Theylaughedwithpleasurewhentheywereinthehall。Theplaceseemedfullandbusy。
　　`DoyouknowifMrandMrsCrich——English——fromParis，havearrived？'
　　BirkinaskedinGerman。
　　Theporterreflectedamoment，andwasjustgoingtoanswer，whenUrsulacaughtsightofGudrunsaunteringdownthestairs，wearingherdarkglossycoat，withgreyfur。
　　`Gudrun！Gudrun！'shecalled，wavingupthewellofthestaircase。`Shu—hu！'
　　Gudrunlookedovertherail，andimmediatelylosthersauntering，diffidentair。Hereyesflashed。
　　`Really——Ursula！'shecried。AndshebegantomovedownstairsasUrsularanup。Theymetataturnandkissedwithlaughterandexclamationsinarticulateandstirring。
　　`But！'criedGudrun，mortified。`Wethoughtitwastomorrowyouwerecoming！Iwantedtocometothestation。'
　　`No，we'vecometoday！'criedUrsula。`Isn'titlovelyhere！'
　　`Adorable！'saidGudrun。`Gerald'sjustgoneouttogetsomething。Ursula，aren'tyoufearfullytired？'
　　`No，notsovery。ButIlookafilthysight，don'tI！'
　　`No，youdon't。Youlookalmostperfectlyfresh。Ilikethatfurcapimmensely！'SheglancedoverUrsula，whoworeabigsoftcoatwithacollarofdeep，soft，blondfur，andasoftblondcapoffur。
　　`Andyou！'criedUrsula。`Whatdoyouthinkyoulooklike！'
　　Gudrunassumedanunconcerned，expressionlessface。
　　`Doyoulikeit？'shesaid。
　　`It'sveryfine！'criedUrsula，perhapswithatouchofsatire。
　　`Goup——orcomedown，'saidBirkin。Fortherethesistersstood，GudrunwithherhandonUrsula'sarm，ontheturnofthestairshalfwaytothefirstlanding，blockingthewayandaffordingfullentertainmenttothewholeofthehallbelow，fromthedoorportertotheplumpJewinblackclothes。
　　Thetwoyoungwomenslowlymounted，followedbyBirkinandthewaiter。
　　`Firstfloor？'askedGudrun，lookingbackoverhershoulder。
　　`SecondMadam——thelift！'thewaiterreplied。Andhedartedtotheelevatortoforestallthetwowomen。Buttheyignoredhim，as，chatteringwithoutheed，theysettomountthesecondflight。Ratherchagrined，thewaiterfollowed。
　　Itwascurious，thedelightofthesistersineachother，atthismeeting。
　　Itwasasiftheymetinexile，andunitedtheirsolitaryforcesagainstalltheworld。Birkinlookedonwithsomemistrustandwonder。
　　Whentheyhadbathedandchanged，Geraldcamein。Helookedshininglikethesunonfrost。
　　`GowithGeraldandsmoke，'saidUrsulatoBirkin。`GudrunandIwanttotalk。'
　　ThenthesisterssatinGudrun'sbedroom，andtalkedclothes，andexperiences。
　　GudruntoldUrsulatheexperienceoftheBirkinletterinthecafe。Ursulawasshockedandfrightened。
　　`Whereistheletter？'sheasked。
　　`Ikeptit，'saidGudrun。
　　`You'llgiveitme，won'tyou？'shesaid。
　　ButGudrunwassilentforsomemoments，beforeshereplied:
　　`Doyoureallywantit，Ursula？'
　　`Iwanttoreadit，'saidUrsula。
　　`Certainly，'saidGudrun。
　　Evennow，shecouldnotadmit，toUrsula，thatshewantedtokeepit，asamemento，orasymbol。ButUrsulaknew，andwasnotpleased。Sothesubjectwasswitchedoff。
　　`WhatdidyoudoinParis？'askedUrsula。
　　`Oh，'saidGudrunlaconically——`theusualthings。WehadafinepartyonenightinFannyBath'sstudio。'
　　`Didyou？AndyouandGeraldwerethere！Whoelse？Tellmeaboutit。'
