Hermockeryquiveredthroughhismuscleswithcuriousre—echoes。Whenhesleptheseemedtocrouchdowninthebed，lappedupinhisownstrength，thatyetwashollow。
AndGudrunsleptstrongly，avictorioussleep。Suddenly，shewasalmostfiercelyawake。Thesmalltimberroomglowedwiththedawn，thatcameupwardsfromthelowwindow。Shecouldseedownthevalleywhensheliftedherhead:thesnowwithapinkish，half—revealedmagic，thefringeofpine—treesatthebottomoftheslope。Andonetinyfiguremovedoverthevaguely—illuminatedspace。
Sheglancedathiswatch;itwasseveno'clock。Hewasstillcompletelyasleep。Andshewassohardawake，itwasalmostfrightening——ahard，metallicwakefulness。Shelaylookingathim。
Hesleptinthesubjectionofhisownhealthanddefeat。Shewasovercomebyasincereregardforhim。Tillnow，shewasafraidbeforehim。Shelayandthoughtabouthim，whathewas，whatherepresentedintheworld。A
fine，independentwill，hehad。Shethoughtoftherevolutionhehadworkedinthemines，insoshortatime。Sheknewthat，ifhewereconfrontedwithanyproblem，anyhardactualdifficulty，hewouldovercomeit。Ifhelaidholdofanyidea，hewouldcarryitthrough。Hehadthefacultyofmakingorderoutofconfusion。Onlylethimgripholdofasituation，andhewouldbringtopassaninevitableconclusion。
Forafewmomentsshewasborneawayonthewildwingsofambition。
Gerald，withhisforceofwillandhispowerforcomprehendingtheactualworld，shouldbesettosolvetheproblemsoftheday，theproblemofindustrialisminthemodernworld。Sheknewhewould，inthecourseoftime，effectthechangeshedesired，hecouldre—organisetheindustrialsystem。Sheknewhecoulddoit。Asaninstrument，inthesethings，hewasmarvellous，shehadneverseenanymanwithhispotentiality。Hewasunawareofit，butsheknew。
Heonlyneededtobehitchedon，heneededthathishandshouldbesettothetask，becausehewassounconscious。Andthisshecoulddo。Shewouldmarryhim，hewouldgointoParliamentintheConservativeinterest，hewouldclearupthegreatmuddleoflabourandindustry。Hewassosuperblyfearless，masterful，heknewthateveryproblemcouldbeworkedout，inlifeasingeometry。Andhewouldcareneitherabouthimselfnoraboutanythingbutthepureworkingoutoftheproblem。Hewasverypure，really。
Herheartbeatfast，sheflewawayonwingsofelation，imaginingafuture。HewouldbeaNapoleonofpeace，oraBismarck——andshethewomanbehindhim。ShehadreadBismarck'sletters，andhadbeendeeplymovedbythem。AndGeraldwouldbefreer，moredauntlessthanBismarck。
Butevenasshelayinfictitioustransport，bathedinthestrange，falsesunshineofhopeinlife，somethingseemedtosnapinher，andaterriblecynicismbegantogainuponher，blowinginlikeawind。Everythingturnedtoironywithher:thelastflavourofeverythingwasironical。
Whenshefeltherpangofundeniablereality，thiswaswhensheknewthehardironyofhopesandideas。
Shelayandlookedathim，asheslept。Hewassheerlybeautiful，hewasaperfectinstrument。Tohermind，hewasapure，inhuman，almostsuperhumaninstrument。Hisinstrumentalityappealedsostronglytoher，shewishedshewereGod，tousehimasatool。
Andatthesameinstant，cametheironicalquestion:`Whatfor？'Shethoughtofthecolliers'wives，withtheirlinoleumandtheirlacecurtainsandtheirlittlegirlsinhigh—lacedboots。Shethoughtofthewivesanddaughtersofthepit—managers，theirtennis—parties，andtheirterriblestrugglestobesuperioreachtotheother，inthesocialscale。TherewasShortlandswithitsmeaninglessdistinction，themeaninglesscrowdoftheCriches。TherewasLondon，theHouseofCommons，theextantsocialworld。MyGod！
