Hermioneseemedtobebearingdownonher，awfulandinchoate，makingsomeappeal。TheywerelookingatsomeIndiansilkshirts，gorgeousandsensualinthemselves，theirshape，theiralmostcorruptgorgeousness。AndHermionecamenear，andherbosomwrithed，andUrsulawasforamomentblankwithpanic。AndforamomentHermione'shaggardeyessawthefearonthefaceoftheother，therewasagainasortofcrash，acrashingdown。AndUrsulapickedupashirtofrichredandbluesilk，madeforayoungprincessoffourteen，andwascryingmechanically:
　　`Isn'titwonderful——whowoulddaretoputthosetwostrongcolourstogether——'
　　ThenHermione'smaidenteredsilentlyandUrsula，overcomewithdread，escaped，carriedawaybypowerfulimpulse。
　　Birkinwentstraighttobed。Hewasfeelinghappy，andsleepy。Sincehehaddancedhewashappy。ButGeraldwouldtalktohim。Gerald，ineveningdress，satonBirkin'sbedwhentheotherlaydown，andmusttalk。
　　`WhoarethosetwoBrangwens？'Geraldasked。
　　`TheyliveinBeldover。'
　　`InBeldover！Whoaretheythen？'
　　`TeachersintheGrammarSchool。'
　　Therewasapause。
　　`Theyare！'exclaimedGeraldatlength。`IthoughtIhadseenthembefore。'
　　`Itdisappointsyou？'saidBirkin。
　　`Disappointsme！No——buthowisitHermionehasthemhere？'
　　`SheknewGudruninLondon——that'stheyoungerone，theonewiththedarkerhair——she'sanartist——doessculptureandmodelling。'
　　`She'snotateacherintheGrammarSchool，then——onlytheother？'
　　`Both——Gudrunartmistress，Ursulaaclassmistress。'
　　`Andwhat'sthefather？'
　　`Handicraftinstructorintheschools。'
　　`Really！'
　　`Class—barriersarebreakingdown！'
　　Geraldwasalwaysuneasyundertheslightlyjeeringtoneoftheother。
　　`Thattheirfatherishandicraftinstructorinaschool！Whatdoesitmattertome？'
　　Birkinlaughed。Geraldlookedathisface，asitlaytherelaughingandbitterandindifferentonthepillow，andhecouldnotgoaway。
　　`Idon'tsupposeyouwillseeverymuchmoreofGudrun，atleast。Sheisarestlessbird，she'llbegoneinaweekortwo，'saidBirkin。
　　`Wherewillshego？'
　　`London，Paris，Rome——heavenknows。IalwaysexpecthertosheerofftoDamascusorSanFrancisco;she'sabirdofparadise。Godknowswhatshe'sgottodowithBeldover。Itgoesbycontraries，likedreams。'
　　Geraldponderedforafewmoments。
　　`Howdoyouknowhersowell？'heasked。
　　`IknewherinLondon，'hereplied，`intheAlgernonStrangeset。She'llknowaboutPussumandLibidnikovandtherest——evenifshedoesn'tknowthempersonally。Shewasneverquitethatset——moreconventional，inaway。I'veknownherfortwoyears，Isuppose。'
　　`Andshemakesmoney，apartfromherteaching？'askedGerald。
　　`Some——irregularly。Shecansellhermodels。Shehasacertainreclame。'
　　`Howmuchfor？'
　　`Aguinea，tenguineas。'
　　`Andaretheygood？Whatarethey？'
　　`Ithinksometimestheyaremarvellouslygood。Thatishers，thosetwowagtailsinHermione'sboudoir——you'veseenthem——theyarecarvedinwoodandpainted。'
　　`Ithoughtitwassavagecarvingagain。'
　　`No，hers。That'swhattheyare——animalsandbirds，sometimesoddsmallpeopleineverydaydress，reallyratherwonderfulwhentheycomeoff。Theyhaveasortoffunninessthatisquiteunconsciousandsubtle。'
　　`Shemightbeawell—knownartistoneday？'musedGerald。