　　`Well，'saidGudrun。`There'snothingparticulartotell。YouknowFannyisfrightfullyinlovewiththatpainter，BillyMacfarlane。Hewasthere——soFannysparednothing，shespentveryfreely。Itwasreallyremarkable！Ofcourse，everybodygotfearfullydrunk——butinaninterestingway，notlikethatfilthyLondoncrowd。Thefactisthesewereallpeoplethatmatter，whichmakesallthedifference。TherewasaRoumanian，afinechap。Hegotcompletelydrunk，andclimbedtothetopofahighstudioladder，andgavethemostmarvellousaddress——really，Ursula，itwaswonderful！HebeganinFrench——Lavie，c'estuneaffaired'amesimperiales——inamostbeautifulvoice——hewasafine—lookingchap——
　　buthehadgotintoRoumanianbeforehehadfinished，andnotasoulunderstood。
　　ButDonaldGilchristwasworkedtoafrenzy。Hedashedhisglasstotheground，anddeclared，byGod，hewasgladhehadbeenborn，byGod，itwasamiracletobealive。Anddoyouknow，Ursula，soitwas——'Gudrunlaughedratherhollowly。
　　`ButhowwasGeraldamongthemall？'askedUrsula。
　　`Gerald！Oh，myword，hecameoutlikeadandelioninthesun！He'sawholesaturnaliainhimself，onceheisroused。Ishouldn'tliketosaywhosewaisthisarmdidnotgoround。Really，Ursula，heseemstoreapthewomenlikeaharvest。Therewasn'tonethatwouldhaveresistedhim。
　　Itwastooamazing！Canyouunderstandit？'
　　Ursulareflected，andadancinglightcameintohereyes。
　　`Yes，'shesaid。`Ican。Heissuchawhole—hogger。'
　　`Whole—hogger！Ishouldthinkso！'exclaimedGudrun。`Butitistrue，Ursula，everywomanintheroomwasreadytosurrendertohim。Chanticleerisn'tinit——evenFannyBath，whoisgenuinelyinlovewithBillyMacfarlane！Ineverwasmoreamazedinmylife！Andyouknow，afterwards——IfeltIwasawholeroomfulofwomen。Iwasnomoremyselftohim，thanIwasQueenVictoria。Iwasawholeroomfulofwomenatonce。
　　Itwasmostastounding！Butmyeye，I'dcaughtaSultanthattime——'
　　Gudrun'seyeswereflashing，hercheekwashot，shelookedstrange，exotic，satiric。Ursulawasfascinatedatonce——andyetuneasy。
　　Theyhadtogetreadyfordinner。Gudruncamedowninadaringgownofvividgreensilkandtissueofgold，withgreenvelvetbodiceandastrangeblack—and—whitebandroundherhair。Shewasreallybrilliantlybeautifulandeverybodynoticedher。Geraldwasinthatfull—blooded，gleamingstatewhenhewasmosthandsome。Birkinwatchedthemwithquick，laughing，half—sinistereyes，Ursulaquitelostherhead。Thereseemedaspell，almostablindingspell，castroundtheirtable，asiftheywerelightedupmorestronglythantherestofthedining—room。
　　`Don'tyoulovetobeinthisplace？'criedGudrun。`Isn'tthesnowwonderful！Doyounoticehowitexaltseverything？Itissimplymarvellous。
　　Onereallydoesfeeliibermenschlich——morethanhuman。'
　　`Onedoes，'criedUrsula。`Butisn'tthatpartlythebeingoutofEngland？'
　　`Oh，ofcourse，'criedGudrun。`OnecouldneverfeellikethisinEngland，forthesimplereasonthatthedamperisneverliftedoffone，there。
　　Itisquiteimpossiblereallytoletgo，inEngland，ofthatIamassured。'
　　Andsheturnedagaintothefoodshewaseating。Shewasflutteringwithvividintensity。
　　`It'squitetrue，'saidGerald，`itneverisquitethesameinEngland。
　　Butperhapswedon'twantittobe——perhapsit'slikebringingthelightalittletoonearthepowder—magazine，toletgoaltogether，inEngland。
　　Oneisafraidwhatmighthappen，ifeverybodyelseletgo。'
　　`MyGod！'criedGudrun。`Butwouldn'titbewonderful，ifallEnglanddidsuddenlygoofflikeadisplayoffireworks。'
　　`Itcouldn't，'saidUrsula。`Theyarealltoodamp，thepowderisdampinthem。'
　　`I'mnotsosureofthat，'saidGerald。
　　`NorI，'saidBirkin。`WhentheEnglishreallybegintogooff，enmasse，it'llbetimetoshutyourearsandrun。'
　　`Theyneverwill，'saidUrsula。
