第5章

`Yes。"

Therewasareallypuzzledpause。

`Ican"tsay，"saidGerald。`Ithasn"tbeen，sofar。"

`Whathasyourlifebeen，sofar？"

`Oh——findingoutthingsformyself——andgettingexperiences——andmakingthingsgo。"

Birkinknittedhisbrowslikesharplymouldedsteel。

`Ifind，"hesaid，`thatoneneedssomeonereallypuresingleactivity——Ishouldcallloveasinglepureactivity。ButIdon"treallyloveanybody——notnow。"

`Haveyoueverreallylovedanybody？"askedGerald。

`Yesandno，"repliedBirkin。

`Notfinally？"saidGerald。

`Finally——finally——no，"saidBirkin。

`NorI，"saidGerald。

`Anddoyouwantto？"saidBirkin。

Geraldlookedwithalong，twinkling，almostsardoniclookintotheeyesoftheotherman。

`Idon"tknow，"hesaid。

`Ido——Iwanttolove，"saidBirkin。

`Youdo？"

`Yes。Iwantthefinalityoflove。"

`Thefinalityoflove，"repeatedGerald。Andhewaitedforamoment。

`Justonewoman？"headded。Theeveninglight，floodingyellowalongthefields，litupBirkin"sfacewithatense，abstractsteadfastness。

Geraldstillcouldnotmakeitout。

`Yes，onewoman，"saidBirkin。

ButtoGeralditsoundedasifhewereinsistentratherthanconfident。

`Idon"tbelieveawoman，andnothingbutawoman，willevermakemylife，"saidGerald。

`Notthecentreandcoreofit——thelovebetweenyouandawoman？"

askedBirkin。

Gerald"seyesnarrowedwithaqueerdangeroussmileashewatchedtheotherman。

`Ineverquitefeelitthatway，"hesaid。

`Youdon"t？Thenwhereindoeslifecentre，foryou？"

`Idon"tknow——that"swhatIwantsomebodytotellme。AsfarasI

canmakeout，itdoesn"tcentreatall。Itisartificiallyheldtogetherbythesocialmechanism。"

Birkinponderedasifhewouldcracksomething。

`Iknow，"hesaid，`itjustdoesn"tcentre。Theoldidealsaredeadasnails——nothingthere。Itseemstomethereremainsonlythisperfectunionwithawoman——sortofultimatemarriage——andthereisn"tanythingelse。"

`Andyoumeanifthereisn"tthewoman，there"snothing？"saidGerald。

`Prettywellthat——seeingthere"snoGod。"

`Thenwe"rehardputtoit，"saidGerald。Andheturnedtolookoutofthewindowattheflying，goldenlandscape。

Birkincouldnothelpseeinghowbeautifulandsoldierlyhisfacewas，withacertaincouragetobeindifferent。

`Youthinkitsheavyoddsagainstus？"saidBirkin。

`Ifwe"vegottomakeourlifeupoutofawoman，onewoman，womanonly，yes，Ido，"saidGerald。`Idon"tbelieveIshallevermakeupmylife，atthatrate。"

Birkinwatchedhimalmostangrily。

`Youareabornunbeliever，"hesaid。

`IonlyfeelwhatIfeel，"saidGerald。AndhelookedagainatBirkinalmostsardonically，withhisblue，manly，sharp—lightedeyes。Birkin"seyeswereatthemomentfullofanger。Butswiftlytheybecametroubled，doubtful，thenfullofawarm，richaffectionatenessandlaughter。

`Ittroublesmeverymuch，Gerald，"hesaid，wrinklinghisbrows。

`Icanseeitdoes，"saidGerald，uncoveringhismouthinamanly，quick，soldierlylaugh。

Geraldwasheldunconsciouslybytheotherman。Hewantedtobenearhim，hewantedtobewithinhissphereofinfluence。TherewassomethingverycongenialtohiminBirkin。Butyet，beyondthis，hedidnottakemuchnotice。Hefeltthathe，himself，Gerald，hadharderandmoredurabletruthsthananytheothermanknew。Hefelthimselfolder，moreknowing。

