`Ofcourse，'heresumed，`Iwouldn'tnothavehadit！It'sacompleteexperience。Andshe'sawonderfulwoman。But——howIhatehersomewhere！It'scurious——'
　　Birkinlookedathim，athisstrange，scarcelyconsciousface。Geraldseemedblankbeforehisownwords。
　　`Butyou'vehadenoughnow？'saidBirkin。`Youhavehadyourexperience。
　　Whyworkonanoldwound？'
　　`Oh，'saidGerald，`Idon'tknow。It'snotfinished——'
　　Andthetwowalkedon。
　　`I'velovedyou，aswellasGudrun，don'tforget，'saidBirkinbitterly。
　　Geraldlookedathimstrangely，abstractedly。
　　`Haveyou？'hesaid，withicyscepticism。`Ordoyouthinkyouhave？'
　　Hewashardlyresponsibleforwhathesaid。
　　Thesledgecame。Gudrundismountedandtheyallmadetheirfarewell。
　　Theywantedtogoapart，allofthem。Birkintookhisplace，andthesledgedroveawayleavingGudrunandGeraldstandingonthesnow，waving。SomethingfrozeBirkin'sheart，seeingthemstandingthereintheisolationofthesnow，growingsmallerandmoreisolated。
　　WomenInLove:Chapter30CHAPTERXXXSnowedUpWHENURSULAandBirkinweregone，GudrunfeltherselffreeinhercontestwithGerald。Astheygrewmoreusedtoeachother，heseemedtopressuponhermoreandmore。Atfirstshecouldmanagehim，sothatherownwillwasalwaysleftfree。
　　Butverysoon，hebegantoignoreherfemaletactics，hedroppedhisrespectforherwhimsandherprivacies，hebegantoexerthisownwillblindly，withoutsubmittingtohers。
　　Alreadyavitalconflicthadsetin，whichfrightenedthemboth。Buthewasalone，whilstalreadyshehadbeguntocastroundforexternalresource。
　　WhenUrsulahadgone，Gudrunfeltherownexistencehadbecomestarkandelemental。Shewentandcrouchedaloneinherbedroom，lookingoutofthewindowatthebig，flashingstars。Infrontwasthefaintshadowofthemountain—knot。Thatwasthepivot。Shefeltstrangeandinevitable，asifshewerecentreduponthepivotofallexistence，therewasnofurtherreality。
　　PresentlyGeraldopenedthedoor。Sheknewhewouldnotbelongbeforehecame。Shewasrarelyalone，hepresseduponherlikeafrost，deadeningher。
　　`Areyoualoneinthedark？'hesaid。Andshecouldtellbyhistoneheresentedit，heresentedthisisolationshehaddrawnroundherself。
　　Yet，feelingstaticandinevitable，shewaskindtowardshim。
　　`Wouldyouliketolightthecandle？'sheasked。
　　Hedidnotanswer，butcameandstoodbehindher，inthedarkness。
　　`Look，'shesaid，`atthatlovelystarupthere。Doyouknowitsname？'
　　Hecrouchedbesideher，tolookthroughthelowwindow。
　　`No，'hesaid。`Itisveryfine。'
　　`Isn'titbeautiful！Doyounoticehowitdartsdifferentcolouredfires——itflashesreallysuperbly——'
　　Theyremainedinsilence。Withamute，heavygesturesheputherhandonhisknee，andtookhishand。
　　`AreyouregrettingUrsula？'heasked。
　　`No，notatall，'shesaid。Then，inaslowmood，sheasked:
　　`Howmuchdoyouloveme？'
　　Hestiffenedhimselffurtheragainsther。
　　`HowmuchdoyouthinkIdo？'heasked。
　　`Idon'tknow，'shereplied。
　　`Butwhatisyouropinion？'heasked。
　　Therewasapause。Atlength，inthedarkness，camehervoice，hardandindifferent:
　　`Verylittleindeed，'shesaidcoldly，almostflippant。
　　Hisheartwenticyatthesoundofhervoice。
　　`Whydon'tIloveyou？'heasked，asifadmittingthetruthofheraccusation，yethatingherforit。
　　`Idon'tknowwhyyoudon't——I'vebeengoodtoyou。Youwereinafearfulstatewhenyoucametome。'
　　Herheartwasbeatingtosuffocateher，yetshewasstrongandunrelenting。