　　`Shemight。ButIthinkshewon't。Shedropsherartifanythingelsecatchesher。Hercontrarinesspreventshertakingitseriously——shemustneverbetooserious，shefeelsshemightgiveherselfaway。Andshewon'tgiveherselfaway——she'salwaysonthedefensive。That'swhatIcan'tstandabouthertype。Bytheway，howdidthingsgooffwithPussumafterIleftyou？Ihaven'theardanything。'
　　`Oh，ratherdisgusting。Hallidayturnedobjectionable，andIonlyjustsavedmyselffromjumpinginhisstomach，inarealold—fashionedrow。'
　　Birkinwassilent。
　　`Ofcourse，'hesaid，`Juliusissomewhatinsane。Ontheonehandhe'shadreligiousmania，andontheother，heisfascinatedbyobscenity。Eitherheisapureservant，washingthefeetofChrist，orelseheismakingobscenedrawingsofJesus——actionandreaction——andbetweenthetwo，nothing。Heisreallyinsane。Hewantsapurelily，anothergirl，withababyface，ontheonehand，andontheother，hemusthavethePussum，justtodefilehimselfwithher。'
　　`That'swhatIcan'tmakeout，'saidGerald。`Doesheloveher，thePussum，ordoesn'the？'
　　`Heneitherdoesnordoesn't。Sheistheharlot，theactualharlotofadulterytohim。Andhe'sgotacravingtothrowhimselfintothefilthofher。Thenhegetsupandcallsonthenameofthelilyofpurity，thebaby—facedgirl，andsoenjoyshimselfallround。It'stheoldstory——
　　actionandreaction，andnothingbetween。'
　　`Idon'tknow，'saidGerald，afterapause，`thathedoesinsultthePussumsoverymuch。Shestrikesmeasbeingratherfoul。'
　　`ButIthoughtyoulikedher，'exclaimedBirkin。`Ialwaysfeltfondofher。Ineverhadanythingtodowithher，personally，that'strue。'
　　`Ilikedherallright，foracoupleofdays，'saidGerald。`Butaweekofherwouldhaveturnedmeover。There'sacertainsmellabouttheskinofthosewomen，thatintheendissickeningbeyondwords——evenifyoulikeitatfirst。'
　　`Iknow，'saidBirkin。Thenheadded，ratherfretfully，`Butgotobed，Gerald。Godknowswhattimeitis。'
　　Geraldlookedathiswatch，andatlengthroseoffthebed，andwenttohisroom。Buthereturnedinafewminutes，inhisshirt。
　　`Onething，'hesaid，seatinghimselfonthebedagain。`Wefinishedupratherstormily，andIneverhadtimetogiveheranything。'
　　`Money？'saidBirkin。`She'llgetwhatshewantsfromHallidayorfromoneofheracquaintances。'
　　`Butthen，'saidGerald，`I'drathergiveherherduesandsettletheaccount。'
　　`Shedoesn'tcare。'
　　`No，perhapsnot。Butonefeelstheaccountisleftopen，andonewouldratheritwereclosed。'
　　`Wouldyou？'saidBirkin。HewaslookingatthewhitelegsofGerald，asthelattersatonthesideofthebedinhisshirt。Theywerewhite—skinned，full，muscularlegs，handsomeanddecided。YettheymovedBirkinwithasortofpathos，tenderness，asiftheywerechildish。
　　`IthinkI'dratherclosetheaccount，'saidGerald，repeatinghimselfvaguely。
　　`Itdoesn'tmatteronewayoranother，'saidBirkin。
　　`Youalwayssayitdoesn'tmatter，'saidGerald，alittlepuzzled，lookingdownatthefaceoftheothermanaffectionately。
　　`Neitherdoesit，'saidBirkin。
　　`Butshewasadecentsort，really——'
　　`RenderuntoCaesarinathethingsthatareCaesarina's，'saidBirkin，turningaside。ItseemedtohimGeraldwastalkingforthesakeoftalking。
