Anditseemedshewaslikethesea，nothingbutdarkwavesrisingandheaving，heavingwithagreatswell，sothatslowlyherwholedarknesswasinmotion，andshewasOceanrollingitsdark，dumbmass。Oh，andfardowninsideherthedeepspartedandrolledasunder，inlong，fair-travellingbillows，andever，atthequickofher，thedepthspartedandrolledasunder，fromthecentreofsoftplunging，astheplungerwentdeeperanddeeper，touchinglower，andshewasdeeperanddeeperanddeeperdisclosed，theheavierthebillowsofherrolledawaytosomeshore，uncoveringher，andcloserandcloserplungedthepalpableunknown，andfurtherandfurtherrolledthewavesofherselfawayfromherselfleavingher，tillsuddenly，inasoft，shudderingconvulsion，thequickofallherplasmwastouched，sheknewherselftouched，theconsummationwasuponher，andshewasgone。
　　Shewasgone，shewasnot，andshewasborn：awoman。
　　Ah，toolovely，toolovely!Intheebbingsherealizedalltheloveliness。
　　Nowallherbodyclungwithtenderlovetotheunknownman，andblindlytothewiltingpenis，asitsotenderly，frailly，unknowinglywithdrew，afterthefiercethrustofitspotency。Asitdrewoutandleftherbody，thesecret，sensitivething，shegaveanunconsciouscryofpureloss，andshetriedtoputitback。Ithadbeensoperfect!Andsheloveditso!
　　Andonlynowshebecameawareofthesmall，bud-likereticenceandtendernessofthepenis，andalittlecryofwonderandpoignancyescapedheragain，herwoman’sheartcryingoutoverthetenderfrailtyofthatwhichhadbeenthepower。
　　`Itwassolovely!’shemoaned。`Itwassolovely!’Buthesaidnothing，onlysoftlykissedher，lyingstillaboveher。AndshemoanedwithasortOfbliss，asasacrifice，andanewbornthing。
　　Andnowinherheartthequeerwonderofhimwasawakened。
　　Aman!Thestrangepotencyofmanhooduponher!Herhandsstrayedoverhim，stillalittleafraid。Afraidofthatstrange，hostile，slightlyrepulsivethingthathehadbeentoher，aman。Andnowshetouchedhim，anditwasthesonsofgodwiththedaughtersofmen。Howbeautifulhefelt，howpureintissue!Howlovely，howlovely，strong，andyetpureanddelicate，suchstillnessofthesensitivebody!Suchutterstillnessofpotencyanddelicateflesh。Howbeautiful!Howbeautiful!Herhandscametimorouslydownhisback，tothesoft，smallishglobesofthebuttocks。Beauty!Whatbeauty!
　　asuddenlittleflameofnewawarenesswentthroughher。Howwasitpossible，thisbeautyhere，whereshehadpreviouslyonlybeenrepelled？Theunspeakablebeautytothetouchofthewarm，livingbuttocks!Thelifewithinlife，thesheerwarm，potentloveliness。Andthestrangeweightoftheballsbetweenhislegs!Whatamystery!Whatastrangeheavyweightofmystery，thatcouldliesoftandheavyinone’shand!Theroots，rootofallthatislovely，theprimevalrootofallfullbeauty。
　　Sheclungtohim，withahissofwonderthatwasalmostawe，terror。
　　Heheldherclose，buthesaidnothing。Hewouldneversayanything。Shecreptnearertohim，nearer，onlytobeneartothesensualwonderofhim。
　　Andoutofhisutter，incomprehensiblestillness，shefeltagaintheslowmomentous，surgingriseofthephallusagain，theotherpower。Andherheartmeltedoutwithakindofawe。
　　Andthistimehisbeingwithinherwasallsoftandiridescent，purelysoftandiridescent，suchasnoconsciousnesscouldseize。Herwholeselfquiveredunconsciousandalive，likeplasm。Shecouldnotknowwhatitwas。Shecouldnotrememberwhatithadbeen。Onlythatithadbeenmorelovelythananythingevercouldbe。Onlythat。Andafterwardsshewasutterlystill，utterlyunknowing，shewasnotawareforhowlong。Andhewasstillwithher，inanunfathomablesilencealongwithher。Andofthis，theywouldneverspeak。
　　Whenawarenessoftheoutsidebegantocomeback，sheclungtohisbreast，murmuring`Mylove!Mylove!’Andheheldhersilently。Andshecurledonhisbreast，perfect。
　　Buthissilencewasfathomless。Hishandsheldherlikeflowers，sostillaidstrange。`Whereareyou？’shewhisperedtohim。
　　`Whereareyou？Speaktome!Saysomethingtome!’