　　`We'llsee，'hereplied。
　　`Isn'titmarvellous，'saidGudrun，`howthankfulonecanbe，tobeoutofone'scountry。Icannotbelievemyself，Iamsotransported，themomentIsetfootonaforeignshore。Isaytomyself"Herestepsanewcreatureintolife。"'
　　`Don'tbetoohardonpooroldEngland，'saidGerald。`Thoughwecurseit，weloveitreally。'
　　ToUrsula，thereseemedafundofcynicisminthesewords。
　　`Wemay，'saidBirkin。`Butit'sadamnablyuncomfortablelove:likealoveforanagedparentwhosuffershorriblyfromacomplicationofdiseases，forwhichthereisnohope。'
　　Gudrunlookedathimwithdilateddarkeyes。
　　`Youthinkthereisnohope？'sheasked，inherpertinentfashion。
　　ButBirkinbackedaway。Hewouldnotanswersuchaquestion。
　　`AnyhopeofEngland'sbecomingreal？Godknows。It'sagreatactualunrealitynow，anaggregationintounreality。Itmightbereal，iftherewerenoEnglishmen。'
　　`YouthinktheEnglishwillhavetodisappear？'persistedGudrun。Itwasstrange，herpointedinterestinhisanswer。Itmighthavebeenherownfateshewasinquiringafter。Herdark，dilatedeyesrestedonBirkin，asifshecouldconjurethetruthofthefutureoutofhim，asoutofsomeinstrumentofdivination。
　　Hewaspale。Then，reluctantly，heanswered:
　　`Well——whatelseisinfrontofthem，butdisappearance？They'vegottodisappearfromtheirownspecialbrandofEnglishness，anyhow。'
　　Gudrunwatchedhimasifinahypnoticstate，hereyeswideandfixedonhim。
　　`Butinwhatwaydoyoumean，disappear？——'shepersisted。
　　`Yes，doyoumeanachangeofheart？'putinGerald。
　　`Idon'tmeananything，whyshouldI？'saidBirkin。`I'manEnglishman，andI'vepaidthepriceofit。Ican'ttalkaboutEngland——Icanonlyspeakformyself。'
　　`Yes，'saidGudrunslowly，`youloveEnglandimmensely，immensely，Rupert。'
　　`Andleaveher，'hereplied。
　　`No，notforgood。You'llcomeback，'saidGerald，noddingsagely。
　　`Theysaythelicecrawloffadyingbody，'saidBirkin，withaglareofbitterness。`SoIleaveEngland。'
　　`Ah，butyou'llcomeback，'saidGudrun，withasardonicsmile。
　　`Tantpispourmoi，'hereplied。
　　`Isn'theangrywithhismothercountry！'laughedGerald，amused。
　　`Ah，apatriot！'saidGudrun，withsomethinglikeasneer。
　　Birkinrefusedtoansweranymore。
　　Gudrunwatchedhimstillforafewseconds。Thensheturnedaway。Itwasfinished，herspellofdivinationinhim。Shefeltalreadypurelycynical。
　　ShelookedatGerald。Hewaswonderfullikeapieceofradiumtoher。Shefeltshecouldconsumeherselfandknowall，bymeansofthisfatal，livingmetal。Shesmiledtoherselfatherfancy。Andwhatwouldshedowithherself，whenshehaddestroyedherself？Forifspirit，ifintegralbeingisdestructible，Matterisindestructible。
　　Hewaslookingbrightandabstracted，puzzled，forthemoment。Shestretchedoutherbeautifularm，withitsfluffofgreentulle，andtouchedhischinwithhersubtle，artist'sfingers。
　　`Whataretheythen？'sheasked，withastrange，knowingsmile。
　　`What？'hereplied，hiseyessuddenlydilatingwithwonder。
　　`Yourthoughts。'
　　Geraldlookedlikeamancomingawake。
　　`IthinkIhadnone，'hesaid。
　　`Really！'shesaid，withgravelaughterinhervoice。
　　AndtoBirkinitwasasifshekilledGerald，withthattouch。
　　`Ahbut，'criedGudrun，`letusdrinktoBritannia——letusdrinktoBritannia。'
　　Itseemedtherewaswilddespairinhervoice。Geraldlaughed，andfilledtheglasses。
　　`IthinkRupertmeans，'hesaid，`thatnationallyallEnglishmenmustdie，sothattheycanexistindividuallyand——'
