`Hue！Hi—eee！'cameasuddenloudshoutfromtheedgeofthegrove。
　　Thecattlebrokeandfellbackquitespontaneously，wentrunningupthehill，theirfleecewavinglikefiretotheirmotion。Gudrunstoodsuspendedoutonthegrass，Ursularosetoherfeet。
　　ItwasGeraldandBirkincometofindthem，andGeraldhadcriedouttofrightenoffthecattle。
　　`Whatdoyouthinkyou'redoing？'henowcalled，inahigh，wonderingvexedtone。
　　`Whyhaveyoucome？'camebackGudrun'sstridentcryofanger。
　　`Whatdoyouthinkyouweredoing？'Geraldrepeated，auto—matically。
　　`Weweredoingeurythmics，'laughedUrsula，inashakenvoice。
　　Gudrunstoodalooflookingatthemwithlargedarkeyesofresentment，suspendedforafewmoments。Thenshewalkedawayupthehill，afterthecattle，whichhadgatheredinalittle，spell—boundclusterhigherup。
　　`Whereareyougoing？'Geraldcalledafterher。Andhefollowedherupthehill—side。Thesunhadgonebehindthehill，andshadowswereclingingtotheearth，theskyabovewasfulloftravellinglight。
　　`Apoorsongforadance，'saidBirkintoUrsula，standingbeforeherwithasardonic，flickeringlaughonhisface。Andinanothersecond，hewassingingsoftlytohimself，anddancingagrotesquestep—danceinfrontofher，hislimbsandbodyshakingloose，hisfaceflickeringpalely，aconstantthing，whilsthisfeetbeatarapidmockingtattoo，andhisbodyseemedtohangalllooseandquakinginbetween，likeashadow。
　　`Ithinkwe'veallgonemad，'shesaid，laughingratherfrightened。
　　`Pitywearen'tmadder，'heanswered，ashekeptuptheincessantshakingdance。Thensuddenlyheleaneduptoherandkissedherfingerslightly，puttinghisfacetohersandlookingintohereyeswithapalegrin。Shesteppedback，affronted。
　　`Offended——？'heaskedironically，suddenlygoingquitestillandreservedagain。`Ithoughtyoulikedthelightfantastic。'
　　`Notlikethat，'shesaid，confusedandbewildered，almostaffronted。
　　Yetsomewhereinsidehershewasfascinatedbythesightofhisloose，vibratingbody，perfectlyabandonedtoitsowndroppingandswinging，andbythepallid，sardonic—smilingfaceabove。Yetautomaticallyshestiffenedherselfaway，anddisapproved。Itseemedalmostanobscenity，inamanwhotalkedasarulesoveryseriously。
　　`Whynotlikethat？'hemocked。Andimmediatelyhedroppedagainintotheincrediblyrapid，slack—wagglingdance，watchinghermalevolently。
　　Andmovingintherapid，stationarydance，hecamealittlenearer，andreachedforwardwithanincrediblymocking，satiricgleamonhisface，andwouldhavekissedheragain，hadshenotstartedback。
　　`No，don't！'shecried，reallyafraid。
　　`Cordeliaafterall，'hesaidsatirically。Shewasstung，asifthiswereaninsult。Sheknewheintendeditassuch，anditbewilderedher。
　　`Andyou，'shecriedinretort，`whydoyoualwaystakeyoursoulinyourmouth，sofrightfullyfull？'
　　`SothatIcanspititoutthemorereadily，'hesaid，pleasedbyhisownretort。
　　GeraldCrich，hisfacenarrowingtoanintentgleam，followedupthehillwithquickstrides，straightafterGudrun。Thecattlestoodwiththeirnosestogetheronthebrowofaslope，watchingthescenebelow，themeninwhitehoveringaboutthewhiteformsofthewomen，watchingaboveallGudrun，whowasadvancingslowlytowardsthem。Shestoodamoment，glancingbackatGerald，andthenatthecattle。