　　Hekissedhersoftly，murmuring：`Ay，mylass!’
　　Butshedidnotknowwhathemeant，shedidnotknowwherehewas。Inhissilenceheseemedlosttoher。
　　`Youloveme，don’tyou？’shemurmured。
　　`Ay，thaknows!’hesaid。`Buttellme!’shepleaded。
　　`Ay!Ay!’asn’tterfeltit？’hesaiddimly，butsoftlyandsurely。
　　Andsheclungclosetohim，closer。Hewassomuchmorepeacefulinlovethanshewas，andshewantedhimtoreassureher。
　　`Youdoloveme!’shewhispered，assertive。Andhishandsstrokedhersoftly，asifshewereaflower，withoutthequiverofdesire，butwithdelicatenearness。Andstilltherehauntedherarestlessnecessitytogetagriponlove。
　　`Sayyou’llalwaysloveme!’shepleaded。
　　`Ay!’hesaid，abstractedly。Andshefeltherquestionsdrivinghimawayfromher。
　　`Mustn’twegetup？’hesaidatlast。
　　`No!’shesaid。
　　Butshecouldfeelhisconsciousnessstraying，listeningtothenoisesoutside。
　　`It’llbenearlydark，’hesaid。Andsheheardthepressureofcircumstancesinhisvoice。Shekissedhim，withawoman’sgriefatyieldingupherhour。
　　Herose，andturnedupthelantern，thenbegantopullonhisclothes，quicklydisappearinginsidethem。Thenhestoodthere，aboveher，fasteninghisbreechesandlookingdownatherwithdark，wide-eyes，hisfacealittleflushedandhishairruffled，curiouslywarmandstillandbeautifulinthedimlightofthelantern，sobeautiful，shewouldnevertellhimhowbeautiful。Itmadeherwanttoclingfasttohim，toholdhim，fortherewasawarm，half-sleepyremotenessinhisbeautythatmadeherwanttocryoutandclutchhim，tohavehim。Shewouldneverhavehim。Soshelayontheblanketwithcurved，softnakedhaunches，andhehadnoideawhatshewasthinking，buttohimtooshewasbeautiful，thesoft，marvellousthinghecouldgointo，beyondeverything。
　　`IlovetheethatIcallgointothee，’hesaid。
　　`Doyoulikeme？’shesaid，herheartbeating。
　　`Ithealsitallup，thatIcangointothee。Ilovetheethatthaopenedtome。IlovetheethatIcameintotheelikethat。’
　　Hebentdownandkissedhersoftflank，rubbedhischeekagainstit，thencovereditup。
　　`Andwillyouneverleaveme？’shesaid。
　　`Dunnaaskthemthings，’hesaid。
　　`ButyoudobelieveIloveyou？’shesaid。
　　`Thalovedmejustnow，widerthaniverthathoutthawould。Butwhoknowswhat’ll’appen，oncethastartsthinkin’aboutit!’