Youngasshewas，GudrunhadtouchedthewholepulseofsocialEngland。
Shehadnoideasofrisingintheworld。Sheknew，withtheperfectcynicismofcruelyouth，thattoriseintheworldmeanttohaveoneoutsideshowinsteadofanother，theadvancewaslikehavingaspurioushalf—crowninsteadofaspuriouspenny。Thewholecoinageofvaluationwasspurious。Yetofcourse，hercynicismknewwellenoughthat，inaworldwherespuriouscoinwascurrent，abadsovereignwasbetterthanabadfarthing。Butrichandpoor，shedespisedbothalike。
Alreadyshemockedatherselfforherdreams。Theycouldbefulfilledeasilyenough。Butsherecognisedtoowell，inherspirit，themockeryofherownimpulses。Whatdidshecare，thatGeraldhadcreatedarichly—payingindustryoutofanoldworn—outconcern？Whatdidshecare？Theworn—outconcernandtherapid，splendidlyorganisedindustry，theywerebadmoney。
Yetofcourse，shecaredagreatdeal，outwardly——andoutwardlywasallthatmattered，forinwardlywasabadjoke。
Everythingwasintrinsicallyapieceofironytoher。SheleanedoverGeraldandsaidinherheart，withcompassion:
`Oh，mydear，mydear，thegameisn'tworthevenyou。Youareafinethingreally——whyshouldyoubeusedonsuchapoorshow！'
Herheartwasbreakingwithpityandgriefforhim。Andatthesamemoment，agrimacecameoverhermouth，ofmockingironyatherownunspokentirade。Ah，whatafarceitwas！ShethoughtofParnellandKatherineO'Shea。
Parnell！Afterall，whocantakethenationalisationofIrelandseriously？
WhocantakepoliticalIrelandreallyseriously，whateveritdoes？AndwhocantakepoliticalEnglandseriously？Whocan？Whocancareastraw，really，howtheoldpatched—upConstitutionistinkeredatanymore？Whocaresabuttonforournationalideas，anymorethanforournationalbowlerhat？Aha，itisalloldhat，itisalloldbowlerhat！
That'sallitis，Gerald，myyounghero。Atanyratewe'llspareourselvesthenauseaofstirringtheoldbrothanymore。Youbebeautiful，myGerald，andreckless。Thereareperfectmoments。Wakeup，Gerald，wakeup，convincemeoftheperfectmoments。Oh，convinceme，Ineedit。
Heopenedhiseyes，andlookedather。Shegreetedhimwithamocking，enigmaticsmileinwhichwasapoignantgaiety。Overhisfacewentthereflectionofthesmile，hesmiled，too，purelyunconsciously。
Thatfilledherwithextraordinarydelight，toseethesmilecrosshisface，reflectedfromherface。Sherememberedthatwashowababysmiled。
Itfilledherwithextraordinaryradiantdelight。
`You'vedoneit，'shesaid。
`What？'heasked，dazed。
`Convincedme。'
Andshebentdown，kissinghimpassionately，passionately，sothathewasbewildered。Hedidnotaskherofwhathehadconvincedher，thoughhemeantto。Hewasgladshewaskissinghim。Sheseemedtobefeelingforhisveryhearttotouchthequickofhim。Andhewantedhertotouchthequickofhisbeing，hewantedthatmostofall。
Outside，somebodywassinging，inamanly，recklesshandsomevoice:`Machmirauf，machmirauf，duStolze，MachmireinFeuervonHolze。VomRegenbinichnassVomRegenbinichnass——'
Gudrunknewthatthatsongwouldsoundthroughhereternity，sunginamanly，reckless，mockingvoice。Itmarkedoneofhersuprememoments，thesupremepangsofhernervousgratification。Thereitwas，fixedineternityforher。
Thedaycamefineandbluish。Therewasalightwindblowingamongthemountaintops，keenasarapierwhereittouched，carryingwithitafinedustofsnow—powder。Geraldwentoutwiththefine，blindfaceofamanwhoisinhisstateoffulfilment。Gudrunandhewereinperfectstaticunitythismorning，butunseeingandunwitting。Theywentoutwithatoboggan，leavingUrsulaandBirkintofollow。
