GeraldhadpenetratedalltheouterplacesofGudrun'ssoul。Hewastoherthemostcrucialinstanceoftheexistingworld，theneplusultraoftheworldofmanasitexistedforher。Inhimsheknewtheworld，andhaddonewithit。KnowinghimfinallyshewastheAlexanderseekingnewworlds。Buttherewerenonewworlds，therewerenomoremen，therewereonlycreatures，little，ultimatecreatureslikeLoerke。Theworldwasfinishednow，forher。Therewasonlytheinner，individualdarkness，sensationwithintheego，theobscenereligiousmysteryofultimatereduction，themysticfrictionalactivitiesofdiabolicreducingdown，disintegratingthevitalorganicbodyoflife。
　　AllthisGudrunknewinhersubconsciousness，notinhermind。Sheknewhernextstep——sheknewwhatsheshouldmoveonto，whensheleftGerald。
　　ShewasafraidofGerald，thathemightkillher。Butshedidnotintendtobekilled。Afinethreadstillunitedhertohim。Itshouldnotbeherdeathwhichbrokeit。Shehadfurthertogo，afurther，slowexquisiteexperiencetoreap，unthinkablesubtletiesofsensationtoknow，beforeshewasfinished。
　　Ofthelastseriesofsubtleties，Geraldwasnotcapable。Hecouldnottouchthequickofher。Butwherehisruderblowscouldnotpenetrate，thefine，insinuatingbladeofLoerke'sinsect—likecomprehensioncould。
　　Atleast，itwastimeforhernowtopassovertotheother，thecreature，thefinalcraftsman。SheknewthatLoerke，inhisinnermostsoul，wasdetachedfromeverything，forhimtherewasneitherheavennorearthnorhell。Headmittednoallegiance，hegavenoadherenceanywhere。Hewassingleand，byabstractionfromtherest，absoluteinhimself。
　　WhereasinGerald'ssoultherestilllingeredsomeattachmenttotherest，tothewhole。Andthiswashislimitation。Hewaslimited，borne，subjecttohisnecessity，inthelastissue，forgoodness，forrighteousness，foronenesswiththeultimatepurpose。Thattheultimatepurposemightbetheperfectandsubtleexperienceoftheprocessofdeath，thewillbeingkeptunimpaired，thatwasnotallowedinhim。Andthiswashislimitation。
　　TherewasahoveringtriumphinLoerke，sinceGudrunhaddeniedhermarriagewithGerald。Theartistseemedtohoverlikeacreatureonthewing，waitingtosettle。HedidnotapproachGudrunviolently，hewasneverill—timed。Butcarriedonbyasureinstinctinthecompletedarknessofhissoul，hecorrespondedmysticallywithher，imperceptibly，butpalpably。
　　Fortwodays，hetalkedtoher，continuedthediscussionsofart，oflife，inwhichtheybothfoundsuchpleasure。Theypraisedtheby—gonethings，theytookasentimental，childishdelightintheachievedperfectionsofthepast。Particularlytheylikedthelateeighteenthcentury，theperiodofGoetheandofShelley，andMozart。
　　Theyplayedwiththepast，andwiththegreatfiguresofthepast，asortoflittlegameofchess，ormarionettes，alltopleasethemselves。
　　Theyhadallthegreatmenfortheirmarionettes，andtheytwoweretheGodoftheshow，workingitall。Asforthefuture，thattheynevermentionedexceptonelaughedoutsomemockingdreamofthedestructionoftheworldbyaridiculouscatastropheofman'sinvention:amaninventedsuchaperfectexplosivethatitblewtheearthintwo，andthetwohalvessetoffindifferentdirectionsthroughspace，tothedismayoftheinhabitants:orelsethepeopleoftheworlddividedintotwohalves，andeachhalfdecideditwasperfectandright，theotherhalfwaswrongandmustbedestroyed;
　　soanotherendoftheworld。Orelse，Loerke'sdreamoffear，theworldwentcold，andsnowfelleverywhere，andonlywhitecreatures，polar—bears，whitefoxes，andmenlikeawfulwhitesnow—birds，persistedinicecruelty。