　　`No，don’tsaythosethings!——Andyoudon’treallythinkthatIwantedtomakeuseofyou，doyou？’
　　`How？’
　　`Tohaveachild——？’
　　`Nowanybodycan’aveanychildti’th’world，’hesaid，ashesatdownfasteningonhisleggings。
　　`Ahno!’shecried。`Youdon’tmeanit？’
　　`Ehwell!’hesaid，lookingatherunderhisbrows。`Thiswort’best。’
　　Shelaystill。Hesoftlyopenedthedoor。Theskywasdarkblue，withcrystalline，turquoiserim。Hewentout，toshutupthehens，speakingsoftlytohisdog。Andshelayandwonderedatthewonderoflife，andofbeing。
　　Whenhecamebackshewasstilllyingthere，glowinglikeagipsy。Hesatonthestoolbyher。
　　`Thamuncomeonenaightterth’cottage，aforethagoos；shollter？’
　　heasked，liftinghiseyebrowsashelookedather，hishandsdanglingbetweenhisknees。
　　`Shollter？’sheechoed，teasing。
　　Hesmiled。`Ay，shollter？’herepeated。
　　`Ay!’shesaid，imitatingthedialectsound。
　　`Yi!’hesaid。
　　`Yi!’sherepeated。
　　`An’slaipwi’me，’hesaid。`Itneedsthat。Whensholtcome？’
　　`WhenshollI？’shesaid。
　　`Nay，’hesaid，`thacannado’t。Whensholtcomethen？’
　　`’AppenSunday，’shesaid。
　　`’Appena’Sunday!Ay!’
　　Helaughedatherquickly。
　　`Nay，thacanna，’heprotested。
　　`WhycannaI？’shesaid。
　　Chapter13
　　OnSundayCliffordwantedtogointothewood。Itwasalovelymorning，thepear-blossomandplumhadsuddenlyappearedintheworldinawonderofwhitehereandthere。
　　ItwascruelforClifford，whiletheworldbloomed，tohavetobehelpedfromchairtobath-chair。Buthehadforgotten，andevenseemedtohaveacertainconceitofhimselfinhislameness。Conniestillsuffered，havingtolifthisinertlegsintoplace。MrsBoltondiditnow，orField。
　　Shewaitedforhimatthetopofthedrive，attheedgeofthescreenofbeeches。Hischaircamepuffingalongwithasortofvaletudinarianslowimportance。Ashejoinedhiswifehesaid：
　　`SirCliffordonhisroamingsteed!’
　　`Snorting，atleast!’shelaughed。
　　Hestoppedandlookedroundatthefacadeofthelong，lowoldbrownhouse。
　　`Wragbydoesn’twinkaneyelid!’hesaid。`Butthenwhyshouldit!I
　　rideupontheachievementsofthemindofman，andthatbeatsahorse。’
　　`Isupposeitdoes。AndthesoulsinPlatoridinguptoheaveninatwo-horsechariotwouldgoinaFordcarnow，’shesaid。
　　`OraRolls-Royce：Platowasanaristocrat!’
　　`Quite!Nomoreblackhorsetothrashandmaltreat。Platoneverthoughtwe’dgoonebetterthanhisblacksteedandhiswhitesteed，andhavenosteedsatall，onlyanengine!’
　　`Onlyanengineandgas!’saidClifford。
　　`IhopeIcanhavesomerepairsdonetotheoldplacenextyear。IthinkIshallhaveaboutathousandtospareforthat：butworkcostssomuch!’
　　headded。
　　`Oh，good!’saidConnie。`Ifonlytherearen’tmorestrikes!’
　　`Whatwouldbetheuseoftheirstrikingagain!Merelyruintheindustry，what’sleftofit：andsurelytheowlsarebeginningtoseeit!’
