。I'mboredbytherest。'
　　`Yes，'shemurmured，nestlingverysweetandclosetohim。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter14CHAPTERXIVWater—partyEVERYYEARMrCrichgaveamoreorlesspublicwater—partyonthelake。Therewasalittlepleasure—launchonWilleyWaterandseveralrowingboats，andguestscouldtaketeaeitherinthemarqueethatwassetupinthegroundsofthehouse，ortheycouldpicnicintheshadeofthegreatwalnuttreeattheboat—housebythelake。ThisyearthestaffoftheGrammar—Schoolwasinvited，alongwiththechiefofficialsofthefirm。GeraldandtheyoungerCrichesdidnotcareforthisparty，butithadbecomecustomarynow，anditpleasedthefather，asbeingtheonlyoccasionwhenhecouldgathersomepeopleofthedistricttogetherinfestivitywithhim。Forhelovedtogivepleasurestohisdependentsandtothosepoorerthanhimself。Buthischildrenpreferredthecompanyoftheirownequalsinwealth。Theyhatedtheirinferiors'humilityorgratitudeorawkwardness。
　　Neverthelesstheywerewillingtoattendatthisfestival，astheyhaddonealmostsincetheywerechildren，themoreso，astheyallfeltalittleguiltynow，andunwillingtothwarttheirfatheranymore，sincehewassoillinhealth。Therefore，quitecheerfullyLaurapreparedtotakehermother'splaceashostess，andGeraldassumedresponsibilityfortheamusementsonthewater。
　　BirkinhadwrittentoUrsulasayingheexpectedtoseeherattheparty，andGudrun，althoughshescornedthepatronageoftheCriches，wouldneverthelessaccompanyhermotherandfatheriftheweatherwerefine。
　　Thedaycameblueandfullofsunshine，withlittlewaftsofwind。Thesistersbothworedressesofwhitecrepe，andhatsofsoftgrass。ButGudrunhadasashofbrilliantblackandpinkandyellowcolourwoundbroadlyroundherwaist，andshehadpinksilkstockings，andblackandpinkandyellowdecorationonthebrimofherhat，weighingitdownalittle。Shecarriedalsoayellowsilkcoatoverherarm，sothatshelookedremarkable，likeapaintingfromtheSalon。Herappearancewasasoretrialtoherfather，whosaidangrily:
　　`Don'tyouthinkyoumightaswellgetyourselfupforaChristmascracker，an'ha'donewithit？'
　　ButGudrunlookedhandsomeandbrilliant，andsheworeherclothesinpuredefiance。Whenpeoplestaredather，andgiggledafterher，shemadeapointofsayingloudly，toUrsula:
　　`Regarde，regardecesgens—la！Nesont—ilspasdeshibouxincroyables？'
　　AndwiththewordsofFrenchinhermouth，shewouldlookoverhershoulderatthegigglingparty。