　　`WhenwasIinafearfulstate？'heasked。
　　`Whenyoufirstcametome。Ihadtotakepityonyou。Butitwasneverlove。'
　　Itwasthatstatement`Itwasneverlove，'whichsoundedinhisearswithmadness。
　　`Whymustyourepeatitsooften，thatthereisnolove？'hesaidinavoicestrangledwithrage。
　　`Wellyoudon'tthinkyoulove，doyou？'sheasked。
　　Hewassilentwithcoldpassionofanger。
　　`Youdon'tthinkyoucanloveme，doyou？'sherepeatedalmostwithasneer。
　　`No，'hesaid。
　　`Youknowyouneverhavelovedme，don'tyou？'
　　`Idon'tknowwhatyoumeanbytheword`love，'hereplied。
　　`Yes，youdo。Youknowallrightthatyouhaveneverlovedme。Haveyou，doyouthink？'
　　`No，'hesaid，promptedbysomebarrenspiritoftruthfulnessandobstinacy。
　　`Andyouneverwillloveme，'shesaidfinally，`willyou？'
　　Therewasadiaboliccoldnessinher，toomuchtobear。
　　`No，'hesaid。
　　`Then，'shereplied，`whathaveyouagainstme！'
　　Hewassilentincold，frightenedrageanddespair。`IfonlyIcouldkillher，'hisheartwaswhisperingrepeatedly。`IfonlyIcouldkillher——Ishouldbefree。'
　　ItseemedtohimthatdeathwastheonlyseveringofthisGordianknot。
　　`Whydoyoutortureme？'hesaid。
　　Sheflungherarmsroundhisneck。
　　`Ah，Idon'twanttotortureyou，'shesaidpityingly，asifshewerecomfortingachild。Theimpertinencemadehisveinsgocold，hewasinsensible。
　　Sheheldherarmsroundhisneck，inatriumphofpity。Andherpityforhimwasascoldasstone，itsdeepestmotivewashateofhim，andfearofhispoweroverher，whichshemustalwayscounterfoil。
　　`Sayyouloveme，'shepleaded。`Sayyouwilllovemeforever——won'tyou——won'tyou？'
　　Butitwashervoiceonlythatcoaxedhim。Hersenseswereentirelyapartfromhim，coldanddestructiveofhim。Itwasheroverbearingwillthatinsisted。
　　`Won'tyousayyou'lllovemealways？'shecoaxed。`Sayit，evenifitisn'ttrue——sayitGerald，do。'
　　`Iwillloveyoualways，'herepeated，inrealagony，forcingthewordsout。
　　Shegavehimaquickkiss。
　　`Fancyyouractuallyhavingsaidit，'shesaidwithatouchofraillery。
　　Hestoodasifhehadbeenbeaten。
　　`Trytolovemealittlemore，andtowantmealittleless，'shesaid，inahalfcontemptuous，halfcoaxingtone。
　　Thedarknessseemedtobeswayinginwavesacrosshismind，greatwavesofdarknessplungingacrosshismind。Itseemedtohimhewasdegradedattheveryquick，madeofnoaccount。
　　`Youmeanyoudon'twantme？'hesaid。
　　`Youaresoinsistent，andthereissolittlegraceinyou，solittlefineness。Youaresocrude。Youbreakme——youonlywasteme——itishorribletome。'
　　`Horribletoyou？'herepeated。
　　`Yes。Don'tyouthinkImighthavearoomtomyself，nowUrsulahasgone？Youcansayyouwantadressingroom。'
　　`Youdoasyoulike——youcanleavealtogetherifyoulike，'hemanagedtoarticulate。
　　`Yes，Iknowthat，'shereplied。`Socanyou。Youcanleavemewheneveryoulike——withoutnoticeeven。'
　　Thegreattidesofdarknesswereswingingacrosshismind，hecouldhardlystandupright。Aterriblewearinessovercamehim，hefelthemustlieonthefloor。Droppingoffhisclothes，hegotintobed，andlaylikeamansuddenlyovercomebydrunkenness，thedarknessliftingandplungingasifhewerelyinguponablack，giddysea。Helaystillinthisstrange，horrificreelingforsometime，purelyunconscious。
　　Atlengthsheslippedfromherownbedandcameovertohim。Heremainedrigid，hisbacktoher。Hewasallbutunconscious。
　　Sheputherarmsroundhisterrifying，insentientbody，andlaidhercheekagainsthishardshoulder。