　　`Goaway，itweariesme——it'stoolateatnight，'hesaid。
　　`Iwishyou'dtellmesomethingthatdidmatter，'saidGerald，lookingdownallthetimeatthefaceoftheotherman，waitingforsomething。
　　ButBirkinturnedhisfaceaside。
　　`Allrightthen，gotosleep，'saidGerald，andhelaidhishandaffectionatelyontheotherman'sshoulder，andwentaway。
　　InthemorningwhenGeraldawokeandheardBirkinmove，hecalledout:
　　`IstillthinkIoughttogivethePussumtenpounds。'
　　`OhGod！'saidBirkin，`don'tbesomatter—of—fact。Closetheaccountinyourownsoul，ifyoulike。Itisthereyoucan'tcloseit。'
　　`HowdoyouknowIcan't？'
　　`Knowingyou。'
　　Geraldmeditatedforsomemoments。
　　`Itseemstometherightthingtodo，youknow，withthePussums，istopaythem。'
　　`Andtherightthingformistresses:keepthem。Andtherightthingforwives:liveunderthesameroofwiththem。Integervitaescelerisquepurus——'saidBirkin。
　　`There'snoneedtobenastyaboutit，'saidGerald。
　　`Itboresme。I'mnotinterestedinyourpeccadilloes。'
　　`AndIdon'tcarewhetheryouareornot——Iam。'
　　Themorningwasagainsunny。Themaidhadbeeninandbroughtthewater，andhaddrawnthecurtains。Birkin，sittingupinbed，lookedlazilyandpleasantlyoutonthepark，thatwassogreenanddeserted，romantic，belongingtothepast。Hewasthinkinghowlovely，howsure，howformed，howfinalallthethingsofthepastwere——thelovelyaccomplishedpast——thishouse，sostillandgolden，theparkslumberingitscenturiesofpeace。
　　Andthen，whatasnareandadelusion，thisbeautyofstaticthings——
　　whatahorrible，deadprisonBreadalbyreallywas，whatanintolerableconfinement，thepeace！Yetitwasbetterthanthesordidscramblingconflictofthepresent。Ifonlyonemightcreatethefutureafterone'sownheart——foralittlepuretruth，alittleunflinchingapplicationofsimpletruthtolife，theheartcriedoutceaselessly。
　　`Ican'tseewhatyouwillleavemeatall，tobeinterestedin，'cameGerald'svoicefromthelowerroom。`NeitherthePussums，northemines，noranythingelse。'
　　`Youbeinterestedinwhatyoucan，Gerald。OnlyI'mnotinterestedmyself，'saidBirkin。
　　`WhatamItodoatall，then？'cameGerald'svoice。
　　`Whatyoulike。WhatamItodomyself？'
　　InthesilenceBirkincouldfeelGeraldmusingthisfact。
　　`I'mblestifIknow，'camethegood—humouredanswer。
　　`Yousee，'saidBirkin，`partofyouwantsthePussum，andnothingbutthePussum，partofyouwantsthemines，thebusiness，andnothingbutthebusiness——andthereyouare——allinbits——'
　　`Andpartofmewantssomethingelse，'saidGerald，inaqueer，quiet，realvoice。
　　`What？'saidBirkin，rathersurprised。
　　`That'swhatIhopedyoucouldtellme，'saidGerald。
　　Therewasasilenceforsometime。
　　`Ican'ttellyou——Ican'tfindmyownway，letaloneyours。Youmightmarry，'Birkinreplied。
　　`Who——thePussum？'askedGerald。
　　`Perhaps，'saidBirkin。Andheroseandwenttothewindow。
　　`Thatisyourpanacea，'saidGerald。`Butyouhaven'teventrieditonyourselfyet，andyouaresickenough。'
　　`Iam，'saidBirkin。`Still，Ishallcomeright。'
　　`Throughmarriage？'
　　`Yes，'Birkinansweredobstinately。
　　`Andno，'addedGerald。`No，no，no，myboy。'
　　Therewasasilencebetweenthem，andastrangetensionofhostility。