Itwasthequick—changingwarmthandvenalityandbrilliantwarmutterancehelovedinhisfriend。Itwastherichplayofwordsandquickinterchangeoffeelingsheenjoyed。Therealcontentofthewordsheneverreallyconsidered:

hehimselfknewbetter。

Birkinknewthis。HeknewthatGeraldwantedtobefondofhimwithouttakinghimseriously。Andthismadehimgohardandcold。Asthetrainranon，hesatlookingattheland，andGeraldfellaway，becameasnothingtohim。

Birkinlookedattheland，attheevening，andwasthinking:`Well，ifmankindisdestroyed，ifourraceisdestroyedlikeSodom，andthereisthisbeautifuleveningwiththeluminouslandandtrees，Iamsatisfied。

Thatwhichinformsitallisthere，andcanneverbelost。Afterall，whatismankindbutjustoneexpressionoftheincomprehensible。Andifmankindpassesaway，itwillonlymeanthatthisparticularexpressioniscompletedanddone。Thatwhichisexpressed，andthatwhichistobeexpressed，cannotbediminished。Thereitis，intheshiningevening。Letmankindpassaway——timeitdid。Thecreativeutteranceswillnotcease，theywillonlybethere。Humanitydoesn"tembodytheutteranceoftheincomprehensibleanymore。Humanityisadeadletter。Therewillbeanewembodiment，inanewway。Lethumanitydisappearasquickaspossible。"

Geraldinterruptedhimbyasking，`WhereareyoustayinginLondon？"

Birkinlookedup。

`WithamaninSoho。Ipaypartoftherentofaflat，andstoptherewhenIlike。"

`Goodidea——haveaplacemoreorlessyourown，"saidGerald。

`Yes。ButIdon"tcareforitmuch。I"mtiredofthepeopleIamboundtofindthere。"

`Whatkindofpeople？"

`Art——music——LondonBohemia——themostpettifoggingcalculatingBohemiathateverreckoneditspennies。Butthereareafewdecentpeople，decentinsomerespects。Theyarereallyverythoroughrejectersoftheworld——perhapstheyliveonlyinthegestureofrejectionandnegation——butnegativelysomething，atanyrate。"

`Whatarethey？——painters，musicians？"

`Painters，musicians，writers——hangers—on，models，advancedyoungpeople，anybodywhoisopenlyatoutswiththeconventions，andbelongstonowhereparticularly。TheyareoftenyoungfellowsdownfromtheUniversity，andgirlswhoarelivingtheirownlives，astheysay。"

`Allloose？"saidGerald。

Birkincouldseehiscuriosityroused。

`Inoneway。Mostbound，inanother。Foralltheirshockingness，allononenote。"

HelookedatGerald，andsawhowhisblueeyeswerelitupwithalittleflameofcuriousdesire。Hesawtoohowgood—lookinghewas。Geraldwasattractive，hisbloodseemedfluidandelectric。Hisblueeyesburnedwithakeen，yetcoldlight，therewasacertainbeauty，abeautifulpassivityinallhisbody，hismoulding。

`Wemightseesomethingofeachother——IaminLondonfortwoorthreedays，"saidGerald。

`Yes，"saidBirkin，`Idon"twanttogotothetheatre，orthemusichall——you"dbettercomeroundtotheflat，andseewhatyoucanmakeofHallidayandhiscrowd。"

`Thanks——Ishouldliketo，"laughedGerald。`Whatareyoudoingtonight？"

`IpromisedtomeetHallidayatthePompadour。It"sabadplace，butthereisnowhereelse。"

`Whereisit？"askedGerald。

`PiccadillyCircus。"

`Ohyes——well，shallIcomeroundthere？"

`Byallmeans，itmightamuseyou。"