　　`Gerald，'shewhispered。`Gerald。'
　　Therewasnochangeinhim。Shecaughthimagainsther。Shepressedherbreastsagainsthisshoulders，shekissedhisshoulder，throughthesleepingjacket。Hermindwondered，overhisrigid，unlivingbody。Shewasbewildered，andinsistent，onlyherwillwassetforhimtospeaktoher。
　　`Gerald，mydear！'shewhispered，bendingoverhim，kissinghisear。
　　Herwarmbreathplaying，flyingrhythmicallyoverhisear，seemedtorelaxthetension。Shecouldfeelhisbodygraduallyrelaxingalittle，losingitsterrifying，unnaturalrigidity。Herhandsclutchedhislimbs，hismuscles，goingoverhimspasmodically。
　　Thehotbloodbegantoflowagainthroughhisveins，hislimbsrelaxed。
　　`Turnroundtome，'shewhispered，forlornwithinsistenceandtriumph。
　　Soatlasthewasgivenagain，warmandflexible。Heturnedandgatheredherinhisarms。Andfeelinghersoftagainsthim，soperfectlyandwondrouslysoftandrecipient，hisarmstightenedonher。Shewasasifcrushed，powerlessinhim。Hisbrainseemedhardandinvinciblenowlikeajewel，therewasnoresistinghim。
　　Hispassionwasawfultoher，tenseandghastly，andimpersonal，likeadestruction，ultimate。Shefeltitwouldkillher。Shewasbeingkilled。
　　`MyGod，myGod，'shecried，inanguish，inhisembrace，feelingherlifebeingkilledwithinher。Andwhenhewaskissingher，soothingher，herbreathcameslowly，asifshewerereallyspent，dying。
　　`ShallIdie，shallIdie？'sherepeatedtoherself。
　　Andinthenight，andinhim，therewasnoanswertothequestion。
　　Andyet，nextday，thefragmentofherwhichwasnotdestroyedremainedintactandhostile，shedidnotgoaway，sheremainedtofinishtheholiday，admittingnothing。Hescarcelyeverleftheralone，butfollowedherlikeashadow，hewaslikeadoomuponher，acontinual`thoushalt，'`thoushaltnot。'Sometimesitwashewhoseemedstrongest，whistshewasalmostgone，creepingneartheearthlikeaspentwind;sometimesitwasthereverse。
　　Butalwaysitwasthiseternalsee—saw，onedestroyedthattheothermightexist，oneratifiedbecausetheotherwasnulled。
　　`Intheend，'shesaidtoherself，`Ishallgoawayfromhim。'
　　`Icanbefreeofher，'hesaidtohimselfinhisparoxysmsofsuffering。
　　Andhesethimselftobefree。Heevenpreparedtogoaway，toleaveherinthelurch。Butforthefirsttimetherewasaflawinhiswill。
　　`WhereshallIgo？'heaskedhimself。
　　`Can'tyoubeself—sufficient？'herepliedtohimself，puttinghimselfuponhispride。
　　`Self—sufficient！'herepeated。
　　ItseemedtohimthatGudrunwassufficientuntoherself，closedroundandcompleted，likeathinginacase。Inthecalm，staticreasonofhissoul，herecognisedthis，andadmitteditwasherright，tobeclosedrounduponherself，self—complete，withoutdesire。Herealisedit，headmittedit，itonlyneededonelasteffortonhisownpart，towinforhimselfthesamecompleteness。Heknewthatitonlyneededoneconvulsionofhiswillforhimtobeabletoturnuponhimselfalso，tocloseuponhimselfasastonefixesuponitself，andisimpervious，self—completed，athingisolated。
　　Thisknowledgethrewhimintoaterriblechaos。Because，howevermuchhemightmentallywilltobeimmuneandself—complete，thedesireforthisstatewaslacking，andhecouldnotcreateit。Hecouldseethat，toexistatall，hemustbeperfectlyfreeofGudrun，leaveherifshewantedtobeleft，demandnothingofher，havenoclaimuponher。