Gudrunwasallscarletandroyalblue——ascarletjerseyandcap，andaroyalblueskirtandstockings。Shewentgailyoverthewhitesnow，withGeraldbesideher，inwhiteandgrey，pullingthelittletoboggan。Theygrewsmallinthedistanceofsnow，climbingthesteepslope。
ForGudrunherself，sheseemedtopassaltogetherintothewhitenessofthesnow，shebecameapure，thoughtlesscrystal。Whenshereachedthetopoftheslope，inthewind，shelookedround，andsawpeakbeyondpeakofrockandsnow，bluish，transcendentinheaven。Anditseemedtoherlikeagarden，withthepeaksforpureflowers，andherheartgatheringthem。ShehadnoseparateconsciousnessforGerald。
Sheheldontohimastheywentsheeringdownoverthekeenslope。Shefeltasifhersenseswerebeingwhettedonsomefinegrindstone，thatwaskeenasflame。Thesnowsprintedoneitherside，likesparksfromabladethatisbeingsharpened，thewhitenessroundaboutranswifter，swifter，inpureflamethewhiteslopeflewagainsther，andshefusedlikeonemolten，dancingglobule，rushedthroughawhiteintensity。Thentherewasagreatswerveatthebottom，whentheyswungasitwereinafalltoearth，inthediminishingmotion。
Theycametorest。Butwhensherosetoherfeet，shecouldnotstand。
Shegaveastrangecry，turnedandclungtohim，sinkingherfaceonhisbreast，faintinginhim。Utteroblivioncameoverher，asshelayforafewmomentsabandonedagainsthim。
`Whatisit？'hewassaying。`Wasittoomuchforyou？'
Butsheheardnothing。
Whenshecameto，shestoodupandlookedround，astonished。Herfacewaswhite，hereyesbrilliantandlarge。
`Whatisit？'herepeated。`Diditupsetyou？'
Shelookedathimwithherbrillianteyesthatseemedtohaveundergonesometransfiguration，andshelaughed，withaterriblemerriment。
`No，'shecried，withtriumphantjoy。`Itwasthecompletemomentofmylife。'
Andshelookedathimwithherdazzling，overweeninglaughter，likeonepossessed。Afinebladeseemedtoenterhisheart，buthedidnotcare，ortakeanynotice。
Buttheyclimbeduptheslopeagain，andtheyflewdownthroughthewhiteflameagain，splendidly，splendidly。Gudrunwaslaughingandflashing，powderedwithsnow—crystals，Geraldworkedperfectly。Hefelthecouldguidethetoboggantoahair—breadth，almosthecouldmakeitpierceintotheairandrightintotheveryheartofthesky。Itseemedtohimtheflyingsledgewasbuthisstrengthspreadout，hehadbuttomovehisarms，themotionwashisown。Theyexploredthegreatslopes，tofindanotherslide。Hefelttheremustbesomethingbetterthantheyhadknown。Andhefoundwhathedesired，aperfectlong，fiercesweep，sheeringpastthefootofarockandintothetreesatthebase。Itwasdangerous，heknew。
Butthenheknewalsohewoulddirectthesledgebetweenhisfingers。
Thefirstdayspassedinanecstasyofphysicalmotion，sleighing，skiing，skating，movinginanintensityofspeedandwhitelightthatsurpassedlifeitself，andcarriedthesoulsofthehumanbeingsbeyondintoaninhumanabstractionofvelocityandweightandeternal，frozensnow。
Gerald'seyesbecamehardandstrange，andashewentbyonhisskishewasmorelikesomepowerful，fatefulsighthanaman，hismuscleselasticinaperfect，soaringtrajectory，hisbodyprojectedinpureflight，mindless，soulless，whirlingalongoneperfectlineofforce。
Luckilytherecameadayofsnow，whentheymustallstayindoors:otherwiseBirkinsaid，theywouldalllosetheirfaculties，andbegintoutterthemselvesincriesandshrieks，likesomestrange，unknownspeciesofsnow—creatures。
IthappenedintheafternoonthatUrsulasatintheReunionsaaltalkingtoLoerke。Thelatterhadseemedunhappylately。Hewaslivelyandfullofmischievoushumour，asusual。