　　Theninasuddenmotion，sheliftedherarmsandrushedsheeruponthelong—hornedbullocks，inshudderingirregularruns，pausingforasecondandlookingatthem，thenliftingherhandsandrunningforwardwithaflash，tilltheyceasedpawingtheground，andgaveway，snortingwithterror，liftingtheirheadsfromthegroundandflingingthemselvesaway，gallopingoffintotheevening，becomingtinyinthedistance，andstillnotstopping。
　　Gudrunremainedstaringafterthem，withamask—likedefiantface。
　　`Whydoyouwanttodrivethemmad？'askedGerald，comingupwithher。
　　Shetooknonoticeofhim，onlyavertedherfacefromhim。`It'snotsafe，youknow，'hepersisted。`They'renasty，whentheydoturn。'
　　`Turnwhere？Turnaway？'shemockedloudly。
　　`No，'hesaid，`turnagainstyou。'
　　`Turnagainstme？'shemocked。
　　Hecouldmakenothingofthis。
　　`Anyway，theygoredoneofthefarmer'scowstodeath，theotherday，'
　　hesaid。
　　`WhatdoIcare？'shesaid。
　　`Icaredthough，'hereplied，`seeingthatthey'remycattle。'
　　`Howaretheyyours！Youhaven'tswallowedthem。Givemeoneofthemnow，'shesaid，holdingoutherhand。
　　`Youknowwheretheyare，'hesaid，pointingoverthehill。`Youcanhaveoneifyou'dlikeitsenttoyoulateron。'
　　Shelookedathiminscrutably。
　　`YouthinkI'mafraidofyouandyourcattle，don'tyou？'sheasked。
　　Hiseyesnarroweddangerously。Therewasafaintdomineeringsmileonhisface。
　　`WhyshouldIthinkthat？'hesaid。
　　Shewaswatchinghimallthetimewithherdark，dilated，inchoateeyes。
　　Sheleanedforwardandswungroundherarm，catchinghimalightblowonthefacewiththebackofherhand。
　　`That'swhy，'shesaid，mocking。
　　Andshefeltinhersoulanunconquerabledesirefordeepviolenceagainsthim。Sheshutoffthefearanddismaythatfilledherconsciousmind。Shewantedtodoasshedid，shewasnotgoingtobeafraid。
　　Herecoiledfromtheslightblowonhisface。Hebecamedeadlypale，andadangerousflamedarkenedhiseyes。Forsomesecondshecouldnotspeak，hislungsweresosuffusedwithblood，hisheartstretchedalmosttoburstingwithagreatgushofungovernableemotion。Itwasasifsomereservoirofblackemotionhadburstwithinhim，andswampedhim。
　　`Youhavestruckthefirstblow，'hesaidatlast，forcingthewordsfromhislungs，inavoicesosoftandlow，itsoundedlikeadreamwithinher，notspokenintheouterair。
　　`AndIshallstrikethelast，'sheretortedinvoluntarily，withconfidentassurance。Hewassilent，hedidnotcontradicther。
　　Shestoodnegligently，staringawayfromhim，intothedistance。Ontheedgeofherconsciousnessthequestionwasaskingitself，automatically:
　　`Whyareyoubehavinginthisimpossibleandridiculousfashion。'Butshewassullen，shehalfshovedthequestionoutofherself。
　　Shecouldnotgetitcleanaway，soshefeltself—conscious。
　　Gerald，verypale，waswatchingherclosely。Hiseyeswerelitupwithintentlights，absorbedandgleaming。Sheturnedsuddenlyonhim。
　　`It'syouwhomakemebehavelikethis，youknow，'shesaid，almostsuggestive。
　　`I？How？'hesaid。
　　Butsheturnedaway，andsetofftowardsthelake。Below，onthewater，lanternswerecomingalight，faintghostsofwarmflamefloatinginthepallorofthefirsttwilight。Theearthwasspreadwithdarkness，likelacquer，overheadwasapalesky，allprimrose，andthelakewaspaleasmilkinonepart。Awayatthelandingstage，tiniestpointsofcolouredrayswerestringingthemselvesinthedusk。Thelaunchwasbeingilluminated。
　　Allround，shadowwasgatheringfromthetrees。