　　`Super—nationally——'putinGudrun，withaslightironicgrimace，raisingherglass。
　　Thenextday，theydescendedatthetinyrailwaystationofHohenhausen，attheendofthetinyvalleyrailway。Itwassnoweverywhere，awhite，perfectcradleofsnow，newandfrozen，sweepingupaneitherside，blackcrags，andwhitesweepsofsilvertowardsthebluepaleheavens。
　　Astheysteppedoutonthenakedplatform，withonlysnowaroundandabove，Gudrunshrankasifitchilledherheart。
　　`MyGod，Jerry，'shesaid，turningtoGeraldwithsuddenintimacy，`you'vedoneitnow。'
　　`What？'
　　Shemadeafaintgesture，indicatingtheworldoneitherhand。
　　`Lookatit！'
　　Sheseemedafraidtogoon。Helaughed。
　　Theywereintheheartofthemountains。Fromhighabove，oneitherside，sweptdownthewhitefoldofsnow，sothatoneseemedsmallandtinyinavalleyofpureconcreteheaven，allstrangelyradiantandchangelessandsilent。
　　`Itmakesonefeelsosmallandalone，'saidUrsula，turningtoBirkinandlayingherhandonhisarm。
　　`You'renotsorryyou'vecome，areyou？'saidGeraldtoGudrun。
　　Shelookeddoubtful。Theywentoutofthestationbetweenbanksofsnow。
　　`Ah，'saidGerald，sniffingtheairinelation，`thisisperfect。There'soursledge。We'llwalkabit——we'llrunuptheroad。'
　　Gudrun，alwaysdoubtful，droppedherheavycoatonthesledge，ashedidhis，andtheysetoff。Suddenlyshethrewupherheadandsetoffscuddingalongtheroadofsnow，pullinghercapdownoverherears。Herblue，brightdressflutteredinthewind，herthickscarletstockingswerebrilliantabovethewhiteness。Geraldwatchedher:sheseemedtoberushingtowardsherfate，andleavinghimbehind。Helethergetsomedistance，then，looseninghislimbs，hewentafterher。
　　Everywherewasdeepandsilentsnow。Greatsnow—eavesweigheddownthebroad—roofedTyrolesehouses，thatweresunktothewindow—sashesinsnow。
　　Peasant—women，full—skirted，wearingeachacross—overshawl，andthicksnow—boots，turnedinthewaytolookatthesoft，determinedgirlrunningwithsuchheavyfleetnessfromtheman，whowasovertakingher，butnotgaininganypoweroverher。
　　Theypassedtheinnwithitspaintedshuttersandbalcony，afewcottages，halfburiedinthesnow;thenthesnow—buriedsilentsawmillbytheroofedbridge，whichcrossedthehiddenstream，overwhichtheyranintotheverydepthoftheuntouchedsheetsofsnow。Itwasasilenceandasheerwhitenessexhilaratingtomadness。Buttheperfectsilencewasmostterrifying，isolatingthesoul，surroundingtheheartwithfrozenair。
　　`It'samarvellousplace，forallthat，'saidGudrun，lookingintohiseyeswithastrange，meaninglook。Hissoulleapt。
　　`Good，'hesaid。
　　Afierceelectricenergyseemedtoflowoverallhislimbs，hismusclesweresurcharged，hishandsfelthardwithstrength。Theywalkedalongrapidlyupthesnow—road，thatwasmarkedbywitheredbranchesoftreesstuckinatintervals。Heandshewereseparate，likeoppositepolesofonefierceenergy。Buttheyfeltpowerfulenoughtoleapovertheconfinesoflifeintotheforbiddenplaces，andbackagain。
　　BirkinandUrsulawererunningalongalso，overthesnow。Hehaddisposedoftheluggage，andtheyhadalittlestartofthesledges。Ursulawasexcitedandhappy，butshekeptturningsuddenlytocatchholdofBirkin'sarm，tomakesureofhim。
　　`ThisissomethingIneverexpected，'shesaid。`Itisadifferentworld，here。'
　　Theywentonintoasnowmeadow。Theretheywereovertakenbythesledge，thatcametinklingthroughthesilence。ItwasanothermilebeforetheycameuponGudrunandGeraldonthesteepup—climb，besidethepink，half—buriedshrine。