ButUrsulahadthoughthewassulkyaboutsomething。Hispartner，too，thebig，fair，good—lookingyouth，wasillatease，goingaboutasifhebelongedtonowhere，andwaskeptinsomesortofsubjection，againstwhichhewasrebelling。
LoerkehadhardlytalkedtoGudrun。Hisassociate，ontheotherhand，hadpaidherconstantlyasoft，over—deferentialattention。GudrunwantedtotalktoLoerke。Hewasasculptor，andshewantedtohearhisviewofhisart。Andhisfigureattractedher。Therewasthelookofalittlewastrelabouthim，thatintriguedher，andanoldman'slook，thatinterestedher，andthen，besidethis，anuncannysingleness，aqualityofbeingbyhimself，notincontactwithanybodyelse，thatmarkedoutanartisttoher。Hewasachatterer，amagpie，amakerofmischievousword—jokes，thatweresometimesveryclever，butwhichoftenwerenot。Andshecouldseeinhisbrown，gnome'seyes，theblacklookofinorganicmisery，whichlaybehindallhissmallbuffoonery。
Hisfigureinterestedher——thefigureofaboy，almostastreetarab。
Hemadenoattempttoconcealit。Healwaysworeasimplelodensuit，withkneebreeches。Hislegswerethin，andhemadenoattempttodisguisethefact:whichwasofitselfremarkable，inaGerman。Andheneveringratiatedhimselfanywhere，notintheslightest，butkepttohimself，forallhisapparentplayfulness。
Leitner，hiscompanion，wasagreatsportsman，veryhandsomewithhisbiglimbsandhisblueeyes。Loerkewouldgotoboganningorskating，inlittlesnatches，buthewasindifferent。Andhisfine，thinnostrils，thenostrilsofapure—bredstreetarab，wouldquiverwithcontemptatLeitner'ssplotheringgymnasticdisplays。Itwasevidentthatthetwomenwhohadtravelledandlivedtogether，sharingthesamebedroom，hadnowreachedthestageofloathing。LeitnerhatedLoerkewithaninjured，writhing，impotenthatred，andLoerketreatedLeitnerwithafine—quiveringcontemptandsarcasm。Soonthetwowouldhavetogoapart。
Alreadytheywererarelytogether。Leitnerranattachinghimselftosomebodyorother，alwaysdeferring，Loerkewasagooddealalone。OutofdoorsheworeaWestphaliancap，aclosebrown—velvetheadwithbigbrownvelvetflapsdownoverhisears，sothathelookedlikealop—earedrabbit，oratroll。Hisfacewasbrown—red，withadry，brightskin，thatseemedtocrinklewithhismobileexpressions。Hiseyeswerearresting——brown，full，likearabbit's，orlikeatroll's，orliketheeyesofalostbeing，havingastrange，dumb，depravedlookofknowledge，andaquicksparkofuncannyfire。WheneverGudrunhadtriedtotalktohimhehadshiedawayunresponsive，lookingatherwithhiswatchfuldarkeyes，butenteringintonorelationwithher。HehadmadeherfeelthatherslowFrenchandherslowerGerman，werehatefultohim。AsforhisowninadequateEnglish，hewasmuchtooawkwardtotryitatall。Butheunderstoodagooddealofwhatwassaid，nevertheless。AndGudrun，piqued，lefthimalone。
Thisafternoon，however，shecameintotheloungeashewastalkingtoUrsula。Hisfine，blackhairsomehowremindedherofabat，thinasitwasonhisfull，sensitive—lookinghead，andwornawayatthetemples。
Hesathunchedup，asifhisspiritwerebat—like。AndGudruncouldseehewasmakingsomeslowconfidencetoUrsula，unwilling，aslow，grudging，scantyself—revelation。Shewentandsatbyhersister。
Helookedather，thenlookedawayagain，asifhetooknonoticeofher。Butasamatteroffact，sheinterestedhimdeeply。
`Isn'titinteresting，Prune，'saidUrsula，turningtohersister，`HerrLoerkeisdoingagreatfriezeforafactoryinCologne，fortheoutside，thestreet。'
Shelookedathim，athisthin，brown，nervoushands，thatwereprehensile，andsomehowliketalons，like`griffes，'inhuman。
`Whatin？'sheasked。