　　Theyalwayskeptagap，adistancebetweenthem，theywantedalwaystobefreeeachoftheother。Yettherewasacuriousheart—strainingtowardseachother。
　　`Salvatorfemininus，'saidGerald，satirically。
　　`Whynot？'saidBirkin。
　　`Noreasonatall，'saidGerald，`ifitreallyworks。Butwhomwillyoumarry？'
　　`Awoman，'saidBirkin。
　　`Good，'saidGerald。
　　BirkinandGeraldwerethelasttocomedowntobreakfast。Hermionelikedeverybodytobeearly。Shesufferedwhenshefeltherdaywasdiminished，shefeltshehadmissedherlife。Sheseemedtogripthehoursbythethroat，toforceherlifefromthem。Shewasratherpaleandghastly，asifleftbehind，inthemorning。Yetshehadherpower，herwillwasstrangelypervasive。
　　Withtheentranceofthetwoyoungmenasuddentensionwasfelt。
　　Sheliftedherface，andsaid，inheramusedsing—song:
　　`Goodmorning！Didyousleepwell？I'msoglad。'
　　Andsheturnedaway，ignoringthem。Birkin，whoknewherwell，sawthatsheintendedtodiscounthisexistence。
　　`Willyoutakewhatyouwantfromthesideboard？'saidAlexander，inavoiceslightlysuggestingdisapprobation。`Ihopethethingsaren'tcold。
　　Ohno！Doyoumindputtingouttheflameunderthechafingdish，Rupert？
　　Thankyou。'
　　EvenAlexanderwasratherauthoritativewhereHermionewascool。Hetookhistonefromher，inevitably。Birkinsatdownandlookedatthetable。
　　Hewassousedtothishouse，tothisroom，tothisatmosphere，throughyearsofintimacy，andnowhefeltincompleteoppositiontoitall，ithadnothingtodowithhim。HowwellheknewHermione，asshesatthere，erectandsilentandsomewhatbemused，andyetsopotent，sopowerful！
　　Heknewherstatically，sofinally，thatitwasalmostlikeamadness。
　　Itwasdifficulttobelieveonewasnotmad，thatonewasnotafigureinthehallofkingsinsomeEgyptiantomb，wherethedeadallsatimmemorialandtremendous。HowutterlyheknewJoshuaMattheson，whowastalkinginhisharsh，yetrathermincingvoice，endlessly，endlessly，alwayswithastrongmentalityworking，alwaysinteresting，andyetalwaysknown，everythinghesaidknownbeforehand，howevernovelitwas，andclever。Alexandertheup—to—datehost，sobloodlesslyfree—and—easy，Frauleinsoprettilychiminginjustassheshould，thelittleItalianCountesstakingnoticeofeverybody，onlyplayingherlittlegame，objectiveandcold，likeaweaselwatchingeverything，andextractingherownamusement，nevergivingherselfintheslightest;thenMissBradley，heavyandrathersubservient，treatedwithcool，almostamusedcontemptbyHermione，andthereforeslightedbyeverybody——howknownitallwas，likeagamewiththefiguressetout，thesamefigures，theQueenofchess，theknights，thepawns，thesamenowastheywerehundredsofyearsago，thesamefiguresmovingroundinoneoftheinnumerablepermutationsthatmakeupthegame。Butthegameisknown，itsgoingonislikeamadness，itissoexhausted。
　　TherewasGerald，anamusedlookonhisface;thegamepleasedhim。
　　TherewasGudrun，watchingwithsteady，large，hostileeyes;thegamefascinatedher，andsheloathedit。TherewasUrsula，withaslightlystartledlookonherface，asifshewerehurt，andthepainwerejustoutsideherconsciousness。
　　SuddenlyBirkingotupandwentout。
　　`That'senough，'hesaidtohimselfinvoluntarily。