Theeveningwasfalling。TheyhadpassedBedford。Birkinwatchedthecountry，andwasfilledwithasortofhopelessness。Healwaysfeltthis，onapproachingLondon。

Hisdislikeofmankind，ofthemassofmankind，amountedalmosttoanillness。

`"WherethequietcolouredendofeveningsmilesMilesandmiles——""

hewasmurmuringtohimself，likeamancondemnedtodeath。Gerald，whowasverysubtlyalert，waryinallhissenses，leanedforwardandaskedsmilingly:

`Whatwereyousaying？"Birkinglancedathim，laughed，andrepeated:

`"Wherethequietcolouredendofeveningsmiles，Milesandmiles，OverpastureswherethesomethingsomethingsheepHalfasleep——""

Geraldalsolookednowatthecountry。AndBirkin，who，forsomereasonwasnowtiredanddispirited，saidtohim:

`IalwaysfeeldoomedwhenthetrainisrunningintoLondon。Ifeelsuchadespair，sohopeless，asifitweretheendoftheworld。"

`Really！"saidGerald。`Anddoestheendoftheworldfrightenyou？"

Birkinliftedhisshouldersinaslowshrug。

`Idon"tknow，"hesaid。`Itdoeswhileithangsimminentanddoesn"tfall。Butpeoplegivemeabadfeeling——verybad。"

TherewasarousedgladsmileinGerald"seyes。

`Dothey？"hesaid。Andhewatchedtheothermancritically。

InafewminutesthetrainwasrunningthroughthedisgraceofoutspreadLondon。Everybodyinthecarriagewasonthealert，waitingtoescape。

Atlasttheywereunderthehugearchofthestation，inthetremendousshadowofthetown。Birkinshuthimselftogether——hewasinnow。

Thetwomenwenttogetherinataxi—cab。

`Don"tyoufeellikeoneofthedamned？"askedBirkin，astheysatinalittle，swiftly—runningenclosure，andwatchedthehideousgreatstreet。

`No，"laughedGerald。

`Itisrealdeath，"saidBirkin。

WomenInLove:Chapter6CHAPTERVICremedeMentheTHEYMETagaininthecafeseveralhourslater。

Geraldwentthroughthepushdoorsintothelarge，loftyroomwherethefacesandheadsofthedrinkersshoweddimlythroughthehazeofsmoke，reflectedmoredimly，andrepeatedadinfinituminthegreatmirrorsonthewalls，sothatoneseemedtoenteravague，dimworldofshadowydrinkershummingwithinanatmosphereofbluetobaccosmoke。Therewas，however，theredplushoftheseatstogivesubstancewithinthebubbleofpleasure。

Geraldmovedinhisslow，observant，glistening—attentivemotiondownbetweenthetablesandthepeoplewhoseshadowyfaceslookedupashepassed。

Heseemedtobeenteringinsomestrangeelement，passingintoanilluminatednewregion，amongahostoflicentioussouls。Hewaspleased，andentertained。

Helookedoverallthedim，evanescent，strangelyilluminatedfacesthatbentacrossthetables。ThenhesawBirkinriseandsignaltohim。

AtBirkin"stablewasagirlwithdark，soft，fluffyhaircutshortintheartistfashion，hanginglevelandfullalmostliketheEgyptianprincess"s。Shewassmallanddelicatelymade，withwarmcolouringandlarge，darkhostileeyes。Therewasadelicacy，almostabeautyinallherform，andatthesametimeacertainattractivegrossnessofspirit，thatmadealittlesparkleapinstantlyalightinGerald"seyes。

Birkin，wholookedmuted，unreal，hispresenceleftout，introducedherasMissDarrington。Shegaveherhandwithasudden，unwillingmovement，lookingallthewhileatGeraldwithadark，exposedstare。Aglowcameoverhimashesatdown。

Thewaiterappeared。Geraldglancedattheglassesoftheothertwo。

Birkinwasdrinkingsomethinggreen，MissDarringtonhadasmallliqueurglassthatwasemptysaveforatinydrop。