　　Gerald，whitelikeapresenceinhissummerclothes，wasfollowingdowntheopengrassyslope。Gudrunwaitedforhimtocomeup。Thenshesoftlyputoutherhandandtouchedhim，sayingsoftly:
　　`Don'tbeangrywithme。'
　　Aflameflewoverhim，andhewasunconscious。Yethestammered:
　　`I'mnotangrywithyou。I'minlovewithyou。'
　　Hismindwasgone，hegraspedforsufficientmechanicalcontrol，tosavehimself。Shelaughedasilverylittlemockery，yetintolerablycaressive。
　　`That'sonewayofputtingit，'shesaid。
　　Theterribleswooningburdenonhismind，theawfulswooning，thelossofallhiscontrol，wastoomuchforhim。Hegraspedherarminhisonehand，asifhishandwereiron。
　　`It'sallright，then，isit？'hesaid，holdingherarrested。
　　Shelookedatthefacewiththefixedeyes，setbeforeher，andherbloodrancold。
　　`Yes，it'sallright，'shesaidsoftly，asifdrugged，hervoicecrooningandwitch—like。
　　Hewalkedonbesideher，astriding，mindlessbody。Butherecoveredalittleashewent。Hesufferedbadly。Hehadkilledhisbrotherwhenaboy，andwassetapart，likeCain。
　　TheyfoundBirkinandUrsulasittingtogetherbytheboats，talkingandlaughing。BirkinhadbeenteasingUrsula。
　　`Doyousmellthislittlemarsh？'hesaid，sniffingtheair。Hewasverysensitivetoscents，andquickinunderstandingthem。
　　`It'srathernice，'shesaid。
　　`No，'hereplied，`alarming。'
　　`Whyalarming？'shelaughed。
　　`Itseethesandseethes，ariverofdarkness，'hesaid，`puttingforthliliesandsnakes，andtheignisfatuus，androllingallthetimeonward。
　　That'swhatwenevertakeintocount——thatitrollsonwards。'
　　`Whatdoes？'
　　`Theotherriver，theblackriver。Wealwaysconsiderthesilverriveroflife，rollingonandquickeningalltheworldtoabrightness，onandontoheaven，flowingintoabrighteternalsea，aheavenofangelsthronging。
　　Buttheotherisourrealreality——'
　　`Butwhatother？Idon'tseeanyother，'saidUrsula。
　　`Itisyourreality，nevertheless，'hesaid;`thatdarkriverofdissolution。
　　Youseeitrollsinusjustastheotherrolls——theblackriverofcorruption。
　　Andourflowersareofthis——oursea—bornAphrodite，allourwhitephosphorescentflowersofsensuousperfection，allourreality，nowadays。'
　　`YoumeanthatAphroditeisreallydeathly？'askedUrsula。
　　`Imeansheisthefloweringmysteryofthedeath—process，yes，'hereplied。`Whenthestreamofsyntheticcreationlapses，wefindourselvespartoftheinverseprocess，thebloodofdestructivecreation。Aphroditeisborninthefirstspasmofuniversaldissolution——thenthesnakesandswansandlotus——marsh—flowers——andGudrunandGerald——bornintheprocessofdestructivecreation。'
　　`Andyouandme——？'sheasked。
　　`Probably，'hereplied。`Inpart，certainly。Whetherwearethat，intoto，Idon'tyetknow。'
　　`Youmeanweareflowersofdissolution——fleursdumal？Idon'tfeelasifIwere，'sheprotested。
　　Hewassilentforatime。
　　`Idon'tfeelasifwewere，altogether，'hereplied。`Somepeoplearepureflowersofdarkcorruption——lilies。Butthereoughttobesomeroses，warmandflamy。YouknowHerakleitossays"adrysoulisbest。"
　　Iknowsowellwhatthatmeans。Doyou？'
　　`I'mnotsure，'Ursulareplied。`Butwhatifpeopleareallflowersofdissolution——whenthey'reflowersatall——whatdifferencedoesitmake？'