　　Apartfromthesestories，theynevertalkedofthefuture。Theydelightedmosteitherinmockingimaginationsofdestruction，orinsentimental，finemarionette—showsofthepast。ItwasasentimentaldelighttoreconstructtheworldofGoetheatWeimar，orofSchillerandpovertyandfaithfullove，ortoseeagainJeanJacquesinhisquakings，orVoltaireatFerney，orFredericktheGreatreadinghisownpoetry。
　　Theytalkedtogetherforhours，ofliteratureandsculptureandpainting，amusingthemselveswithFlaxmanandBlakeandFuseli，withtenderness，andwithFeuerbachandBocklin。Itwouldtakethemalife—time，theyfelttoliveagain，inpetto，thelivesofthegreatartists。Buttheypreferredtostayintheeighteenthandthenineteenthcenturies。
　　Theytalkedinamixtureoflanguages。Theground—workwasFrench，ineithercase。ButheendedmostofhissentencesinastumbleofEnglishandaconclusionofGerman，sheskilfullywoveherselftoherendinwhateverphrasecametoher。Shetookapeculiardelightinthisconversation。Itwasfullofodd，fantasticexpression，ofdoublemeanings，ofevasions，ofsuggestivevagueness。Itwasarealphysicalpleasuretohertomakethisthreadofconversationoutofthedifferent—colouredstandsofthreelanguages。
　　Andallthewhiletheytwowerehovering，hesitatingroundtheflameofsomeinvisibledeclaration。Hewantedit，butwasheldbackbysomeinevitablereluctance。Shewanteditalso，butshewantedtoputitoff，toputitoffindefinitely，shestillhadsomepityforGerald，someconnectionwithhim。Andthemostfatalofall，shehadthereminiscentsentimentalcompassionforherselfinconnectionwithhim。Becauseofwhathadbeen，shefeltherselfheldtohimbyimmortal，invisiblethreads——becauseofwhathadbeen，becauseofhiscomingtoherthatfirstnight，intoherownhouse，inhisextremity，because——
　　GeraldwasgraduallyovercomewitharevulsionofloathingforLoerke。
　　Hedidnottakethemanseriously，hedespisedhimmerely，exceptashefeltinGudrun'sveinstheinfluenceofthelittlecreature。ItwasthisthatdroveGeraldwild，thefeelinginGudrun'sveinsofLoerke'spresence，Loerke'sbeing，flowingdominantthroughher。
　　`Whatmakesyousosmittenwiththatlittlevermin？'heasked，reallypuzzled。Forhe，man—like，couldnotseeanythingattractiveorimportantatallinLoerke。Geraldexpectedtofindsomehandsomenessornobleness，toaccountforawoman'ssubjection。Buthesawnonehere，onlyaninsect—likerepulsiveness。
　　Gudrunflusheddeeply。Itwastheseattacksshewouldneverforgive。
　　`Whatdoyoumean？'shereplied。`MyGod，whatamercyIamnotmarriedtoyou！'
　　Hervoiceoffloutingandcontemptscotchedhim。Hewasbroughtupshort。
　　Butherecoveredhimself。
　　`Tellme，onlytellme，'hereiteratedinadangerousnarrowedvoice——`tellmewhatitisthatfascinatesyouinhim。'
　　`Iamnotfascinated，'shesaid，withcoldrepellinginnocence。
　　`Yes，youare。Youarefascinatedbythatlittledrysnake，likeabirdgapingreadytofalldownitsthroat。'
　　Shelookedathimwithblackfury。
　　`Idon'tchoosetobediscussedbyyou，'shesaid。
　　`Itdoesn'tmatterwhetheryouchooseornot，'hereplied，`thatdoesn'talterthefactthatyouarereadytofalldownandkissthefeetofthatlittleinsect。AndIdon'twanttopreventyou——doit，falldownandkisshisfeet。ButIwanttoknow，whatitisthatfascinatesyou——whatisit？'
　　Shewassilent，suffusedwithblackrage。
　　`Howdareyoucomebrow—beatingme，'shecried，`howdareyou，youlittlesquire，youbully。Whatrighthaveyouoverme，doyouthink？'