`Won"tyouhavesomemore——？"

`Brandy，"shesaid，sippingherlastdropandputtingdowntheglass。

Thewaiterdisappeared。

`No，"shesaidtoBirkin。`Hedoesn"tknowI"mback。He"llbeterrifiedwhenheseesmehere。"

Shespokeherr"slikew"s，lispingwithaslightlybabyishpronunciationwhichwasatonceaffectedandtruetohercharacter。Hervoicewasdullandtoneless。

`Whereishethen？"askedBirkin。

`He"sdoingaprivateshowatLadySnellgrove"s，"saidthegirl。`Warensistheretoo。"

Therewasapause。

`Well，then，"saidBirkin，inadispassionateprotectivemanner，`whatdoyouintendtodo？"

Thegirlpausedsullenly。Shehatedthequestion。

`Idon"tintendtodoanything，"shereplied。`Ishalllookforsomesittingstomorrow。"

`Whoshallyougoto？"askedBirkin。

`IshallgotoBentley"sfirst。ButIbelievehe"sangwywithmeforrunningaway。"

`ThatisfromtheMadonna？"

`Yes。Andthenifhedoesn"twantme，IknowIcangetworkwithCarmarthen。"

`Carmarthen？"

`LordCarmarthen——hedoesphotographs。"

`Chiffonandshoulders——"

`Yes。Buthe"sawfullydecent。"Therewasapause。

`AndwhatareyougoingtodoaboutJulius？"heasked。

`Nothing，"shesaid。`Ishalljustignorehim。"

`You"vedonewithhimaltogether？"Butsheturnedasideherfacesullenly，anddidnotanswerthequestion。

Anotheryoungmancamehurryinguptothetable。

`HalloBirkin！HalloPussum，whendidyoucomeback？"hesaideagerly。

`Today。"

`DoesHallidayknow？"

`Idon"tknow。Idon"tcareeither。"

`Ha—ha！Thewindstillsitsinthatquarter，doesit？DoyoumindifIcomeovertothistable？"

`I"mtalkingtoWupert，doyoumind？"shereplied，coollyandyetappealingly，likeachild。

`Openconfession——goodforthesoul，eh？"saidtheyoungman。`Well，solong。"

AndgivingasharplookatBirkinandatGerald，theyoungmanmovedoff，withaswingofhiscoatskirts。

AllthistimeGeraldhadbeencompletelyignored。Andyethefeltthatthegirlwasphysicallyawareofhisproximity。Hewaited，listened，andtriedtopiecetogethertheconversation。

`Areyoustayingattheflat？"thegirlasked，ofBirkin。

`Forthreedays，"repliedBirkin。`Andyou？"

`Idon"tknowyet。IcanalwaysgotoBertha"s。"Therewasasilence。

SuddenlythegirlturnedtoGerald，andsaid，inaratherformal，politevoice，withthedistantmannerofawomanwhoacceptsherpositionasasocialinferior，yetassumesintimatecamaraderiewiththemalesheaddresses:

`DoyouknowLondonwell？"

`Icanhardlysay，"helaughed。`I"vebeenupagoodmanytimes，butIwasneverinthisplacebefore。"

`You"renotanartist，then？"shesaid，inatonethatplacedhimanoutsider。

`No，"hereplied。

`He"sasoldier，andanexplorer，andaNapoleonofindustry，"saidBirkin，givingGeraldhiscredentialsforBohemia。

`Areyouasoldier？"askedthegirl，withacoldyetlivelycuriosity。

`No，Iresignedmycommission，"saidGerald，`someyearsago。"

`Hewasinthelastwar，"saidBirkin。

`Wereyoureally？"saidthegirl。

`AndthenheexploredtheAmazon，"saidBirkin，`andnowheisrulingovercoal—mines。"