　　`Nodifference——andallthedifference。Dissolutionrollson，justasproductiondoes，'hesaid。`Itisaprogressiveprocess——anditendsinuniversalnothing——theendoftheworld，ifyoulike。Butwhyisn'ttheendoftheworldasgoodasthebeginning？'
　　`Isupposeitisn't，'saidUrsula，ratherangry。
　　`Ohyes，ultimately，'hesaid。`Itmeansanewcycleofcreationafter——butnotforus。Ifitistheend，thenweareoftheend——fleursdumalifyoulike。Ifwearefleursdumal，wearenotrosesofhappiness，andthereyouare。'
　　`ButIthinkIam，'saidUrsula。`IthinkIamaroseofhappiness。'
　　`Ready—made？'heaskedironically。
　　`No——real，'shesaid，hurt。
　　`Ifwearetheend，wearenotthebeginning，'hesaid。
　　`Yesweare，'shesaid。`Thebeginningcomesoutoftheend。'
　　`Afterit，notoutofit。Afterus，notoutofus。'
　　`Youareadevil，youknow，really，'shesaid。`Youwanttodestroyourhope。Youwantustobedeathly。'
　　`No，'hesaid，`Ionlywantustoknowwhatweare。'
　　`Ha！'shecriedinanger。`Youonlywantustoknowdeath。'
　　`You'requiteright，'saidthesoftvoiceofGerald，outoftheduskbehind。
　　Birkinrose。GeraldandGudruncameup。Theyallbegantosmoke，inthemomentsofsilence。Oneafteranother，Birkinlightedtheircigarettes。
　　Thematchflickeredinthetwilight，andtheywereallsmokingpeacefullybythewater—side。Thelakewasdim，thelightdyingfromoffit，inthemidstofthedarkland。Theairallroundwasintangible，neitherherenorthere，andtherewasanunrealnoiseofbanjoes，orsuchlikemusic。
　　Asthegoldenswimoflightoverheaddiedout，themoongainedbrightness，andseemedtobegintosmileforthherascendancy。Thedarkwoodsontheoppositeshoremeltedintouniversalshadow。Andamidthisuniversalunder—shadow，therewasascatteredintrusionoflights。Fardownthelakewerefantasticpalestringsofcolour，likebeadsofwanfire，greenandredandyellow。
　　Themusiccameoutinalittlepuff，asthelaunch，allilluminated，veeredintothegreatshadow，stirringheroutlinesofhalf—livinglights，puffingouthermusicinlittledrifts。
　　Allwerelightingup。Hereandthere，closeagainstthefaintwater，andatthefarendofthelake，wherethewaterlaymilkyinthelastwhitenessofthesky，andtherewasnoshadow，solitary，frailflamesoflanternsfloatedfromtheunseenboats。Therewasasoundofoars，andaboatpassedfromthepallorintothedarknessunderthewood，whereherlanternsseemedtokindleintofire，hanginginruddylovelyglobes。Andagain，inthelake，shadowyredgleamshoveredinreflectionabouttheboat。Everywherewerethesenoiselessruddycreaturesoffiredriftingnearthesurfaceofthewater，caughtatbytherarest，scarcevisiblereflections。
　　Birkinbroughtthelanternsfromthebiggerboat，andthefourshadowywhitefiguresgatheredround，tolightthem。Ursulaheldupthefirst，Birkinloweredthelightfromtherosy，glowingcupofhishands，intothedepthsofthelantern。Itwaskindled，andtheyallstoodbacktolookatthegreatbluemoonoflightthathungfromUrsula'shand，castingastrangegleamonherface。Itflickered，andBirkinwentbendingoverthewelloflight。Hisfaceshoneoutlikeanapparition，sounconscious，andagain，somethingdemoniacal。Ursulawasdimandveiled，loomingoverhim。
　　`Thatisallright，'saidhisvoicesoftly。
　　Sheheldupthelantern。Ithadaflightofstorksstreamingthroughaturquoiseskyoflight，overadarkearth。
　　`Thisisbeautiful，'shesaid。
　　`Lovely，'echoedGudrun，whowantedtoholdonealso，andliftitupfullofbeauty。