　　Thentheypassedintoagulley，wherewerewallsofblackrockandariverfilledwithsnow，andastillblueskyabove。Throughacoveredbridgetheywent，drummingroughlyovertheboards，crossingthesnow—bedoncemore，thenslowlyupandup，thehorseswalkingswiftly，thedrivercrackinghislongwhipashewalkedbeside，andcallinghisstrangewildhue—hue！，thewallsofrockpassingslowlyby，tilltheyemergedagainbetweenslopesandmassesofsnow。Upandup，graduallytheywent，throughthecoldshadow—radianceoftheafternoon，silencedbytheimminenceofthemountains，theluminous，dazingsidesofsnowthatroseabovethemandfellawaybeneath。
　　Theycameforthatlastinalittlehightable—landofsnow，wherestoodthelastpeaksofsnowliketheheartpetalsofanopenrose。Inthemidstofthelastdesertedvalleysofheavenstoodalonelybuildingwithbrownwoodenwallsandwhiteheavyroof，deepanddesertedinthewasteofsnow，likeadream。Itstoodlikearockthathadrolleddownfromthelaststeepslopes，arockthathadtakentheformofahouse，andwasnowhalf—buried。
　　Itwasunbelievablethatonecouldlivethereuncrushedbyallthisterriblewasteofwhitenessandsilenceandclear，upper，ringingcold。
　　Yetthesledgesranupinfinestyle，peoplecametothedoorlaughingandexcited，thefloorofthehostelranghollow，thepassagewaswetwithsnow，itwasareal，warminterior。
　　Thenew—comerstrampedupthebarewoodenstairs，followingtheservingwoman。GudrunandGeraldtookthefirstbedroom。Inamomenttheyfoundthemselvesaloneinabare，smallish，close—shutroomthatwasallofgolden—colouredwood，floor，walls，ceiling，door，allofthesamewarmgoldpanellingofoiledpine。Therewasawindowoppositethedoor，butlowdown，becausetheroofsloped。Undertheslopeoftheceilingwerethetablewithwash—handbowlandjug，andacross，anothertablewithmirror。Oneithersidethedoorweretwobedspiledhighwithanenormousblue—checkedoverbolster，enormous。
　　Thiswasall——nocupboard，noneoftheamenitiesoflife。Heretheywereshutuptogetherinthiscellofgolden—colouredwood，withtwobluecheckedbeds。Theylookedateachotherandlaughed，frightenedbythisnakednearnessofisolation。
　　Amanknockedandcameinwiththeluggage。Hewasasturdyfellowwithflattishcheek—bones，ratherpale，andwithcoarsefairmoustache。Gudrunwatchedhimputdownthebags，insilence，thentrampheavilyout。
　　`Itisn'ttoorough，isit？'Geraldasked。
　　Thebedroomwasnotverywarm，andsheshiveredslightly。
　　`Itiswonderful，'sheequivocated。`Lookatthecolourofthispanelling——it'swonderful，likebeinginsideanut。'
　　Hewasstandingwatchingher，feelinghisshort—cutmoustache，leaningbackslightlyandwatchingherwithhiskeen，undauntedeyes，dominatedbytheconstantpassion，thatwaslikeadoomuponhim。
　　Shewentandcroucheddowninfrontofthewindow，curious。
　　`Oh，butthis——！'shecriedinvoluntarily，almostinpain。
　　Infrontwasavalleyshutinunderthesky，thelasthugeslopesofsnowandblackrock，andattheend，likethenaveloftheearth，awhite—foldedwall，andtwopeaksglimmeringinthelatelight。Straightinfrontranthecradleofsilentsnow，betweenthegreatslopesthatwerefringedwithalittleroughnessofpine—trees，likehair，roundthebase。Butthecradleofsnowranontotheeternalclosing—in，wherethewallsofsnowandrockroseimpenetrable，andthemountainpeaksabovewereinheavenimmediate。
　　Thiswasthecentre，theknot，thenaveloftheworld，wheretheearthbelongedtotheskies，pure，unapproachable，impassable。
