第6章

`Youmustaskforchampagne，"camethewhispering，gentlemanlyvoiceoftheother。

Geraldsuddenlyrealisedthatthiswasahinttohim。

`Shallwehavechampagne？"heasked，laughing。

`Yesplease，dwy，"shelispedchildishly。

Geraldwatchedhereatingtheoysters。Shewasdelicateandfinickinginhereating，herfingerswerefineandseemedverysensitiveinthetips，sosheputherfoodapartwithfine，smallmotions，sheatecarefully，delicately。Itpleasedhimverymuchtoseeher，anditirritatedBirkin。

Theywerealldrinkingchampagne。Maxim，theprimyoungRussianwiththesmooth，warm—colouredfaceandblack，oiledhairwastheonlyonewhoseemedtobeperfectlycalmandsober。Birkinwaswhiteandabstract，unnatural，Geraldwassmilingwithaconstantbright，amused，coldlightinhiseyes，leaningalittleprotectivelytowardsthePussum，whowasveryhandsome，andsoft，unfoldedlikesomeredlotusindreadfulfloweringnakedness，vaingloriousnow，flushedwithwineandwiththeexcitementofmen。Hallidaylookedfoolish。Oneglassofwinewasenoughtomakehimdrunkandgiggling。

Yettherewasalwaysapleasant，warmnaiveteabouthim，thatmadehimattractive。

`I"mnotafwaidofanythingexceptblack—beetles，"saidthePussum，lookingupsuddenlyandstaringwithherblackeyes，onwhichthereseemedanunseeingfilmofflame，fullyuponGerald。Helaugheddangerously，fromtheblood。Herchildishspeechcaressedhisnerves，andherburning，filmedeyes，turnednowfulluponhim，obliviousofallherantecedents，gavehimasortoflicence。

`I"mnot，"sheprotested。`I"mnotafraidofotherthings。Butblack—beetles——ugh！"sheshudderedconvulsively，asiftheverythoughtweretoomuchtobear。

`Doyoumean，"saidGerald，withthepunctiliousnessofamanwhohasbeendrinking，`thatyouareafraidofthesightofablack—beetle，oryouareafraidofablack—beetlebitingyou，ordoingyousomeharm？"

`Dotheybite？"criedthegirl。

`Howperfectlyloathsome！"exclaimedHalliday。

`Idon"tknow，"repliedGerald，lookingroundthetable。`Doblack—beetlesbite？Butthatisn"tthepoint。Areyouafraidoftheirbiting，orisitametaphysicalantipathy？"

Thegirlwaslookingfulluponhimallthetimewithinchoateeyes。

`Oh，Ithinkthey"rebeastly，they"rehorrid，"shecried。`IfIseeone，itgivesmethecreepsallover。Ifoneweretocrawlonme，I"msureIshoulddie——I"msureIshould。"

`Ihopenot，"whisperedtheyoungRussian。

`I"msureIshould，Maxim，"sheasseverated。

`Thenonewon"tcrawlonyou，"saidGerald，smilingandknowing。Insomestrangewayheunderstoodher。

`It"smetaphysical，asGeraldsays，"Birkinstated。

Therewasalittlepauseofuneasiness。

`Andareyouafraidofnothingelse，Pussum？"askedtheyoungRussian，inhisquick，hushed，elegantmanner。

`Notweally，"shesaid。`Iamafwaidofsomethings，butnotweallythesame。I"mnotafwaidofblood。"

`Notafwaidofblood！"exclaimedayoungmanwithathick，pale，jeeringface，whohadjustcometothetableandwasdrinkingwhisky。

ThePussumturnedonhimasulkylookofdislike，lowandugly。

`Aren"tyoureallyafraidofblud？"theotherpersisted，asneeralloverhisface。

`No，I"mnot，"sheretorted。

`Why，haveyoueverseenblood，exceptinadentist"sspittoon？"jeeredtheyoungman。

`Iwasn"tspeakingtoyou，"sherepliedrathersuperbly。

`Youcananswerme，can"tyou？"hesaid。

Forreply，shesuddenlyjabbedaknifeacrosshisthick，palehand。

Hestartedupwithavulgarcurse。

`Show"swhatyouare，"saidthePussumincontempt。

`Curseyou，"saidtheyoungman，standingbythetableandlookingdownatherwithacridmalevolence。

`Stopthat，"saidGerald，inquick，instinctivecommand。

Theyoungmanstoodlookingdownatherwithsardoniccontempt，acowed，self—consciouslookonhisthick，paleface。Thebloodbegantoflowfromhishand。

`Oh，howhorrible，takeitaway！"squealedHalliday，turninggreenandavertinghisface。

`D"youfeelill？"askedthesardonicyoungman，insomeconcern。`Doyoufeelill，Julius？Garn，it"snothing，man，don"tgiveherthepleasureoflettingherthinkshe"sperformedafeat——don"tgiveherthesatisfaction，man——it"sjustwhatshewants。"

`Oh！"squealedHalliday。

`He"sgoingtocat，Maxim，"saidthePussumwarningly。ThesuaveyoungRussianroseandtookHallidaybythearm，leadinghimaway。Birkin，whiteanddiminished，lookedonasifheweredispleased。Thewounded，sardonicyoungmanmovedaway，ignoringhisbleedinghandinthemostconspicuousfashion。