`Auswas？'repeatedUrsula。
`Granit，'hereplied。
Ithadbecomeimmediatelyalaconicseriesofquestionandanswerbetweenfellowcraftsmen。
`Whatistherelief？'askedGudrun。
`Altorelievo。'
`Andatwhatheight？'
ItwasveryinterestingtoGudruntothinkofhismakingthegreatgranitefriezeforagreatgranitefactoryinCologne。Shegotfromhimsomenotionofthedesign。Itwasarepresentationofafair，withpeasantsandartisansinanorgyofenjoyment，drunkandabsurdintheirmoderndress，whirlingridiculouslyinroundabouts，gapingatshows，kissingandstaggeringandrollinginknots，swinginginswing—boats，andfiringdownshootinggalleries，afrenzyofchaoticmotion。
Therewasaswiftdiscussionoftechnicalities。Gudrunwasverymuchimpressed。
`Buthowwonderful，tohavesuchafactory！'criedUrsula。`Isthewholebuildingfine？'
`Ohyes，'hereplied。`Thefriezeispartofthewholearchitecture。
Yes，itisacolossalthing。'
Thenheseemedtostiffen，shruggedhisshoulders，andwenton:
`Sculptureandarchitecturemustgotogether。Thedayforirrelevantstatues，asforwallpictures，isover。Asamatteroffactsculptureisalwayspartofanarchitecturalconception。Andsincechurchesareallmuseumstuff，sinceindustryisourbusiness，now，thenletusmakeourplacesofindustryourart——ourfactory—areaourParthenon，ecco！'
Ursulapondered。
`Isuppose，'shesaid，`thereisnoneedforourgreatworkstobesohideous。'
Instantlyhebrokeintomotion。
`Thereyouare！'hecried，`thereyouare！Thereisnotonlynoneedforourplacesofworktobeugly，buttheiruglinessruinsthework，intheend。Menwillnotgoonsubmittingtosuchintolerableugliness。Intheenditwillhurttoomuch，andtheywillwitherbecauseofit。Andthiswillwithertheworkaswell。Theywillthinktheworkitselfisugly:themachines，theveryactoflabour。Whereasthemachineryandtheactsoflabourareextremely，maddeninglybeautiful。Butthiswillbetheendofourcivilisation，whenpeoplewillnotworkbecauseworkhasbecomesointolerabletotheirsenses，itnauseatesthemtoomuch，theywouldratherstarve。Thenweshallseethehammerusedonlyforsmashing，thenweshallseeit。Yethereweare——wehavetheopportunitytomakebeautifulfactories，beautifulmachine—houses——wehavetheopportunity——'
Gudruncouldonlypartlyunderstand。Shecouldhavecriedwithvexation。
`Whatdoeshesay？'sheaskedUrsula。AndUrsulatranslated，stammeringandbrief。LoerkewatchedGudrun'sface，toseeherjudgment。
`Anddoyouthinkthen，'saidGudrun，`thatartshouldserveindustry？'
`Artshouldinterpretindustry，asartonceinterpretedreligion，'
hesaid。
`Butdoesyourfairinterpretindustry？'sheaskedhim。
`Certainly。Whatismandoing，whenheisatafairlikethis？Heisfulfillingthecounterpartoflabour——themachineworkshim，insteadofhethemachine。Heenjoysthemechanicalmotion，inhisownbody。'
`Butistherenothingbutwork——mechanicalwork？'saidGudrun。
`Nothingbutwork！'herepeated，leaningforward，hiseyestwodarknesses，withneedle—pointsoflight。`No，itisnothingbutthis，servingamachine，orenjoyingthemotionofamachine——motion，thatisall。Youhaveneverworkedforhunger，oryouwouldknowwhatgodgovernsus。'
Gudrunquiveredandflushed。Forsomereasonshewasalmostintears。
`No，Ihavenotworkedforhunger，'shereplied，`butIhaveworked！'
`Travaille——lavorato？'heasked。`Echelavoro——chelavoro？Queltravailest—cequevousavezfait？'
HebrokeintoamixtureofItalianandFrench，instinctivelyusingaforeignlanguagewhenhespoketoher。
`Youhaveneverworkedastheworldworks，'hesaidtoher，withsarcasm。
`Yes，'shesaid。`Ihave。AndIdo——Iworknowformydailybread。'