　　`Lightoneforme，'shesaid。Geraldstoodbyher，incapacitated。Birkinlitthelanternsheheldup。Herheartbeatwithanxiety，toseehowbeautifulitwouldbe。Itwasprimroseyellow，withtallstraightflowersgrowingdarklyfromtheirdarkleaves，liftingtheirheadsintotheprimroseday，whilebutterflieshoveredaboutthem，inthepureclearlight。
　　Gudrungavealittlecryofexcitement，asifpiercedwithdelight。
　　`Isn'titbeautiful，oh，isn'titbeautiful！'
　　Hersoulwasreallypiercedwithbeauty，shewastranslatedbeyondherself。
　　Geraldleanedneartoher，intoherzoneoflight，asiftosee。Hecameclosetoher，andstoodtouchingher，lookingwithherattheprimrose—shiningglobe。Andsheturnedherfacetohis，thatwasfaintlybrightinthelightofthelantern，andtheystoodtogetherinoneluminousunion，closetogetherandringedroundwithlight，alltherestexcluded。
　　Birkinlookedaway，andwenttolightUrsula'ssecondlantern。Ithadapaleruddysea—bottom，withblackcrabsandsea—weedmovingsinuouslyunderatransparentsea，thatpassedintoflamyruddinessabove。
　　`You'vegottheheavensabove，andthewatersundertheearth，'saidBirkintoher。
　　`Anythingbuttheearthitself，'shelaughed，watchinghislivehandsthathoveredtoattendtothelight。
　　`I'mdyingtoseewhatmysecondoneis，'criedGudrun，inavibratingratherstridentvoice，thatseemedtorepeltheothersfromher。
　　Birkinwentandkindledit。Itwasofalovelydeepbluecolour，witharedfloor，andagreatwhitecuttle—fishflowinginwhitesoftstreamsalloverit。Thecuttle—fishhadafacethatstaredstraightfromtheheartofthelight，veryfixedandcoldlyintent。
　　`Howtrulyterrifying！'exclaimedGudrun，inavoiceofhorror。Gerald，atherside，gavealowlaugh。
　　`Butisn'titreallyfearful！'shecriedindismay。
　　Againhelaughed，andsaid:
　　`ChangeitwithUrsula，forthecrabs。'
　　Gudrunwassilentforamoment。
　　`Ursula，'shesaid，`couldyoubeartohavethisfearfulthing？'
　　`Ithinkthecolouringislovely，'saidUrsula。
　　`SodoI，'saidGudrun。`Butcouldyoubeartohaveitswingingtoyourboat？Don'tyouwanttodestroyitatonce？'
　　`Ohno，'saidUrsula。`Idon'twanttodestroyit。'
　　`Welldoyoumindhavingitinsteadofthecrabs？Areyousureyoudon'tmind？'
　　Gudruncameforwardtoexchangelanterns。
　　`No，'saidUrsula，yieldingupthecrabsandreceivingthecuttle—fish。
　　YetshecouldnothelpfeelingratherresentfulatthewayinwhichGudrunandGeraldshouldassumearightoverher，aprecedence。
　　`Comethen，'saidBirkin。`I'llputthemontheboats。'
　　HeandUrsulaweremovingawaytothebigboat。
　　`Isupposeyou'llrowmeback，Rupert，'saidGerald，outofthepaleshadowoftheevening。
　　`Won'tyougowithGudruninthecanoe？'saidBirkin。`It'llbemoreinteresting。'
　　Therewasamoment'spause。BirkinandUrsulastooddimly，withtheirswinginglanterns，bythewater'sedge。Theworldwasallillusive。
　　`Isthatallright？'saidGudruntohim。
　　`It'llsuitmeverywell，'hesaid。`Butwhataboutyou，andtherowing？Idon'tseewhyyoushouldpullme。'
　　`Whynot？'shesaid。`IcanpullyouaswellasIcouldpullUrsula。'
　　Byhertonehecouldtellshewantedtohavehimintheboattoherself，andthatshewassubtlygratifiedthatsheshouldhavepoweroverthemboth。Hegavehimself，inastrange，electricsubmission。
　　Shehandedhimthelanterns，whilstshewenttofixthecaneattheendofthecanoe。Hefollowedafterher，andstoodwiththelanternsdanglingagainsthiswhite—flannelledthighs，emphasisingtheshadowaround。