ThegirllookedatGeraldwithsteady，calmcuriosity。Helaughed，hearinghimselfdescribed。Hefeltproudtoo，fullofmalestrength。Hisblue，keeneyeswerelitupwithlaughter，hisruddyface，withitssharpfairhair，wasfullofsatisfaction，andglowingwithlife。Hepiquedher。

`Howlongareyoustaying？"sheaskedhim。

`Adayortwo，"hereplied。`Butthereisnoparticularhurry。"

Stillshestaredintohisfacewiththatslow，fullgazewhichwassocuriousandsoexcitingtohim。Hewasacutelyanddelightfullyconsciousofhimself，ofhisownattractiveness。Hefeltfullofstrength，abletogiveoffasortofelectricpower。Andhewasawareofherdark，hot—lookingeyesuponhim。Shehadbeautifuleyes，dark，fully—opened，hot，nakedintheirlookingathim。Andonthemthereseemedtofloatafilmofdisintegration，asortofmiseryandsullenness，likeoilonwater。Sheworenohatintheheatedcafe，herloose，simplejumperwasstrungonastringroundherneck。Butitwasmadeofrichpeach—colouredcrepe—de—chine，thathungheavilyandsoftlyfromheryoungthroatandherslenderwrists。Herappearancewassimpleandcomplete，reallybeautiful，becauseofherregularityandform，hersoftdarkhairfallingfullandleveloneithersideofherhead，herstraight，small，softenedfeatures，Egyptianintheslightfulnessoftheircurves，herslenderneckandthesimple，rich—colouredsmockhangingonherslendershoulders。Shewasverystill，almostnull，inhermanner，apartandwatchful。

SheappealedtoGeraldstrongly。Hefeltanawful，enjoyablepoweroverher，aninstinctivecherishingveryneartocruelty。Forshewasavictim。

Hefeltthatshewasinhispower，andhewasgenerous。Theelectricitywasturgidandvoluptuouslyrich，inhislimbs。Hewouldbeabletodestroyherutterlyinthestrengthofhisdischarge。Butshewaswaitinginherseparation，given。

Theytalkedbanalitiesforsometime。SuddenlyBirkinsaid:

`There"sJulius！"andhehalfrosetohisfeet，motioningtothenewcomer。

Thegirl，withacurious，almostevilmotion，lookedroundoverhershoulderwithoutmovingherbody。Geraldwatchedherdark，softhairswingoverherears。Hefeltherwatchingintenselythemanwhowasapproaching，sohelookedtoo。Hesawapale，full—builtyoungmanwithratherlong，solidfairhairhangingfromunderhisblackhat，movingcumbrouslydowntheroom，hisfacelitupwithasmileatoncenaiveandwarm，andvapid。HeapproachedtowardsBirkin，withahasteofwelcome。

Itwasnottillhewasquiteclosethatheperceivedthegirl。Herecoiled，wentpale，andsaid，inahighsquealingvoice:

`Pussum，whatareyoudoinghere？"

Thecafelookeduplikeanimalswhentheyhearacry。Hallidayhungmotionless，analmostimbecilesmileflickeringpalelyonhisface。Thegirlonlystaredathimwithablacklookinwhichflaredanunfathomablehellofknowledge，andacertainimpotence。Shewaslimitedbyhim。

`Whyhaveyoucomeback？"repeatedHalliday，inthesamehigh，hystericalvoice。`Itoldyounottocomeback。"

Thegirldidnotanswer，onlystaredinthesameviscous，heavyfashion，straightathim，ashestoodrecoiled，asifforsafety，againstthenexttable。

`Youknowyouwantedhertocomeback——comeandsitdown，"saidBirkintohim。

`NoIdidn"twanthertocomeback，andItoldhernottocomeback。

Whathaveyoucomefor，Pussum？"

`Fornothingfromyou，"shesaidinaheavyvoiceofresentment。

`Thenwhyhaveyoucomebackatall？"criedHalliday，hisvoicerisingtoakindofsqueal。

`Shecomesasshelikes，"saidBirkin。`Areyougoingtositdown，orareyounot？"