Hepaused，lookedathersteadily，thendroppedthesubjectentirely。
Sheseemedtohimtobetrifling。
`Buthaveyoueverworkedastheworldworks？'Ursulaaskedhim。
Helookedatheruntrustful。
`Yes，'hereplied，withasurlybark。`Ihaveknownwhatitwastolieinbedforthreedays，becauseIhadnothingtoeat。'
Gudrunwaslookingathimwithlarge，graveeyes，thatseemedtodrawtheconfessionfromhimasthemarrowfromhisbones。Allhisnatureheldhimbackfromconfessing。Andyetherlarge，graveeyesuponhimseemedtoopensomevalveinhisveins，andinvoluntarilyhewastelling。
`Myfatherwasamanwhodidnotlikework，andwehadnomother。WelivedinAustria，PolishAustria。Howdidwelive？Ha！——somehow！Mostlyinaroomwiththreeotherfamilies——onesetineachcorner——andtheW。C。inthemiddleoftheroom——apanwithaplankonit——ha！Ihadtwobrothersandasister——andtheremightbeawomanwithmyfather。
Hewasafreebeing，inhisway——wouldfightwithanymaninthetown——agarrisontown——andwasalittlemantoo。Buthewouldn'tworkforanybody——sethisheartagainstit，andwouldn't。'
`Andhowdidyoulivethen？'askedUrsula。
Helookedather——then，suddenly，atGudrun。
`Doyouunderstand？'heasked。
`Enough，'shereplied。
Theireyesmetforamoment。Thenhelookedaway。Hewouldsaynomore。
`Andhowdidyoubecomeasculptor？'askedUrsula。
`HowdidIbecomeasculptor——'hepaused。`Dunque——'heresumed，inachangedmanner，andbeginningtospeakFrench——`Ibecameoldenough——Iusedtostealfromthemarket—place。LaterIwenttowork——imprintedthestamponclaybottles，beforetheywerebaked。Itwasanearthenware—bottlefactory。ThereIbeganmakingmodels。Oneday，Ihadhadenough。Ilayinthesunanddidnotgotowork。ThenIwalkedtoMunich——thenIwalkedtoItaly——begging，beggingeverything。'
`TheItalianswereverygoodtome——theyweregoodandhonourabletome。FromBozentoRome，almosteverynightIhadamealandabed，perhapsofstraw，withsomepeasant。IlovetheItalianpeople，withallmyheart。
`Dunque，adesso——maintenant——Iearnathousandpoundsinayear，orIearntwothousand——'
Helookeddownattheground，hisvoicetailingoffintosilence。
Gudrunlookedathisfine，thin，shinyskin，reddish—brownfromthesun，drawntightoverhisfulltemples;andathisthinhair——andatthethick，coarse，brush—likemoustache，cutshortabouthismobile，rathershapelessmouth。
`Howoldareyou？'sheasked。
Helookedupatherwithhisfull，elfineyesstartled。
`Wiealt？'herepeated。Andhehesitated。Itwasevidentlyoneofhisreticencies。
`Howoldareyou？'hereplied，withoutanswering。
`Iamtwenty—six，'sheanswered。
`Twenty—six，'herepeated，lookingintohereyes。Hepaused。Thenhesaid:
`UndIhrHerrGemahl，wiealtiser？'
`Who？'askedGudrun。
`Yourhusband，'saidUrsula，withacertainirony。
`Ihaven'tgotahusband，'saidGudruninEnglish。InGermansheanswered，`Heisthirty—one。'
ButLoerkewaswatchingclosely，withhisuncanny，full，suspiciouseyes。SomethinginGudrunseemedtoaccordwithhim。Hewasreallylikeoneofthe`littlepeople'whohavenosoul，whohasfoundhismateinahumanbeing。Buthesufferedinhisdiscovery。Shetoowasfascinatedbyhim，fascinated，asifsomestrangecreature，arabbitorabat，orabrownseal，hadbeguntotalktoher。Butalso，sheknewwhathewasunconsciousof，histremendouspowerofunderstanding，ofapprehendingherlivingmotion。Hedidnotknowhisownpower。Hedidnotknowhow，withhisfull，submerged，watchfuleyes，hecouldlookintoherandseeher，whatshewas，seehersecrets。Hewouldonlywanthertobeherself——heknewherverily，withasubconscious，sinisterknowledge，devoidofillusionsandhopes。