　　Butthen，tohavenoclaimuponher，hemuststandbyhimself，insheernothingness。Andhisbrainturnedtonoughtattheidea。Itwasastateofnothingness。Ontheotherhand，hemightgivein，andfawntoher。Or，finally，hemightkillher。Orhemightbecomejustindifferent，purposeless，dissipated，momentaneous。Buthisnaturewastooserious，notgayenoughorsubtleenoughformockinglicentiousness。
　　Astrangerenthadbeentorninhim;likeavictimthatistornopenandgiventotheheavens，sohehadbeentornapartandgiventoGudrun。
　　Howshouldhecloseagain？Thiswound，thisstrange，infinitely—sensitiveopeningofhissoul，wherehewasexposed，likeanopenflower，toalltheuniverse，andinwhichhewasgiventohiscomplement，theother，theunknown，thiswound，thisdisclosure，thisunfoldingofhisowncovering，leavinghimincomplete，limited，unfinished，likeanopenflowerunderthesky，thiswashiscruellestjoy。Whythenshouldheforegoit？Whyshouldhecloseupandbecomeimpervious，immune，likeapartialthinginasheath，whenhehadbrokenforth，likeaseedthathasgerminated，toissueforthinbeing，embracingtheunrealisedheavens。
　　Hewouldkeeptheunfinishedblissofhisownyearningeventhroughthetorturesheinflicteduponhim。Astrangeobstinacypossessedhim。
　　Hewouldnotgoawayfromherwhatevershesaidordid。Astrange，deathlyyearningcarriedhimalongwithher。Shewasthedeterminatinginfluenceofhisverybeing，thoughshetreatedhimwithcontempt，repeatedrebuffs，anddenials，stillhewouldneverbegone，sinceinbeingnearher，even，hefeltthequickening，thegoingforthinhim，therelease，theknowledgeofhisownlimitationandthemagicofthepromise，aswellasthemysteryofhisowndestructionandannihilation。
　　Shetorturedtheopenheartofhimevenasheturnedtoher。Andshewastorturedherself。Itmayhavebeenherwillwasstronger。Shefelt，withhorror，asifhetoreatthebudofherheart，toreitopen，likeanirreverentpersistentbeing。Likeaboywhopullsoffafly'swings，ortearsopenabudtoseewhatisintheflower，hetoreatherprivacy，atherverylife，hewoulddestroyherasanimmaturebud，tornopen，isdestroyed。
　　Shemightopentowardshim，alongwhilehence，inherdreams，whenshewasapurespirit。Butnowshewasnottobeviolatedandruined。Sheclosedagainsthimfiercely。
　　Theyclimbedtogether，atevening，upthehighslope，toseethesunset。
　　Inthefinelybreathing，keenwindtheystoodandwatchedtheyellowsunsinkincrimsonanddisappear。Thenintheeastthepeaksandridgesglowedwithlivingrose，incandescentlikeimmortalflowersagainstabrown—purplesky，amiracle，whilstdownbelowtheworldwasabluishshadow，andabove，likeanannunciation，hoveredarosytransportinmid—air。
　　Toheritwassobeautiful，itwasadelirium，shewantedtogathertheglowing，eternalpeakstoherbreast，anddie。Hesawthem，sawtheywerebeautiful。Buttherearosenoclamourinhisbreast，onlyabitternessthatwasvisionaryinitself。Hewishedthepeaksweregreyandunbeautiful，sothatsheshouldnotgethersupportfromthem。Whydidshebetraythetwoofthemsoterribly，inembracingtheglowoftheevening？Whydidsheleavehimstandingthere，withtheice—windblowingthroughhisheart，likedeath，togratifyherselfamongtherosysnow—tips？
　　`Whatdoesthetwilightmatter？'hesaid。`Whydoyougrovelbeforeit？Isitsoimportanttoyou？'
　　Shewincedinviolationandinfury。
　　`Goaway，'shecried，`andleavemetoit。Itisbeautiful，beautiful，'
　　shesanginstrange，rhapsodictones。`ItisthemostbeautifulthingI
　　haveeverseeninmylife。Don'ttrytocomebetweenitandme。Takeyourselfaway，youareoutofplace——'