`No，Iwon"tsitdownwithPussum，"criedHalliday。

`Iwon"thurtyou，youneedn"tbeafraid，"shesaidtohim，verycurtly，andyetwithasortofprotectivenesstowardshim，inhervoice。

Hallidaycameandsatatthetable，puttinghishandonhisheart，andcrying:

`Oh，it"sgivenmesuchaturn！Pussum，Iwishyouwouldn"tdothesethings。Whydidyoucomeback？"

`Notforanythingfromyou，"sherepeated。

`You"vesaidthatbefore，"hecriedinahighvoice。

Sheturnedcompletelyawayfromhim，toGeraldCrich，whoseeyeswereshiningwithasubtleamusement。

`Wereyouevervewymuchafwaidofthesavages？"sheaskedinhercalm，dullchildishvoice。

`No——neververymuchafraid。Onthewholethey"reharmless——they"renotbornyet，youcan"tfeelreallyafraidofthem。Youknowyoucanmanagethem。"

`Doyouweally？Aren"ttheyveryfierce？"

`Notvery。Therearen"tmanyfiercethings，asamatteroffact。Therearen"tmanythings，neitherpeoplenoranimals，thathaveitinthemtobereallydangerous。"

`Exceptinherds，"interruptedBirkin。

`Aren"ttherereally？"shesaid。`Oh，Ithoughtsavageswereallsodangerous，they"dhaveyourlifebeforeyoucouldlookround。"

`Didyou？"helaughed。`Theyareover—rated，savages。They"retoomuchlikeotherpeople，notexciting，afterthefirstacquaintance。"

`Oh，it"snotsoverywonderfullybravethen，tobeanexplorer？"

`No。It"smoreaquestionofhardshipsthanofterrors。"

`Oh！Andweren"tyoueverafraid？"

`Inmylife？Idon"tknow。Yes，I"mafraidofsomethings——ofbeingshutup，lockedupanywhere——orbeingfastened。I"mafraidofbeingboundhandandfoot。"

Shelookedathimsteadilywithherdarkeyes，thatrestedonhimandrousedhimsodeeply，thatitlefthisupperselfquitecalm。Itwasratherdelicious，tofeelherdrawinghisself—revelationsfromhim，asfromtheveryinnermostdarkmarrowofhisbody。Shewantedtoknow。Andherdarkeyesseemedtobelookingthroughintohisnakedorganism。Hefelt，shewascompelledtohim，shewasfatedtocomeintocontactwithhim，musthavetheseeinghimandknowinghim。Andthisrousedacuriousexultance。

Alsohefelt，shemustrelinquishherselfintohishands，andbesubjecttohim。Shewassoprofane，slave—like，watchinghim，absorbedbyhim。

Itwasnotthatshewasinterestedinwhathesaid;shewasabsorbedbyhisself—revelation，byhim，shewantedthesecretofhim，theexperienceofhismalebeing。

Gerald"sfacewaslitupwithanuncannysmile，fulloflightandrousedness，yetunconscious。Hesatwithhisarmsonthetable，hissunbrowned，rathersinisterhands，thatwereanimalandyetveryshapelyandattractive，pushedforwardtowardsher。Andtheyfascinatedher。Andsheknew，shewatchedherownfascination。

Othermenhadcometothetable，totalkwithBirkinandHalliday。Geraldsaidinalowvoice，apart，toPussum:

`Wherehaveyoucomebackfrom？"

`Fromthecountry，"repliedPussum，inaverylow，yetfullyresonantvoice。Herfaceclosedhard。ContinuallysheglancedatHalliday，andthenablackflarecameoverhereyes。Theheavy，fairyoungmanignoredhercompletely;hewasreallyafraidofher。ForsomemomentsshewouldbeunawareofGerald。Hehadnotconqueredheryet。