ToGudrun，therewasinLoerketherock—bottomofalllife。Everybodyelsehadtheirillusion，musthavetheirillusion，theirbeforeandafter。
Buthe，withaperfectstoicism，didwithoutanybeforeandafter，dispensedwithallillusion。Hedidnotdeceivehimselfinthelastissue。Inthelastissuehecaredaboutnothing，hewastroubledaboutnothing，hemadenottheslightestattempttobeatonewithanything。Heexistedapure，unconnectedwill，stoicalandmomentaneous。Therewasonlyhiswork。
Itwascurioustoo，howhispoverty，thedegradationofhisearlierlife，attractedher。Therewassomethinginsipidandtastelesstoher，intheideaofagentleman，amanwhohadgonetheusualcoursethroughschoolanduniversity。Acertainviolentsympathy，however，cameupinherforthismud—child。Heseemedtobetheverystuffoftheunderworldoflife。Therewasnogoingbeyondhim。
UrsulatoowasattractedbyLoerke。Inbothsistershecommandedacertainhomage。ButthereweremomentswhentoUrsulaheseemedindescribablyinferior，false，avulgarism。
BothBirkinandGeralddislikedhim，Geraldignoringhimwithsomecontempt，Birkinexasperated。
`Whatdothewomenfindsoimpressiveinthatlittlebrat？'Geraldasked。
`Godaloneknows，'repliedBirkin，`unlessit'ssomesortofappealhemakestothem，whichflattersthemandhassuchapoweroverthem。'
Geraldlookedupinsurprise。
`Doeshemakeanappealtothem？'heasked。
`Ohyes，'repliedBirkin。`Heistheperfectlysubjectedbeing，existingalmostlikeacriminal。Andthewomenrushtowardsthat，likeacurrentofairtowardsavacuum。'
`Funnytheyshouldrushtothat，'saidGerald。
`Makesonemad，too，'saidBirkin。`Buthehasthefascinationofpityandrepulsionforthem，alittleobscenemonsterofthedarknessthatheis。'
Geraldstoodstill，suspendedinthought。
`Whatdowomenwant，atthebottom？'heasked。
Birkinshruggedhisshoulders。
`Godknows，'hesaid。`Somesatisfactioninbasicrepulsion，itseemstome。Theyseemtocreepdownsomeghastlytunnelofdarkness，andwillneverbesatisfiedtillthey'vecometotheend。'
Geraldlookedoutintothemistoffinesnowthatwasblowingby。Everywherewasblindtoday，horriblyblind。
`Andwhatistheend？'heasked。
Birkinshookhishead。
`I'venotgotthereyet，soIdon'tknow。AskLoerke，he'sprettynear。
HeisagoodmanystagesfurtherthaneitheryouorIcango。'
`Yes，butstagesfurtherinwhat？'criedGerald，irritated。
Birkinsighed，andgatheredhisbrowsintoaknotofanger。
`Stagesfurtherinsocialhatred，'hesaid。`Heliveslikearat，intheriverofcorruption，justwhereitfallsoverintothebottomlesspit。
He'sfurtheronthanweare。Hehatestheidealmoreacutely。Hehatestheidealutterly，yetitstilldominateshim。IexpectheisaJew——
orpartJewish。'
`Probably，'saidGerald。
`Heisagnawinglittlenegation，gnawingattherootsoflife。'
`Butwhydoesanybodycareabouthim？'criedGerald。
`Becausetheyhatetheidealalso，intheirsouls。Theywanttoexplorethesewers，andhe'sthewizardratthatswimsahead。'
StillGeraldstoodandstaredattheblindhazeofsnowoutside。
`Idon'tunderstandyourterms，really，'hesaid，inaflat，doomedvoice。`Butitsoundsarumsortofdesire。'
`Isupposewewantthesame，'saidBirkin。`Onlywewanttotakeaquickjumpdownwards，inasortofecstasy——andheebbswiththestream，thesewerstream。'
MeanwhileGudrunandUrsulawaitedforthenextopportunitytotalktoLoerke。Itwasnousebeginningwhenthemenwerethere。Thentheycouldgetintonotouchwiththeisolatedlittlesculptor。Hehadtobealonewiththem。AndhepreferredUrsulatobethere，asasortoftransmittertoGudrun。
`Doyoudonothingbutarchitecturalsculpture？'Gudrunaskedhimoneevening。