　　Hermioneknewhismotion，thoughnotinherconsciousness。Sheliftedherheavyeyesandsawhimlapsesuddenlyaway，onasudden，unknowntide，andthewavesbrokeoverher。Onlyherindomitablewillremainedstaticandmechanical，shesatatthetablemakinghermusing，strayremarks。
　　Butthedarknesshadcoveredher，shewaslikeashipthathasgonedown。
　　Itwasfinishedforhertoo，shewaswreckedinthedarkness。Yettheunfailingmechanismofherwillworkedon，shehadthatactivity。
　　`Shallwebathethismorning？'shesaid，suddenlylookingatthemall。
　　`Splendid，'saidJoshua。`Itisaperfectmorning。'
　　`Oh，itisbeautiful，'saidFraulein。
　　`Yes，letusbathe，'saidtheItalianwoman。
　　`Wehavenobathingsuits，'saidGerald。
　　`Havemine，'saidAlexander。`Imustgotochurchandreadthelessons。
　　Theyexpectme。'
　　`AreyouaChristian？'askedtheItalianCountess，withsuddeninterest。
　　`No，'saidAlexander。`I'mnot。ButIbelieveinkeepinguptheoldinstitutions。'
　　`Theyaresobeautiful，'saidFrauleindaintily。
　　`Oh，theyare，'criedMissBradley。
　　Theyalltrailedoutontothelawn。Itwasasunny，softmorninginearlysummer，whenliferanintheworldsubtly，likeareminiscence。Thechurchbellswereringingalittlewayoff，notacloudwasinthesky，theswanswerelikeliliesonthewaterbelow，thepeacockswalkedwithlong，prancingstepsacrosstheshadowandintothesunshineofthegrass。
　　Onewantedtoswoonintotheby—goneperfectionofitall。
　　`Good—bye，'calledAlexander，wavinghisglovescheerily，andhedisappearedbehindthebushes，onhiswaytochurch。
　　`Now，'saidHermione，`shallweallbathe？'
　　`Iwon't，'saidUrsula。
　　`Youdon'twantto？'saidHermione，lookingatherslowly。
　　`No。Idon'twantto，'saidUrsula。
　　`NorI，'saidGudrun。
　　`Whataboutmysuit？'askedGerald。
　　`Idon'tknow，'laughedHermione，withanodd，amusedintonation。`Willahandkerchiefdo——alargehandkerchief？'
　　`Thatwilldo，'saidGerald。
　　`Comealongthen，'sangHermione。
　　ThefirsttorunacrossthelawnwasthelittleItalian，smallandlikeacat，herwhitelegstwinklingasshewent，duckingslightlyherhead，thatwastiedinagoldsilkkerchief。Shetrippedthroughthegateanddownthegrass，andstood，likeatinyfigureofivoryandbronze，atthewater'sedge，havingdroppedoffhertowelling，watchingtheswans，whichcameupinsurprise。ThenoutranMissBradley，likealarge，softpluminherdark—bluesuit。ThenGeraldcame，ascarletsilkkerchiefroundhisloins，histowelsoverhisarms。Heseemedtoflaunthimselfalittleinthesun，lingeringandlaughing，strollingeasily，lookingwhitebutnaturalinhisnakedness。ThencameSirJoshua，inanovercoat，andlastlyHermione，stridingwithstiffgracefromoutofagreatmantleofpurplesilk，herheadtiedupinpurpleandgold。Handsomewasherstiff，longbody，herstraight—steppingwhitelegs，therewasastaticmagnificenceaboutherassheletthecloakfloatlooselyawayfromherstriding。Shecrossedthelawnlikesomestrangememory，andpassedslowlyandstatelilytowardsthewater。
　　Therewerethreeponds，interracesdescendingthevalley，largeandsmoothandbeautiful，lyinginthesun。Thewaterranoveralittlestonewall，oversmallrocks，splashingdownfromonepondtothelevelbelow。
　　Theswanshadgoneoutontotheoppositebank，thereedssmelledsweet，afaintbreezetouchedtheskin。