　　Hisfacewaswhiteandgleaming，sheknewbythelightinhiseyesthatshewasinhispower——thewolf。Andbecauseshewasinhispower，shehatedhimwithapowerthatshewondereddidnotkillhim。Inherwillshekilledhimashestood，effacedhim。
　　`Itisnotaquestionofright，'saidGerald，sittingdownonachair。
　　Shewatchedthechangeinhisbody。Shesawhisclenched，mechanicalbodymovingtherelikeanobsession。Herhatredofhimwastingedwithfatalcontempt。
　　`It'snotaquestionofmyrightoveryou——thoughIhavesomeright，remember。Iwanttoknow，Ionlywanttoknowwhatitisthatsubjugatesyoutothatlittlescumofasculptordownstairs，whatitisthatbringsyoudownlikeahumblemaggot，inworshipofhim。Iwanttoknowwhatyoucreepafter。'
　　Shestoodoveragainstthewindow，listening。Thensheturnedround。
　　`Doyou？'shesaid，inhermosteasy，mostcuttingvoice。`Doyouwanttoknowwhatitisinhim？It'sbecausehehassomeunderstandingofawoman，becauseheisnotstupid。That'swhyitis。'
　　Aqueer，sinister，animal—likesmilecameoverGerald'sface。
　　`Butwhatunderstandingisit？'hesaid。`Theunderstandingofaflea，ahoppingfleawithaproboscis。Whyshouldyoucrawlabjectbeforetheunderstandingofaflea？'
　　TherepassedthroughGudrun'smindBlake'srepresentationofthesoulofaflea。ShewantedtofitittoLoerke。Blakewasaclowntoo。ButitwasnecessarytoanswerGerald。
　　`Don'tyouthinktheunderstandingofafleaismoreinterestingthantheunderstandingofafool？'sheasked。
　　`Afool！'herepeated。
　　`Afool，aconceitedfool——aDummkopf，'shereplied，addingtheGermanword。
　　`Doyoucallmeafool？'hereplied。`Well，wouldn'tIratherbethefoolIam，thanthatfleadownstairs？'
　　Shelookedathim。Acertainblunt，blindstupidityinhimpalledonhersoul，limitingher。
　　`Yougiveyourselfawaybythatlast，'shesaid。
　　Hesatandwondered。
　　`Ishallgoawaysoon，'hesaid。
　　Sheturnedonhim。
　　`Remember，'shesaid，`Iamcompletelyindependentofyou——completely。
　　Youmakeyourarrangements，Imakemine。'
　　Heponderedthis。
　　`Youmeanwearestrangersfromthisminute？'heasked。
　　Shehaltedandflushed。Hewasputtingherinatrap，forcingherhand。
　　Sheturnedroundonhim。
　　`Strangers，'shesaid，`wecanneverbe。Butifyouwanttomakeanymovementapartfromme，thenIwishyoutoknowyouareperfectlyfreetodoso。Donotconsidermeintheslightest。'
　　Evensoslightanimplicationthatsheneededhimandwasdependingonhimstillwassufficienttorousehispassion。Ashesatachangecameoverhisbody，thehot，moltenstreammountedinvoluntarilythroughhisveins。Hegroanedinwardly，underitsbondage，buthelovedit。Helookedatherwithcleareyes，waitingforher。
　　Sheknewatonce，andwasshakenwithcoldrevulsion。Howcouldhelookatherwiththoseclear，warm，waitingeyes，waitingforher，evennow？Whathadbeensaidbetweenthem，wasitnotenoughtoputthemworldsasunder，tofreezethemforeverapart！Andyethewasalltransfusedandroused，waitingforher。
　　Itconfusedher。Turningherheadaside，shesaid:
　　`Ishallalwaystellyou，wheneverIamgoingtomakeanychange——'
　　Andwiththisshemovedoutoftheroom。
　　Hesatsuspendedinafinerecoilofdisappointment，thatseemedgraduallytobedestroyinghisunderstanding。Buttheunconsciousstateofpatiencepersistedinhim。Heremainedmotionless，withoutthoughtorknowledge，foralongtime。Thenherose，andwentdownstairs，toplayatchesswithoneofthestudents。Hisfacewasopenandclear，withacertaininnocentlaisser—allerthattroubledGudrunmost，madeheralmostafraidofhim，whilstshedislikedhimdeeplyforit。