　　ItfilledGudrunwithastrangerapture。Shecrouchedinfrontofthewindow，clenchingherfaceinherhands，inasortoftrance。Atlastshehadarrived，shehadreachedherplace。Hereatlastshefoldedherventureandsettleddownlikeacrystalinthenavelofsnow，andwasgone。
　　Geraldbentaboveherandwaslookingoutoverhershoulder。Alreadyhefelthewasalone。Shewasgone。Shewascompletelygone，andtherewasicyvapourroundhisheart。Hesawtheblindvalley，thegreatcul—de—sacofsnowandmountainpeaks，undertheheaven。Andtherewasnowayout。
　　Theterriblesilenceandcoldandtheglamorouswhitenessoftheduskwrappedhimround，andsheremainedcrouchingbeforethewindow，asatashrine，ashadow。
　　`Doyoulikeit？'heasked，inavoicethatsoundeddetachedandforeign。
　　Atleastshemightacknowledgehewaswithher。Butsheonlyavertedhersoft，mutefacealittlefromhisgaze。Andheknewthatthereweretearsinhereyes，herowntears，tearsofherstrangereligion，thatputhimtonought。
　　Quitesuddenly，heputhishandunderherchinandliftedupherfacetohim。Herdarkblueeyes，intheirwetnessoftears，dilatedasifshewasstartledinherverysoul。Theylookedathimthroughtheirtearsinterrorandalittlehorror。Hislightblueeyeswerekeen，small—pupilledandunnaturalintheirvision。Herlipsparted，asshebreathedwithdifficulty。
　　Thepassioncameupinhim，strokeafterstroke，liketheringingofabronzebell，sostrongandunflawedandindomitable。Hiskneestightenedtobronzeashehungabovehersoftface，whoselipspartedandwhoseeyesdilatedinastrangeviolation。Inthegraspofhishandherchinwasunutterablysoftandsilken。Hefeltstrongaswinter，hishandswerelivingmetal，invincibleandnottobeturnedaside。Hisheartranglikeabellclanginginsidehim。
　　Hetookherupinhisarms。Shewassoftandinert，motionless。Allthewhilehereyes，inwhichthetearshadnotyetdried，weredilatedasifinakindofswoonoffascinationandhelplessness。Hewassuperhumanlystrong，andunflawed，asifinvestedwithsupernaturalforce。
　　Heliftedhercloseandfoldedheragainsthim。Hersoftness，herinert，relaxedweightlayagainsthisownsurcharged，bronze—likelimbsinaheavinessofdesirabilitythatwoulddestroyhim，ifhewerenotfulfilled。Shemovedconvulsively，recoilingawayfromhim。Hisheartwentuplikeaflameofice，heclosedoverherlikesteel。Hewoulddestroyherratherthanbedenied。
　　Buttheoverweeningpowerofhisbodywastoomuchforher。Sherelaxedagain，andlaylooseandsoft，pantinginalittledelirium。Andtohim，shewassosweet，shewassuchblissofrelease，thathewouldhavesufferedawholeeternityoftortureratherthanforegoonesecondofthispangofunsurpassablebliss。
　　`MyGod，'hesaidtoher，hisfacedrawnandstrange，transfigured，`whatnext？'
　　Shelayperfectlystill，withastill，child—likefaceanddarkeyes，lookingathim。Shewaslost，fallenrightaway。
　　`Ishallalwaysloveyou，'hesaid，lookingather。
　　Butshedidnothear。Shelay，lookingathimasatsomethingshecouldneverunderstand，never:asachildlooksatagrown—upperson，withouthopeofunderstanding，onlysubmitting。
　　Hekissedher，kissedhereyesshut，sothatshecouldnotlookanymore。Hewantedsomethingnow，somerecognition，somesign，someadmission。
　　Butsheonlylaysilentandchild—likeandremote，likeachildthatisovercomeandcannotunderstand，onlyfeelslost。Hekissedheragain，givingup。
　　`ShallwegodownandhavecoffeeandKuchen？'heasked。