　　Hestoodbackalittle，andleftherstandingthere，statue—like，transportedintothemysticglowingeast。Alreadytherosewasfading，largewhitestarswereflashingout。Hewaited。Hewouldforegoeverythingbuttheyearning。
　　`ThatwasthemostperfectthingIhaveeverseen，'shesaidincold，brutaltones，whenatlastsheturnedroundtohim。`Itamazesmethatyoushouldwanttodestroyit。Ifyoucan'tseeityourself，whytrytodebarme？'Butinreality，hehaddestroyeditforher，shewasstrainingafteradeadeffect。
　　`Oneday，'hesaid，softly，lookingupather，`Ishalldestroyyou，asyoustandlookingatthesunset;becauseyouaresuchaliar。'
　　Therewasasoft，voluptuouspromisetohimselfinthewords。Shewaschilledbutarrogant。
　　`Ha！'shesaid。`Iamnotafraidofyourthreats！'Shedeniedherselftohim，shekeptherroomrigidlyprivatetoherself。Buthewaitedon，inacuriouspatience，belongingtohisyearningforher。
　　`Intheend，'hesaidtohimselfwithrealvoluptuouspromise，`whenitreachesthatpoint，Ishalldoawaywithher。'Andhetrembleddelicatelyineverylimb，inanticipation，ashetrembledinhismostviolentaccessesofpassionateapproachtoher，tremblingwithtoomuchdesire。
　　ShehadacurioussortofallegiancewithLoerke，allthewhile，now，somethinginsidiousandtraitorous。Geraldknewofit。Butintheunnaturalstateofpatience，andtheunwillingnesstohardenhimselfagainsther，inwhichhefoundhimself，hetooknonotice，althoughhersoftkindlinesstotheotherman，whomhehatedasanoxiousinsect，madehimshiveragainwithanaccessofthestrangeshudderingthatcameoverhimrepeatedly。
　　Heleftheraloneonlywhenhewentskiing，asportheloved，andwhichshedidnotpractise。Theheseemedtosweepoutoflife，tobeaprojectileintothebeyond。Andoften，whenhewentaway，shetalkedtothelittleGermansculptor。Theyhadaninvariabletopic，intheirart。
　　Theywerealmostofthesameideas。HehatedMestrovic，wasnotsatisfiedwiththeFuturists，helikedtheWestAfricanwoodenfigures，theAztecart，MexicanandCentralAmerican。Hesawthegrotesque，andacurioussortofmechanicalmotionintoxicatedhim，aconfusioninnature。Theyhadacuriousgamewitheachother，GudrunandLoerke，ofinfinitesuggestivity，strangeandleering，asiftheyhadsomeesotericunderstandingoflife，thattheyalonewereinitiatedintothefearfulcentralsecrets，thattheworlddarednotknow。Theirwholecorrespondencewasinastrange，barelycomprehensiblesuggestivity，theykindledthemselvesatthesubtlelustoftheEgyptiansortheMexicans。Thewholegamewasoneofsubtleinter—suggestivity，andtheywantedtokeepitontheplaneofsuggestion。Fromtheirverbalandphysicalnuancestheygotthehighestsatisfactioninthenerves，fromaqueerinterchangeofhalf—suggestedideas，looks，expressionsandgestures，whichwerequiteintolerable，thoughincomprehensible，toGerald。Hehadnotermsinwhichtothinkoftheircommerce，histermsweremuchtoogross。
　　Thesuggestionofprimitiveartwastheirrefuge，andtheinnermysteriesofsensationtheirobjectofworship。ArtandLifeweretothemtheRealityandtheUnreality。
　　`Ofcourse，'saidGudrun，`lifedoesn'treallymatter——itisone'sartwhichiscentral。Whatonedoesinone'slifehaspeuderapport，itdoesn'tsignifymuch。'
　　`Yes，thatisso，exactly，'repliedthesculptor。`Whatonedoesinone'sart，thatisthebreathofone'sbeing。Whatonedoesinone'slife，thatisabagatellefortheoutsiderstofussabout。'