　　ItwasafterthisthatLoerke，whohadneveryetspokentoherpersonally，begantoaskherofherstate。
　　`Youarenotmarriedatall，areyou？'heasked。
　　Shelookedfullathim。
　　`Notintheleast，'shereplied，inhermeasuredway。Loerkelaughed，wrinklinguphisfaceoddly。Therewasathinwispofhishairstrayingonhisforehead，shenoticedthathisskinwasofaclearbrowncolour，hishands，hiswrists。Andhishandsseemedcloselyprehensile。Heseemedliketopaz，sostrangelybrownishandpellucid。
　　`Good，'hesaid。
　　Stillitneededsomecourageforhimtogoon。
　　`WasMrsBirkinyoursister？'heasked。
　　`Yes。'
　　`Andwasshemarried？'
　　`Shewasmarried。'
　　`Haveyouparents，then？'
　　`Yes，'saidGudrun，`wehaveparents。'
　　Andshetoldhim，briefly，laconically，herposition。Hewatchedherclosely，curiouslyallthewhile。
　　`So！'heexclaimed，withsomesurprise。`AndtheHerrCrich，isherich？'
　　`Yes，heisrich，acoalowner。'
　　`Howlonghasyourfriendshipwithhimlasted？'
　　`Somemonths。'
　　Therewasapause。
　　`Yes，Iamsurprised，'hesaidatlength。`TheEnglish，Ithoughttheywereso——cold。Andwhatdoyouthinktodowhenyouleavehere？'
　　`WhatdoIthinktodo？'sherepeated。
　　`Yes。Youcannotgobacktotheteaching。No——'heshruggedhisshoulders——`thatisimpossible。Leavethattothecanaillewhocandonothingelse。You，foryourpart——youknow，youarearemarkablewoman，eineseltsameFrau。Whydenyit——whymakeanyquestionofit？Youareanextraordinarywoman，whyshouldyoufollowtheordinarycourse，theordinarylife？'
　　Gudrunsatlookingatherhands，flushed。Shewaspleasedthathesaid，sosimply，thatshewasaremarkablewoman。Hewouldnotsaythattoflatterher——hewasfartooself—opinionatedandobjectivebynature。Hesaiditashewouldsayapieceofsculpturewasremarkable，becauseheknewitwasso。
　　Anditgratifiedhertohearitfromhim。Otherpeoplehadsuchapassiontomakeeverythingofonedegree，ofonepattern。InEnglanditwaschictobeperfectlyordinary。Anditwasarelieftohertobeacknowledgedextraordinary。Thensheneednotfretaboutthecommonstandards。
　　`Yousee，'shesaid，`Ihavenomoneywhatsoever。'
　　`Ach，money！'hecried，liftinghisshoulders。`Whenoneisgrownup，moneyislyingaboutatone'sservice。Itisonlywhenoneisyoungthatitisrare。Takenothoughtformoney——thatalwaysliestohand。'
　　`Doesit？'shesaid，laughing。
　　`Always。TheGeraldwillgiveyouasum，ifyouaskhimforit——'
　　Sheflusheddeeply。
　　`Iwillaskanybodyelse，'shesaid，withsomedifficulty——`butnothim。'
　　Loerkelookedcloselyather。
　　`Good，'hesaid。`Thenletitbesomebodyelse。Onlydon'tgobacktothatEngland，thatschool。No，thatisstupid。'
　　Againtherewasapause。Hewasafraidtoaskheroutrighttogowithhim，hewasnotevenquitesurehewantedher;andshewasafraidtobeasked。Hebegrudgedhisownisolation，wasverycharyofsharinghislife，evenforaday。
　　`TheonlyotherplaceIknowisParis，'shesaid，`andIcan'tstandthat。'
　　Shelookedwithherwide，steadyeyesfullatLoerke。Heloweredhisheadandavertedhisface。
　　`Paris，no！'hesaid。`Betweenthereligiond'amour，andthelatest'ism，andthenewturningtoJesus，onehadbetterrideonacarrouselallday。ButcometoDresden。Ihaveastudiothere——Icangiveyouwork，——oh，thatwouldbeeasyenough。Ihaven'tseenanyofyourthings，butIbelieveinyou。CometoDresden——thatisafinetowntobein，andasgoodalifeasyoucanexpectofatown。Youhaveeverythingthere，withoutthefoolishnessofParisorthebeerofMunich。'
　　Hesatandlookedather，coldly。Whatshelikedabouthimwasthathespoketohersimpleandflat，astohimself。Hewasafellowcraftsman，afellowbeingtoher，first。