　　Geraldhaddivedin，afterSirJoshua，andhadswumtotheendofthepond。Thereheclimbedoutandsatonthewall。Therewasadive，andthelittleCountesswasswimminglikearat，tojoinhim。Theybothsatinthesun，laughingandcrossingtheirarmsontheirbreasts。SirJoshuaswamuptothem，andstoodnearthem，uptohisarm—pitsinthewater。
　　ThenHermioneandMissBradleyswamover，andtheysatinarowontheembankment。
　　`Aren'ttheyterrifying？Aren'ttheyreallyterrifying？'saidGudrun。
　　`Don'ttheylooksaurian？Theyarejustlikegreatlizards。DidyoueverseeanythinglikeSirJoshua？Butreally，Ursula，hebelongstotheprimevalworld，whengreatlizardscrawledabout。'
　　GudrunlookedindismayonSirJoshua，whostooduptothebreastinthewater，hislong，greyishhairwasheddownintohiseyes，hisnecksetintothick，crudeshoulders。HewastalkingtoMissBradley，who，seatedonthebankabove，plumpandbigandwet，lookedasifshemightrollandslitherinthewateralmostlikeoneoftheslitheringsealionsintheZoo。
　　Ursulawatchedinsilence。Geraldwaslaughinghappily，betweenHermioneandtheItalian。HeremindedherofDionysos，becausehishairwasreallyyellow，hisfiguresofullandlaughing。Hermione，inherlarge，stiff，sinistergrace，leanednearhim，frightening，asifshewerenotresponsibleforwhatshemightdo。Heknewacertaindangerinher，aconvulsivemadness。
　　Butheonlylaughedthemore，turningoftentothelittleCountess，whowasflashingupherfaceathim。
　　Theyalldroppedintothewater，andwereswimmingtogetherlikeashoalofseals。Hermionewaspowerfulandunconsciousinthewater，largeandslowandpowerful。Palestrawasquickandsilentasawaterrat，Geraldwaveredandflickered，awhitenaturalshadow。Then，oneaftertheother，theywadedout，andwentuptothehouse。
　　ButGeraldlingeredamomenttospeaktoGudrun。
　　`Youdon'tlikethewater？'hesaid。
　　Shelookedathimwithalong，slowinscrutablelook，ashestoodbeforehernegligently，thewaterstandinginbeadsalloverhisskin。
　　`Ilikeitverymuch，'shereplied。
　　Hepaused，expectingsomesortofexplanation。
　　`Andyouswim？'
　　`Yes，Iswim。'
　　Stillhewouldnotaskherwhyshewouldnotgointhen。Hecouldfeelsomethingironicinher。Hewalkedaway，piquedforthefirsttime。
　　`Whywouldn'tyoubathe？'heaskedheragain，later，whenhewasoncemoretheproperly—dressedyoungEnglishman。
　　Shehesitatedamomentbeforeanswering，opposinghispersistence。
　　`BecauseIdidn'tlikethecrowd，'shereplied。
　　Helaughed，herphraseseemedtore—echoinhisconsciousness。Theflavourofherslangwaspiquanttohim。Whetherhewouldornot，shesignifiedtherealworldtohim。Hewantedtocomeuptoherstandards，fulfilherexpectations。Heknewthathercriterionwastheonlyonethatmattered。
　　Theotherswerealloutsiders，instinctively，whatevertheymightbesocially。
　　AndGeraldcouldnothelpit，hewasboundtostrivetocomeuptohercriterion，fulfilherideaofamanandahuman—being。
　　Afterlunch，whenalltheothershadwithdrawn，HermioneandGeraldandBirkinlingered，finishingtheirtalk。Therehadbeensomediscussion，onthewholequiteintellectualandartificial，aboutanewstate，anewworldofman。Supposingthisoldsocialstatewerebrokenanddestroyed，then，outofthechaos，whatthen？