　　`Kissmebeforewego，'camehisvoicesoftlyfromoutoftheshadowabove。
　　Shestoppedherworkinreal，momentaryastonishment。
　　`Butwhy？'sheexclaimed，inpuresurprise。
　　`Why？'heechoed，ironically。
　　Andshelookedathimfixedlyforsomemoments。Thensheleanedforwardandkissedhim，withaslow，luxuriouskiss，lingeringonthemouth。Andthenshetookthelanternsfromhim，whilehestoodswooningwiththeperfectfirethatburnedinallhisjoints。
　　Theyliftedthecanoeintothewater，Gudruntookherplace，andGeraldpushedoff。
　　`Areyousureyoudon'thurtyourhand，doingthat？'sheasked，solicitous。
　　`BecauseIcouldhavedoneitperfectly。'
　　`Idon'thurtmyself，'hesaidinalow，softvoice，thatcaressedherwithinexpressiblebeauty。
　　Andshewatchedhimashesatnearher，veryneartoher，inthesternofthecanoe，hislegscomingtowardshers，hisfeettouchinghers。Andshepaddledsoftly，lingeringly，longingforhimtosaysomethingmeaningfultoher。Butheremainedsilent。
　　`Youlikethis，doyou？'shesaid，inagentle，solicitousvoice。
　　Helaughedshortly。
　　`Thereisaspacebetweenus，'hesaid，inthesamelow，unconsciousvoice，asifsomethingwerespeakingoutofhim。Andshewasasifmagicallyawareoftheirbeingbalancedinseparation，intheboat。Sheswoonedwithacutecomprehensionandpleasure。
　　`ButI'mverynear，'shesaidcaressively，gaily。
　　`Yetdistant，distant，'hesaid。
　　Againshewassilentwithpleasure，beforesheanswered，speakingwithareedy，thrilledvoice:
　　`Yetwecannotverywellchange，whilstweareonthewater。'Shecaressedhimsubtlyandstrangely，havinghimcompletelyathermercy。
　　Adozenormoreboatsonthelakeswungtheirrosyandmoon—likelanternslowonthewater，thatreflectedasfromafire。Inthedistance，thesteamertwangedandthrummedandwashedwithherfaintly—splashingpaddles，trailingherstringsofcolouredlights，andoccasionallylightingupthewholesceneluridlywithaneffusionoffireworks，Romancandlesandsheafsofstarsandothersimpleeffects，illuminatingthesurfaceofthewater，andshowingtheboatscreepinground，lowdown。Thenthelovelydarknessfellagain，thelanternsandthelittlethreadedlightsglimmeredsoftly，therewasamuffledknockingofoarsandawavingofmusic。
　　Gudrunpaddledalmostimperceptibly。Geraldcouldsee，notfarahead，therichblueandtheroseglobesofUrsula'slanternsswayingsoftlycheektocheekasBirkinrowed，andiridescent，evanescentgleamschasinginthewake。Hewasaware，too，ofhisowndelicatelycolouredlightscastingtheirsoftnessbehindhim。
　　Gudrunrestedherpaddleandlookedround。Thecanoeliftedwiththelightestebbingofthewater。Gerald'swhitekneeswereveryneartoher。
　　`Isn'titbeautiful！'shesaidsoftly，asifreverently。
　　Shelookedathim，asheleanedbackagainstthefaintcrystalofthelantern—light。Shecouldseehisface，althoughitwasapureshadow。Butitwasapieceoftwilight。Andherbreastwaskeenwithpassionforhim，hewassobeautifulinhismalestillnessandmystery。Itwasacertainpureeffluenceofmaleness，likeanaromafromhissoftly，firmlymouldedcontours，acertainrichperfectionofhispresence，thattouchedherwithanecstasy，athrillofpureintoxication。Shelovedtolookathim。Forthepresentshedidnotwanttotouchhim，toknowthefurther，satisfyingsubstanceofhislivingbody。Hewaspurelyintangible，yetsonear。Herhandslayonthepaddlelikeslumber，sheonlywantedtoseehim，likeacrystalshadow，tofeelhisessentialpresence。