　　`Perhapstheydon’tmindruiningtheindustry，’saidConnie。
　　`Ah，don’ttalklikeawoman!Theindustryfillstheirbellies，evenifitcan’tkeeptheirpocketsquitesoflush，’hesaid，usingturnsofspeechthatoddlyhadatwangofMrsBolton。
　　`Butdidn’tyousaytheotherdaythatyouwereaconservative-anarchist，’
　　sheaskedinnocently。
　　`AnddidyouunderstandwhatImeant？’heretorted。`AllImeantis，peoplecanbewhattheylikeandfeelwhattheylikeanddowhattheylike，strictlyprivately，solongastheykeeptheformoflifeintact，andtheapparatus。’
　　Conniewalkedoninsilenceafewpaces。Thenshesaid，obstinately：
　　`Itsoundslikesayinganeggmaygoasaddledasitlikes，solongasitkeepsitsshellonwhole。Butaddledeggsdobreakofthemselves。’
　　`Idon’tthinkpeopleareeggs，’hesaid。`Notevenangels’eggs，mydearlittleevangelist。’
　　Hewasinratherhighfeatherthisbrightmorning。Thelarksweretrillingawayoverthepark，thedistantpitinthehollowwasfumingsilentsteam。
　　Itwasalmostlikeolddays，beforethewar。Conniedidn’treallywanttoargue。ButthenshedidnotreallywanttogotothewoodwithCliffordeither。Soshewalkedbesidehischairinacertainobstinacyofspirit。
　　`No，’hesaid。`Therewillbenomorestrikes，it。Thethingisproperlymanaged。’
　　`Whynot？’
　　`Becausestrikeswillbemadeasgoodasimpossible。’
　　`Butwillthemenletyou？’sheasked。
　　`Weshan’taskthem。Weshalldoitwhiletheyaren’tlooking：fortheirowngood，tosavetheindustry。’
　　`Foryourowngoodtoo，’shesaid。
　　`Naturally!Forthegoodofeverybody。Butfortheirgoodevenmorethanmine。Icanlivewithoutthepits。Theycan’t。They’llstarveiftherearenopits。I’vegototherprovision。’
　　Theylookeduptheshallowvalleyatthemine，andbeyondit，attheblack-liddedhousesofTevershallcrawlinglikesomeserpentupthehill。
　　Fromtheoldbrownchurchthebellswereringing：Sunday，Sunday，Sunday!
　　`Butwillthemenletyoudictateterms？’shesaid。`Mydear，theywillhaveto：ifonedoesitgently。’
　　`Butmightn’ttherebeamutualunderstanding？’
　　`Absolutely：whentheyrealizethattheindustrycomesbeforetheindividual。’
　　`Butmustyouowntheindustry？’shesaid。
　　`Idon’t。ButtotheextentIdoownit，yes，mostdecidedly。Theownershipofpropertyhasnowbecomeareligiousquestion：asithasbeensinceJesusandStFrancis。Thepointisnot：takeallthouhastandgivetothepoor，butuseallthouhasttoencouragetheindustryandgiveworktothepoor。It’stheonlywaytofeedallthemouthsandclotheallthebodies。Givingawayallwehavetothepoorspellsstarvationforthepoorjustasmuchasforus。Anduniversalstarvationisnohighaim。Evengeneralpovertyisnolovelything。Povertyisugly。’
　　`Butthedisparity？’
　　`Thatisfate。WhyisthestarJupiterbiggerthanthestarNeptune？
　　Youcan’tstartalteringthemake-upofthings!’
　　`Butwhenthisenvyandjealousyanddiscontenthasoncestarted，’shebegan。
　　`Do，yourbesttostopit。Somebody’sgottobebossoftheshow。’
　　`Butwhoisbossoftheshow？’sheasked。
　　`Themenwhoownandruntheindustries。’
　　Therewasalongsilence。
　　`Itseemstomethey’reabadboss，’shesaid。
　　`Thenyousuggestwhattheyshoulddo。’
　　`Theydon’ttaketheirboss-shipseriouslyenough，’shesaid。
　　`Theytakeitfarmoreseriouslythanyoutakeyourladyship，’hesaid。
　　`That’sthrustuponme。Idon’treallywantit，’sheblurtedout。Hestoppedthechairandlookedather。
　　`Who’sshirkingtheirresponsibilitynow!’hesaid。`Whoistryingtogetawaynowfromtheresponsibilityoftheirownboss-ship，asyoucallit？’
　　`ButIdon’twantanyboss-ship，’sheprotested。