　　ItwascuriouswhatasenseofelationandfreedomGudrunfoundinthiscommunication。Shefeltestablishedforever。OfcourseGeraldwasbagatelle。
　　Lovewasoneofthetemporalthingsinherlife，exceptinsofarasshewasanartist。ShethoughtofCleopatra——Cleopatramusthavebeenanartist;shereapedtheessentialfromaman，sheharvestedtheultimatesensation，andthrewawaythehusk;andMaryStuart，andthegreatRachel，pantingwithherloversafterthetheatre，theseweretheexotericexponentsoflove。Afterall，whatwastheloverbutfuelforthetransportofthissubtleknowledge，forafemaleart，theartofpure，perfectknowledgeinsensuousunderstanding。
　　OneeveningGeraldwasarguingwithLoerkeaboutItalyandTripoli。
　　TheEnglishmanwasinastrange，inflammablestate，theGermanwasexcited。
　　Itwasacontestofwords，butitmeantaconflictofspiritbetweenthetwomen。AndallthewhileGudruncouldseeinGeraldanarrogantEnglishcontemptforaforeigner。AlthoughGeraldwasquivering，hiseyesflashing，hisfaceflushed，inhisargumenttherewasabrusqueness，asavagecontemptinhismanner，thatmadeGudrun'sbloodflareup，andmadeLoerkekeenandmortified。ForGeraldcamedownlikeasledge—hammerwithhisassertions，anythingthelittleGermansaidwasmerelycontemptiblerubbish。
　　AtlastLoerketurnedtoGudrun，raisinghishandsinhelplessirony，ashrugofironicaldismissal，somethingappealingandchild—like。
　　`Sehensie，gnadigeFrau——'hebegan。
　　`BittesagenSienichtimmer，gnadigeFrau，'criedGudrun，hereyesflashing，hercheeksburning。ShelookedlikeavividMedusa。Hervoicewasloudandclamorous，theotherpeopleintheroomwerestartled。
　　`Pleasedon'tcallmeMrsCrich，'shecriedaloud。
　　Thename，inLoerke'smouthparticularly，hadbeenanintolerablehumiliationandconstraintuponher，thesemanydays。
　　Thetwomenlookedatherinamazement。Geraldwentwhiteatthecheek—bones。
　　`WhatshallIsay，then？'askedLoerke，withsoft，mockinginsinuation。
　　`SagenSienurnichtdas，'shemuttered，hercheeksflushedcrimson。
　　`Notthat，atleast。'
　　Shesaw，bythedawninglookonLoerke'sface，thathehadunderstood。
　　ShewasnotMrsCrich！So——o——，thatexplainedagreatdeal。
　　`SollichFrauleinsagen？'heasked，malevolently。
　　`Iamnotmarried，'shesaid，withsomehauteur。
　　Herheartwasflutteringnow，beatinglikeabewilderedbird。Sheknewshehaddealtacruelwound，andshecouldnotbearit。
　　Geraldsaterect，perfectlystill，hisfacepaleandcalm，likethefaceofastatue。Hewasunawareofher，orofLoerkeoranybody。Hesatperfectlystill，inanunalterablecalm。Loerke，meanwhile，wascrouchingandglancingupfromunderhisduckedhead。
　　Gudrunwastorturedforsomethingtosay，torelievethesuspense。Shetwistedherfaceinasmile，andglancedknowingly，almostsneering，atGerald。
　　`Truthisbest，'shesaidtohim，withagrimace。
　　Butnowagainshewasunderhisdomination;now，becauseshehaddealthimthisblow;becauseshehaddestroyedhim，andshedidnotknowhowhehadtakenit。Shewatchedhim。Hewasinterestingtoher。ShehadlostherinterestinLoerke。
　　Geraldroseatlength，andwentoverinaleisurelystillmovement，totheProfessor。ThetwobeganaconversationonGoethe。
　　ShewasratherpiquedbythesimplicityofGerald'sdemeanourthisevening。
　　Hedidnotseemangryordisgusted，onlyhelookedcuriouslyinnocentandpure，reallybeautiful。Sometimesitcameuponhim，thislookofcleardistance，anditalwaysfascinatedher。