　　`Yes，'hesaidvaguely。`Itisverybeautiful。'
　　Hewaslisteningtothefaintnearsounds，thedroppingofwater—dropsfromtheoar—blades，theslightdrummingofthelanternsbehindhim，astheyrubbedagainstoneanother，theoccasionalrustlingofGudrun'sfullskirt，analienlandnoise。Hismindwasalmostsubmerged，hewasalmosttransfused，lapsedoutforthefirsttimeinhislife，intothethingsabouthim。Forhealwayskeptsuchakeenattentiveness，concentratedandunyieldinginhimself。Nowhehadletgo，imperceptiblyhewasmeltingintoonenesswiththewhole。Itwaslikepure，perfectsleep，hisfirstgreatsleepoflife。Hehadbeensoinsistent，soguarded，allhislife。
　　Butherewassleep，andpeace，andperfectlapsingout。
　　`ShallIrowtothelanding—stage？'askedGudrunwistfully。
　　`Anywhere，'heanswered。`Letitdrift。'
　　`Tellmethen，ifwearerunningintoanything，'shereplied，inthatveryquiet，tonelessvoiceofsheerintimacy。
　　`Thelightswillshow，'hesaid。
　　Sotheydriftedalmostmotionless，insilence。Hewantedsilence，pureandwhole。Butshewasuneasyyetforsomeword，forsomeassurance。
　　`Nobodywillmissyou？'sheasked，anxiousforsomecommunication。
　　`Missme？'heechoed。`No！Why？'
　　`Iwonderedifanybodywouldbelookingforyou。'
　　`Whyshouldtheylookforme？'Andthenherememberedhismanners。`Butperhapsyouwanttogetback，'hesaid，inachangedvoice。
　　`No，Idon'twanttogetback，'shereplied。`No，Iassureyou。'
　　`You'requitesureit'sallrightforyou？'
　　`Perfectlyallright。'
　　Andagaintheywerestill。Thelaunchtwangedandhooted，somebodywassinging。Thenasifthenightsmashed，suddenlytherewasagreatshout，aconfusionofshouting，warringonthewater，thenthehorridnoiseofpaddlesreversedandchurnedviolently。
　　Geraldsatup，andGudrunlookedathiminfear。
　　`Somebodyinthewater，'hesaid，angrily，anddesperately，lookingkeenlyacrossthedusk。`Canyourowup？'
　　`Where，tothelaunch？'askedGudrun，innervouspanic。
　　`Yes。'
　　`You'lltellmeifIdon'tsteerstraight，'shesaid，innervousapprehension。
　　`Youkeepprettylevel，'hesaid，andthecanoehastenedforward。
　　Theshoutingandthenoisecontinued，soundinghorridthroughthedusk，overthesurfaceofthewater。
　　`Wasn'tthisboundtohappen？'saidGudrun，withheavyhatefulirony。Buthehardlyheard，andsheglancedoverhershouldertoseeherway。Thehalf—darkwatersweresprinkledwithlovelybubblesofswayinglights，thelaunchdidnotlookfaroff。Shewasrockingherlightsintheearlynight。Gudrunrowedashardasshecould。Butnowthatitwasaseriousmatter，sheseemeduncertainandclumsyinherstroke，itwasdifficulttopaddleswiftly。Sheglancedathisface。Hewaslookingfixedlyintothedarkness，verykeenandalertandsingleinhimself，instrumental。
　　Herheartsank，sheseemedtodieadeath。`Ofcourse，'shesaidtoherself，`nobodywillbedrowned。Ofcoursetheywon't。Itwouldbetooextravagantandsensational。'Butherheartwascold，becauseofhissharpimpersonalface。Itwasasifhebelongednaturallytodreadandcatastrophe，asifhewerehimselfagain。
　　Thentherecameachild'svoice，agirl'shigh，piercingshriek:
　　`Di——Di——Di——Di——OhDi——OhDi——OhDi！'
　　ThebloodrancoldinGudrun'sveins。