　　`No——Paris，'heresumed，`itmakesmesick。Pah——l'amour。Idetestit。L'amour，l'amore，dieLiebe——Idetestitineverylanguage。Womenandlove，thereisnogreatertedium，'hecried。
　　Shewasslightlyoffended。Andyet，thiswasherownbasicfeeling。
　　Men，andlove——therewasnogreatertedium。
　　`Ithinkthesame，'shesaid。
　　`Abore，'herepeated。`WhatdoesitmatterwhetherIwearthishatoranother。Solove。Ineedn'twearahatatall，onlyforconvenience。
　　NeitherneedIloveexceptforconvenience。Itellyouwhat，gnadigeFrau——'andheleanedtowardsher——thenhemadeaquick，oddgesture，asofstrikingsomethingaside——`gnadigeFraulein，nevermind——Itellyouwhat，Iwouldgiveeverything，everything，allyourlove，foralittlecompanionshipinintelligence——'hiseyesflickereddarkly，evillyather。`Youunderstand？'heasked，withafaintsmile。`Itwouldn'tmatterifshewereahundredyearsold，athousand——itwouldbeallthesametome，sothatshecanunderstand。'Heshuthiseyeswithalittlesnap。
　　AgainGudrunwasratheroffended。Didhenotthinkhergoodlooking，then？Suddenlyshelaughed。
　　`Ishallhavetowaitabouteightyyearstosuityou，atthat！'shesaid。`Iamuglyenough，aren'tI？'
　　Helookedatherwithanartist'ssudden，critical，estimatingeye。
　　`Youarebeautiful，'hesaid，`andIamgladofit。Butitisn'tthat——itisn'tthat，'hecried，withemphasisthatflatteredher。`Itisthatyouhaveacertainwit，itisthekindofunderstanding。Forme，Iamlittle，chetif，insignificant。Good！Donotaskmetobestrongandhandsome，then。
　　Butitistheme——'heputhisfingerstohismouth，oddly——`itisthemethatislookingforamistress，andmymeiswaitingforthetheeofthemistress，forthematchtomyparticularintelligence。
　　Youunderstand？'
　　`Yes，'shesaid，`Iunderstand。'
　　`Asfortheother，thisamour——'hemadeagesture，dashinghishandaside，asiftodashawaysomethingtroublesome——`itisunimportant，unimportant。Doesitmatter，whetherIdrinkwhitewinethisevening，orwhetherIdrinknothing？Itdoesnotmatter，itdoesnotmatter。
　　Sothislove，thisamour，thisbaiser。Yesorno，soitousoitpas，today，tomorrow，ornever，itisallthesame，itdoesnotmatter——nomorethanthewhitewine。'
　　Heendedwithanodddroppingoftheheadinadesperatenegation。Gudrunwatchedhimsteadily。Shehadgonepale。
　　Suddenlyshestretchedoverandseizedhishandinherown。
　　`Thatistrue，'shesaid，inratherahigh，vehementvoice，`thatistrueformetoo。Itistheunderstandingthatmatters。'
　　Helookedupatheralmostfrightened，furtive。Thenhenodded，alittlesullenly。Sheletgohishand:hehadmadenotthelightestresponse。Andtheysatinsilence。
　　`Doyouknow，'hesaid，suddenlylookingatherwithdark，self—important，propheticeyes，`yourfateandmine，theywillruntogether，till——'andhebrokeoffinalittlegrimace。
　　`Tillwhen？'sheasked，blanched，herlipsgoingwhite。Shewasterriblysusceptibletotheseevilprognostications，butheonlyshookhishead。
　　`Idon'tknow，'hesaid，`Idon'tknow。'
　　Geralddidnotcomeinfromhisskiinguntilnightfall，hemissedthecoffeeandcakethatshetookatfouro'clock。Thesnowwasinperfectcondition，hehadtravelledalongway，byhimself，amongthesnowridges，onhisskis，hehadclimbedhigh，sohighthathecouldseeoverthetopofthepass，fivemilesdistant，couldseetheMarienhutte，thehostelonthecrestofthepass，halfburiedinsnow，andoverintothedeepvalleybeyond，totheduskofthepinetrees。Onecouldgothatwayhome;butheshudderedwithnauseaatthethoughtofhome;——onecouldtravelonskisdownthere，andcometotheoldimperialroad，belowthepass。Butwhycometoanyroad？Herevoltedatthethoughtoffindinghimselfintheworldagain。Hemuststayupthereinthesnowforever。Hehadbeenhappybyhimself，highuptherealone，travellingswiftlyonskis，takingfarflights，andskimmingpastthedarkrocksveinedwithbrilliantsnow。