　　Thegreatsocialidea，saidSirJoshua，wasthesocialequalityofman。No，saidGerald，theideawas，thateverymanwasfitforhisownlittlebitofatask——lethimdothat，andthenpleasehimself。Theunifyingprinciplewastheworkinhand。Onlywork，thebusinessofproduction，heldmentogether。Itwasmechanical，butthensocietywasamechanism。
　　Apartfromworktheywereisolated，freetodoastheyliked。
　　`Oh！'criedGudrun。`Thenweshan'thavenamesanymore——weshallbeliketheGermans，nothingbutHerrObermeisterandHerrUntermeister。
　　Icanimagineit——"IamMrsColliery—ManagerCrich——IamMrsMember—of—ParliamentRoddice。IamMissArt—TeacherBrangwen。"Veryprettythat。'
　　`Thingswouldworkverymuchbetter，MissArt—TeacherBrangwen，'saidGerald。
　　`Whatthings，MrColliery—ManagerCrich？Therelationbetweenyouandme，parexemple？'
　　`Yes，forexample，'criedtheItalian。`Thatwhichisbetweenmenandwomen——！'
　　`Thatisnon—social，'saidBirkin，sarcastically。
　　`Exactly，'saidGerald。`Betweenmeandawoman，thesocialquestiondoesnotenter。Itismyownaffair。'
　　`Aten—poundnoteonit，'saidBirkin。
　　`Youdon'tadmitthatawomanisasocialbeing？'askedUrsulaofGerald。
　　`Sheisboth，'saidGerald。`Sheisasocialbeing，asfarassocietyisconcerned。Butforherownprivateself，sheisafreeagent，itisherownaffair，whatshedoes。'
　　`Butwon'titberatherdifficulttoarrangethetwohalves？'askedUrsula。
　　`Ohno，'repliedGerald。`Theyarrangethemselvesnaturally——weseeitnow，everywhere。'
　　`Don'tyoulaughsopleasantlytillyou'reoutofthewood，'saidBirkin。
　　Geraldknittedhisbrowsinmomentaryirritation。
　　`WasIlaughing？'hesaid。
　　`If，'saidHermioneatlast，`wecouldonlyrealise，thatinthespiritweareallone，allequalinthespirit，allbrothersthere——therestwouldn'tmatter，therewouldbenomoreofthiscarpingandenvyandthisstruggleforpower，whichdestroys，onlydestroys。'
　　Thisspeechwasreceivedinsilence，andalmostimmediatelythepartyrosefromthetable。Butwhentheothershadgone，Birkinturnedroundinbitterdeclamation，saying:
　　`Itisjusttheopposite，justthecontrary，Hermione。Wearealldifferentandunequalinspirit——itisonlythesocialdifferencesthatarebasedonaccidentalmaterialconditions。Weareallabstractlyormathematicallyequal，ifyoulike。Everymanhashungerandthirst，twoeyes，onenoseandtwolegs。We'reallthesameinpointofnumber。Butspiritually，thereispuredifferenceandneitherequalitynorinequalitycounts。Itisuponthesetwobitsofknowledgethatyoumustfoundastate。Yourdemocracyisanabsolutelie——yourbrotherhoodofmanisapurefalsity，ifyouapplyitfurtherthanthemathematicalabstraction。Wealldrankmilkfirst，wealleatbreadandmeat，weallwanttorideinmotor—cars——thereinliesthebeginningandtheendofthebrotherhoodofman。Butnoequality。
　　`ButI，myself，whoammyself，whathaveItodowithequalitywithanyothermanorwoman？Inthespirit，Iamasseparateasonestarisfromanother，asdifferentinqualityandquantity。Establishastateonthat。Onemanisn'tanybetterthananother，notbecausetheyareequal，butbecausetheyareintrinsicallyother，thatthereisnotermofcomparison。Theminuteyoubegintocompare，onemanisseentobefarbetterthananother，alltheinequalityyoucanimagineistherebynature。Iwanteverymantohavehisshareintheworld'sgoods，sothatIamridofhisimportunity，sothatIcantellhim:"Nowyou'vegotwhatyouwant——you'vegotyourfairshareoftheworld'sgear。Now，youone—mouthedfool，mindyourselfanddon'tobstructme。'