`AndwhathasHallidaytodowithit？"heasked，hisvoicestillmuted。

Shewouldnotanswerforsomeseconds。Thenshesaid，unwillingly:

`Hemademegoandlivewithhim，andnowhewantstothrowmeover。

Andyethewon"tletmegotoanybodyelse。Hewantsmetolivehiddeninthecountry。AndthenhesaysIpersecutehim，thathecan"tgetridofme。"

`Doesn"tknowhisownmind，"saidGerald。

`Hehasn"tanymind，sohecan"tknowit，"shesaid。`Hewaitsforwhatsomebodytellshimtodo。Heneverdoesanythinghewantstodohimself——becausehedoesn"tknowwhathewants。He"saperfectbaby。"

GeraldlookedatHallidayforsomemoments，watchingthesoft，ratherdegeneratefaceoftheyoungman。Itsverysoftnesswasanattraction;

itwasasoft，warm，corruptnature，intowhichonemightplungewithgratification。

`Buthehasnoholdoveryou，hashe？"Geraldasked。

`Youseehemademegoandlivewithhim，whenIdidn"twantto，"shereplied。`Hecameandcriedtome，tears，youneversawsomany，sayinghecouldn"tbearitunlessIwentbacktohim。Andhewouldn"tgoaway，hewouldhavestayedforever。Hemademegoback。Theneverytimehebehavesinthisfashion。AndnowI"mgoingtohaveababy，hewantstogivemeahundredpoundsandsendmeintothecountry，sothathewouldneverseemenorhearofmeagain。ButI"mnotgoingtodoit，after——

"

AqueerlookcameoverGerald"sface。

`Areyougoingtohaveachild？"heaskedincredulous。Itseemed，tolookather，impossible，shewassoyoungandsofarinspiritfromanychild—bearing。

Shelookedfullintohisface，andherdark，inchoateeyeshadnowafurtivelook，andalookofaknowledgeofevil，darkandindomitable。

Aflameransecretlytohisheart。

`Yes，"shesaid。`Isn"titbeastly？"

`Don"tyouwantit？"heasked。

`Idon"t，"sherepliedemphatically。

`But——"hesaid，`howlonghaveyouknown？"

`Tenweeks，"shesaid。

Allthetimeshekeptherdark，inchoateeyesfulluponhim。Heremainedsilent，thinking。Then，switchingoffandbecomingcold，heasked，inavoicefullofconsideratekindness:

`Isthereanythingwecaneathere？Isthereanythingyouwouldlike？"

`Yes，"shesaid，`Ishouldadoresomeoysters。"

`Allright，"hesaid。`We"llhaveoysters。"Andhebeckonedtothewaiter。

Hallidaytooknonotice，untilthelittleplatewassetbeforeher。

Thensuddenlyhecried:

`Pussum，youcan"teatoysterswhenyou"redrinkingbrandy。"

`Whathasitgotodowithyou？"sheasked。

`Nothing，nothing，"hecried。`Butyoucan"teatoysterswhenyou"redrinkingbrandy。"

`I"mnotdrinkingbrandy，"shereplied，andshesprinkledthelastdropsofherliqueuroverhisface。Hegaveanoddsqueal。Shesatlookingathim，asifindifferent。

`Pussum，whydoyoudothat？"hecriedinpanic。HegaveGeraldtheimpressionthathewasterrifiedofher，andthathelovedhisterror。

Heseemedtorelishhisownhorrorandhatredofher，turnitoverandextracteveryflavourfromit，inrealpanic。Geraldthoughthimastrangefool，andyetpiquant。

`ButPussum，"saidanotherman，inaverysmall，quickEtonvoice，`youpromisednottohurthim。"

`Ihaven"thurthim，"sheanswered。

`Whatwillyoudrink？"theyoungmanasked。Hewasdark，andsmooth—skinned，andfullofastealthyvigour。

`Idon"tlikeporter，Maxim，"shereplied。