　　Buthefeltsomethingicygatheringathisheart。Thisstrangemoodofpatienceandinnocencewhichhadpersistedinhimforsomedays，waspassingaway，hewouldbeleftagainapreytothehorriblepassionsandtortures。
　　Sohecamedownreluctantly，snow—burned，snow—estranged，tothehouseinthehollow，betweentheknucklesofthemountaintops。Hesawitslightsshiningyellow，andheheldback，wishingheneednotgoin，toconfrontthosepeople，toheartheturmoilofvoicesandtofeeltheconfusionofotherpresences。Hewasisolatedasiftherewereavacuumroundhisheart，orasheathofpureice。
　　ThemomenthesawGudrunsomethingjoltedinhissoul。Shewaslookingratherloftyandsuperb，smilingslowlyandgraciouslytotheGermans。
　　Asuddendesireleaptinhisheart，tokillher。Hethought，whataperfectvoluptuousfulfilmentitwouldbe，tokillher。Hismindwasabsentalltheevening，estrangedbythesnowandhispassion。Buthekepttheideaconstantwithinhim，whataperfectvoluptuousconsummationitwouldbetostrangleher，tostrangleeverysparkoflifeoutofher，tillshelaycompletelyinert，soft，relaxedforever，asoftheaplyingdeadbetweenhishands，utterlydead。Thenhewouldhavehadherfinallyandforever;
　　therewouldbesuchaperfectvoluptuousfinality。
　　Gudrunwasunawareofwhathewasfeeling，heseemedsoquietandamiable，asusual。Hisamiabilityevenmadeherfeelbrutaltowardshim。
　　Shewentintohisroomwhenhewaspartiallyundressed。Shedidnotnoticethecurious，gladgleamofpurehatred，withwhichhelookedather。Shestoodnearthedoor，withherhandbehindher。
　　`Ihavebeenthinking，Gerald，'shesaid，withaninsultingnonchalance，`thatIshallnotgobacktoEngland。'
　　`Oh，'hesaid，`wherewillyougothen？'
　　Butsheignoredhisquestion。Shehadherownlogicalstatementtomake，anditmustbemadeasshehadthoughtit。
　　`Ican'tseetheuseofgoingback，'shecontinued。`Itisoverbetweenmeandyou——'
　　Shepausedforhimtospeak。Buthesaidnothing。Hewasonlytalkingtohimself，saying`Over，isit？Ibelieveitisover。Butitisn'tfinished。
　　Remember，itisn'tfinished。Wemustputsomesortofafinishonit。Theremustbeaconclusion，theremustbefinality。'
　　Sohetalkedtohimself，butaloudhesaidnothingwhatever。
　　`Whathasbeen，hasbeen，'shecontinued。`ThereisnothingthatIregret。
　　Ihopeyouregretnothing——'
　　Shewaitedforhimtospeak。
　　`Oh，Iregretnothing，'hesaid，accommodatingly。
　　`Goodthen，'sheanswered，`goodthen。Thenneitherofuscherishesanyregrets，whichisasitshouldbe。'
　　`Quiteasitshouldbe，'hesaidaimlessly。
　　Shepausedtogatherupherthreadagain。
　　`Ourattempthasbeenafailure，'shesaid。`Butwecantryagain，elsewhere。'
　　Alittleflickerofrageranthroughhisblood。Itwasasifshewererousinghim，goadinghim。Whymustshedoit？
　　`Attemptatwhat？'heasked。
　　`Atbeinglovers，Isuppose，'shesaid，alittlebaffled，yetsotrivialshemadeitallseem。
　　`Ourattemptatbeinglovershasbeenafailure？'herepeatedaloud。
　　Tohimselfhewassaying，`Ioughttokillherhere。Thereisonlythisleft，formetokillher。'Aheavy，overchargeddesiretobringaboutherdeathpossessedhim。Shewasunaware。
　　`Hasn'tit？'sheasked。`Doyouthinkithasbeenasuccess？'
　　Againtheinsultoftheflippantquestionranthroughhisbloodlikeacurrentoffire。