　　Hermionewaslookingathimwithleeringeyes，alonghercheeks。Hecouldfeelviolentwavesofhatredandloathingofallhesaid，comingoutofher。Itwasdynamichatredandloathing，comingstrongandblackoutoftheunconsciousness。Sheheardhiswordsinherunconsciousself，consciouslyshewasasifdeafened，shepaidnoheedtothem。
　　`Itsoundslikemegalomania，Rupert，'saidGerald，genially。
　　Hermionegaveaqueer，gruntingsound。Birkinstoodback。
　　`Yes，letit，'hesaidsuddenly，thewholetonegoneoutofhisvoice，thathadbeensoinsistent，bearingeverybodydown。Andhewentaway。
　　Buthefelt，later，alittlecompunction。Hehadbeenviolent，cruelwithpoorHermione。Hewantedtorecompenseher，tomakeitup。Hehadhurther，hehadbeenvindictive。Hewantedtobeongoodtermswithheragain。
　　Hewentintoherboudoir，aremoteandverycushionyplace。Shewassittingathertablewritingletters。Sheliftedherfaceabstractedlywhenheentered，watchedhimgotothesofa，andsitdown。Thenshelookeddownatherpaperagain。
　　Hetookupalargevolumewhichhehadbeenreadingbefore，andbecameminutelyattentivetohisauthor。HisbackwastowardsHermione。Shecouldnotgoonwithherwriting。Herwholemindwasachaos，darknessbreakinginuponit，andherselfstrugglingtogaincontrolwithherwill，asaswimmerstruggleswiththeswirlingwater。Butinspiteofhereffortsshewasbornedown，darknessseemedtobreakoverher，shefeltasifherheartwasbursting。Theterribletensiongrewstrongerandstronger，itwasmostfearfulagony，likebeingwalledup。
　　Andthensherealisedthathispresencewasthewall，hispresencewasdestroyingher。Unlessshecouldbreakout，shemustdiemostfearfully，walledupinhorror。Andhewasthewall。Shemustbreakdownthewall——shemustbreakhimdownbeforeher，theawfulobstructionofhimwhoobstructedherlifetothelast。Itmustbedone，orshemustperishmosthorribly。
　　Terriblyshocksranoverherbody，likeshocksofelectricity，asifmanyvoltsofelectricitysuddenlystruckherdown。Shewasawareofhimsittingsilentlythere，anunthinkableevilobstruction。Onlythisblottedouthermind，pressedoutherverybreathing，hissilent，stoopingback，thebackofhishead。
　　Aterriblevoluptuousthrillrandownherarms——shewasgoingtoknowhervoluptuousconsummation。Herarmsquiveredandwerestrong，immeasurablyandirresistiblystrong。Whatdelight，whatdelightinstrength，whatdeliriumofpleasure！Shewasgoingtohaveherconsummationofvoluptuousecstasyatlast。Itwascoming！Inutmostterrorandagony，sheknewitwasuponhernow，inextremityofbliss。Herhandclosedonablue，beautifulballoflapislazulithatstoodonherdeskforapaper—weight。Sherolleditroundinherhandassherosesilently。Herheartwasapureflameinherbreast，shewaspurelyunconsciousinecstasy。Shemovedtowardshimandstoodbehindhimforamomentinecstasy。He，closedwithinthespell，remainedmotionlessandunconscious。