　　Shewaited，troubled，throughouttheevening。Shethoughthewouldavoidher，orgivesomesign。Buthespoketohersimplyandunemotionally，ashewouldtoanyoneelseintheroom。Acertainpeace，anabstractionpossessedhissoul。
　　Shewenttohisroom，hotly，violentlyinlovewithhim。Hewassobeautifulandinaccessible。Hekissedher，hewasalovertoher。Andshehadextremepleasureofhim。Buthedidnotcometo，heremainedremoteandcandid，unconscious。Shewantedtospeaktohim。Butthisinnocent，beautifulstateofunconsciousnessthathadcomeuponhimpreventedher。Shefelttormentedanddark。
　　Inthemorning，however，helookedatherwithalittleaversion，somehorrorandsomehatreddarkeningintohiseyes。Shewithdrewontoheroldground。Butstillhewouldnotgatherhimselftogether，againsther。
　　Loerkewaswaitingforhernow。Thelittleartist，isolatedinhisowncompleteenvelope，feltthathereatlastwasawomanfromwhomhecouldgetsomething。Hewasuneasyallthewhile，waitingtotalkwithher，subtlycontrivingtobenearher。Herpresencefilledhimwithkeennessandexcitement，hegravitatedcunninglytowardsher，asifshehadsomeunseenforceofattraction。
　　Hewasnotintheleastdoubtfulofhimself，asregardsGerald。Geraldwasoneoftheoutsiders。Loerkeonlyhatedhimforbeingrichandproudandoffineappearance。Allthesethings，however，riches，prideofsocialstanding，handsomephysique，wereexternals。WhenitcametotherelationwithawomansuchasGudrun，he，Loerke，hadanapproachandapowerthatGeraldneverdreamedof。
　　HowshouldGeraldhopetosatisfyawomanofGudrun'scalibre？Didhethinkthatprideormasterfulwillorphysicalstrengthwouldhelphim？
　　Loerkeknewasecretbeyondthesethings。Thegreatestpoweristheonethatissubtleandadjustsitself，notonewhichblindlyattacks。Andhe，Loerke，hadunderstandingwhereGeraldwasacalf。He，Loerke，couldpenetrateintodepthsfaroutofGerald'sknowledge。Geraldwasleftbehindlikeapostulantintheante—roomofthistempleofmysteries，thiswoman。ButheLoerke，couldhenotpenetrateintotheinnerdarkness，findthespiritofthewomaninitsinnerrecess，andwrestlewithitthere，thecentralserpentthatiscoiledatthecoreoflife。
　　Whatwasit，afterall，thatawomanwanted？Wasitmeresocialeffect，fulfilmentofambitioninthesocialworld，inthecommunityofmankind？
　　Wasitevenaunioninloveandgoodness？Didshewant`goodness'？WhobutafoolwouldacceptthisofGudrun？Thiswasbutthestreetviewofherwants。Crossthethreshold，andyoufoundhercompletely，completelycynicalaboutthesocialworldanditsadvantages。Onceinsidethehouseofhersoulandtherewasapungentatmosphereofcorrosion，aninflameddarknessofsensation，andavivid，subtle，criticalconsciousness，thatsawtheworlddistorted，horrific。
　　Whatthen，whatnext？Wasitsheerblindforceofpassionthatwouldsatisfyhernow？Notthis，butthesubtlethrillsofextremesensationinreduction。Itwasanunbrokenwillreactingagainstherunbrokenwillinamyriadsubtlethrillsofreduction，thelastsubtleactivitiesofanalysisandbreakingdown，carriedoutinthedarknessofher，whilsttheoutsideform，theindividual，wasutterlyunchanged，evensentimentalinitsposes。
　　Butbetweentwoparticularpeople，anytwopeopleonearth，therangeofpuresensationalexperienceislimited。Theclimaxofsensualreaction，oncereachedinanydirection，isreachedfinally，thereisnogoingon。
　　Thereisonlyrepetitionpossible，orthegoingapartofthetwoprotagonists，orthesubjugatingoftheonewilltotheother，ordeath。