　　`Ithadsomeoftheelementsofsuccess，ourrelationship，'hereplied。
　　`It——mighthavecomeoff。'
　　Buthepausedbeforeconcludingthelastphrase。Evenashebeganthesentence，hedidnotbelieveinwhathewasgoingtosay。Heknewitnevercouldhavebeenasuccess。
　　`No，'shereplied。`Youcannotlove。'
　　`Andyou？'heasked。
　　Herwide，dark—filledeyeswerefixedonhim，liketwomoonsofdarkness。
　　`Icouldn'tloveyou，'shesaid，withstarkcoldtruth。
　　Ablindingflashwentoverhisbrain，hisbodyjolted。Hishearthadburstintoflame。Hisconsciousnesswasgoneintohiswrists，intohishands。Hewasoneblind，incontinentdesire，tokillher。Hiswristswerebursting，therewouldbenosatisfactiontillhishandshadclosedonher。
　　Butevenbeforehisbodyswervedforwardonher，asudden，cunningcomprehensionwasexpressedonherface，andinaflashshewasoutofthedoor。Sheraninoneflashtoherroomandlockedherselfin。Shewasafraid，butconfident。Sheknewherlifetrembledontheedgeofanabyss。Butshewascuriouslysureofherfooting。Sheknewhercunningcouldoutwithim。
　　Shetrembled，asshestoodinherroom，withexcitementandawfulexhilaration。
　　Sheknewshecouldoutwithim。Shecoulddependonherpresenceofmind，andonherwits。Butitwasafighttothedeath，sheknewitnow。Oneslip，andshewaslost。Shehadastrange，tense，exhilaratedsicknessinherbody，asonewhoisinperiloffallingfromagreatheight，butwhodoesnotlookdown，doesnotadmitthefear。
　　`Iwillgoawaythedayaftertomorrow，'shesaid。
　　SheonlydidnotwantGeraldtothinkthatshewasafraidofhim，thatshewasrunningawaybecauseshewasafraidofhim。Shewasnotafraidofhim，fundamentally。Sheknewitwashersafeguardtoavoidhisphysicalviolence。Butevenphysicallyshewasnotafraidofhim。Shewantedtoproveittohim。Whenshehadprovedit，that，whateverhewas，shewasnotafraidofhim;whenshehadprovedthat，shecouldleavehimforever。Butmeanwhilethefightbetweenthem，terribleassheknewittobe，wasinconclusive。Andshewantedtobeconfidentinherself。Howevermanyterrorsshemighthave，shewouldbeunafraid，uncowedbyhim。Hecouldnevercowher，nordominateher，norhaveanyrightoverher;thisshewouldmaintainuntilshehadprovedit。Onceitwasproved，shewasfreeofhimforever。
　　Butshehadnotprovedityet，neithertohimnortoherself。Andthiswaswhatstillboundhertohim。Shewasboundtohim，shecouldnotlivebeyondhim。Shesatupinbed，closelywrappedup，formanyhours，thinkingendlesslytoherself。Itwasasifshewouldneverhavedoneweavingthegreatprovisionofherthoughts。
　　`Itisn'tasifhereallylovedme，'shesaidtoherself。`Hedoesn't。
　　Everywomanhecomesacrosshewantstomakeherinlovewithhim。Hedoesn'tevenknowthatheisdoingit。Butthereheis，beforeeverywomanheunfurlshismaleattractiveness，displayshisgreatdesirability，hetriestomakeeverywomanthinkhowwonderfulitwouldbetohavehimforalover。Hisveryignoringofthewomenispartofthegame。Heisneverunconsciousofthem。Heshouldhavebeenacockerel，sohecouldstrutbeforefiftyfemales，allhissubjects。Butreally，hisDonJuandoesnotinterestme。IcouldplayDonaJuanitaamilliontimesbetterthanheplaysJuan。
　　Heboresme，youknow。Hismalenessboresme。Nothingissoboring，soinherentlystupidandstupidlyconceited。Really，thefathomlessconceitofthesemen，itisridiculous——thelittlestrutters。
　　`Theyareallalike。LookatBirkin。Builtoutofthelimitationofconceittheyare，andnothingelse。Really，nothingbuttheirridiculouslimitationandintrinsicinsignificancecouldmakethemsoconceited。