　　Thetwilightwasfallingslate—blueatthewindow。Sheclosedhereyes，closedawaythemonotonouslevelofdeadwonder，andopenedthemagaintotheevery—dayworld。
　　`Yes，'shesaidbriefly，regainingherwillwithaclick。Shewentagaintothewindow。Blueeveninghadfallenoverthecradleofsnowandoverthegreatpallidslopes。Butintheheaventhepeaksofsnowwererosy，glisteningliketranscendent，radiantspikesofblossomintheheavenlyupper—world，solovelyandbeyond。
　　Gudrunsawalltheirloveliness，sheknewhowimmortallybeautifultheywere，greatpistilsofrose—coloured，snow—fedfireinthebluetwilightoftheheaven。Shecouldseeit，sheknewit，butshewasnotofit。Shewasdivorced，debarred，asoulshutout。
　　Withalastlookofremorse，sheturnedaway，andwasdoingherhair。
　　Hehadunstrappedtheluggage，andwaswaiting，watchingher。Sheknewhewaswatchingher。Itmadeheralittlehastyandfeverishinherprecipitation。
　　Theywentdownstairs，bothwithastrangeother—worldlookontheirfaces，andwithaglowintheireyes。TheysawBirkinandUrsulasittingatthelongtableinacorner，waitingforthem。
　　`Howgoodandsimpletheylooktogether，'Gudrunthought，jealously。
　　Sheenviedthemsomespontaneity，achildishsufficiencytowhichsheherselfcouldneverapproach。Theyseemedsuchchildrentoher。
　　`SuchgoodKranzkuchen！'criedUrsulagreedily。`Sogood！'
　　`Right，'saidGudrun。`CanwehaveKaffeemitKranzkuchen？'sheaddedtothewaiter。
　　AndsheseatedherselfonthebenchbesideGerald。Birkin，lookingatthem，feltapainoftendernessforthem。
　　`Ithinktheplaceisreallywonderful，Gerald，'hesaid;`prachtvollandwunderbarandwunderschonandunbeschreiblichandalltheotherGermanadjectives。'
　　Geraldbrokeintoaslightsmile。
　　`Ilikeit，'hesaid。
　　Thetables，ofwhitescrubbedwood，wereplacedroundthreesidesoftheroom，asinaGasthaus。BirkinandUrsulasatwiththeirbackstothewall，whichwasofoiledwood，andGeraldandGudrunsatinthecornernextthem，neartothestove。Itwasafairlylargeplace，withatinybar，justlikeacountryinn，butquitesimpleandbare，andallofoiledwood，ceilingsandwallsandfloor，theonlyfurniturebeingthetablesandbenchesgoingroundthreesides，thegreatgreenstove，andthebarandthedoorsonthefourthside。Thewindowsweredouble，andquiteuncurtained。
　　Itwasearlyevening。
　　Thecoffeecame——hotandgood——andawholeringofcake。
　　`AwholeKuchen！'criedUrsula。`Theygiveyoumorethanus！Iwantsomeofyours。'
　　Therewereotherpeopleintheplace，tenaltogether，soBirkinhadfoundout:twoartists，threestudents，amanandwife，andaProfessorandtwodaughters——allGermans。ThefourEnglishpeople，beingnewcomers，satintheircoignofvantagetowatch。TheGermanspeepedinatthedoor，calledawordtothewaiter，andwentawayagain。Itwasnotmeal—time，sotheydidnotcomeintothisdining—room，butbetookthemselves，whentheirbootswerechanged，totheReunionsaal。
　　TheEnglishvisitorscouldheartheoccasionaltwangingofazither，thestrummingofapiano，snatchesoflaughterandshoutingandsinging，afaintvibrationofvoices。Thewholebuildingbeingofwood，itseemedtocarryeverysound，likeadrum，butinsteadofincreasingeachparticularnoise，itdecreasedit，sothatthesoundofthezitherseemedtiny，asifadiminutivezitherwereplayingsomewhere，anditseemedthepianomustbeasmallone，likealittlespinet。
　　Thehostcamewhenthecoffeewasfinished。HewasaTyrolese，broad，ratherflat—cheeked，withapale，pock—markedskinandflourishingmoustaches。