`He"sanawfulcoward，really，"saidthePussumtoGerald。`He"sgotsuchaninfluenceoverJulius。"

`Whoishe？"askedGerald。

`He"saJew，really。Ican"tbearhim。"

`Well，he"squiteunimportant。Butwhat"swrongwithHalliday？"

`Julius"sthemostawfulcowardyou"veeverseen，"shecried。`HealwaysfaintsifIliftaknife——he"stewwifiedofme。"

`H"m！"saidGerald。

`They"reallafwaidofme，"shesaid。`OnlytheJewthinkshe"sgoingtoshowhiscourage。Buthe"sthebiggestcowardofthemall，really，becausehe"safwaidwhatpeoplewillthinkabouthim——andJuliusdoesn"tcareaboutthat。"

`They"vealotofvalourbetweenthem，"saidGeraldgood—humouredly。

ThePussumlookedathimwithaslow，slowsmile。Shewasveryhandsome，flushed，andconfidentindreadfulknowledge。TwolittlepointsoflightglintedonGerald"seyes。

`WhydotheycallyouPussum，becauseyou"relikeacat？"heaskedher。

`Iexpectso，"shesaid。

Thesmilegrewmoreintenseonhisface。

`Youare，rather;orayoung，femalepanther。"

`OhGod，Gerald！"saidBirkin，insomedisgust。

TheybothlookeduneasilyatBirkin。

`You"resilenttonight，Wupert，"shesaidtohim，withaslightinsolence，beingsafewiththeotherman。

Hallidaywascomingback，lookingforlornandsick。

`Pussum，"hesaid，`Iwishyouwouldn"tdothesethings——Oh！"Hesankinhischairwithagroan。

`You"dbettergohome，"shesaidtohim。

`Iwillgohome，"hesaid。`Butwon"tyouallcomealong。Won"tyoucomeroundtotheflat？"hesaidtoGerald。`Ishouldbesogladifyouwould。Do——that"llbesplendid。Isay？"Helookedroundforawaiter。

`Getmeataxi。"Thenhegroanedagain。`OhIdofeel——perfectlyghastly！

Pussum，youseewhatyoudotome。"

`Thenwhyareyousuchanidiot？"shesaidwithsullencalm。

`ButI"mnotanidiot！Oh，howawful！Docome，everybody，itwillbesosplendid。Pussum，youarecoming。What？Ohbutyoumustcome，yes，youmust。What？Oh，mydeargirl，don"tmakeafussnow，Ifeelperfectly——Oh，it"ssoghastly——Ho！——er！Oh！"

`Youknowyoucan"tdrink，"shesaidtohim，coldly。

`Itellyouitisn"tdrink——it"syourdisgustingbehaviour，Pussum，it"snothingelse。Oh，howawful！Libidnikov，doletusgo。"

`He"sonlydrunkoneglass——onlyoneglass，"cametherapid，hushedvoiceoftheyoungRussian。

Theyallmovedofftothedoor。ThegirlkeptneartoGerald，andseemedtobeatoneinhermotionwithhim。Hewasawareofthis，andfilledwithdemon—satisfactionthathismotionheldgoodfortwo。Heheldherinthehollowofhiswill，andshewassoft，secret，invisibleinherstirringthere。

Theycrowdedfiveofthemintothetaxi—cab。Hallidaylurchedinfirst，anddroppedintohisseatagainsttheotherwindow。ThenthePussumtookherplace，andGeraldsatnexttoher。TheyheardtheyoungRussiangivingorderstothedriver，thentheywereallseatedinthedark，crowdedclosetogether，Hallidaygroaningandleaningoutofthewindow。Theyfelttheswift，muffledmotionofthecar。

ThePussumsatneartoGerald，andsheseemedtobecomesoft，subtlytoinfuseherselfintohisbones，asifshewerepassingintohiminablack，electricflow。Herbeingsuffusedintohisveinslikeamagneticdarkness，andconcentratedatthebaseofhisspinelikeafearfulsourceofpower。Meanwhilehervoicesoundedoutreedyandnonchalant，asshetalkedindifferentlywithBirkinandwithMaxim。BetweenherandGeraldwasthissilenceandthisblack，electriccomprehensioninthedarkness。

Thenshefoundhishand，andgraspeditinherownfirm，smallclasp。Itwassoutterlydark，andyetsuchanakedstatement，thatrapidvibrationsranthroughhisbloodandoverhisbrain，hewasnolongerresponsible。

Stillhervoicerangonlikeabell，tingedwithatoneofmockery。Andassheswungherhead，herfinemaneofhairjustswepthisface，andallhisnerveswereonfire，aswithasubtlefrictionofelectricity。Butthegreatcentreofhisforceheldsteady，amagnificentpridetohim，atthebaseofhisspine。

Theyarrivedatalargeblockofbuildings，wentupinalift，andpresentlyadoorwasbeingopenedforthembyaHindu。Geraldlookedinsurprise，wonderingifhewereagentleman，oneoftheHindusdownfromOxford，perhaps。

Butno，hewastheman—servant。

`Maketea，Hasan，"saidHalliday。

`Thereisaroomforme？"saidBirkin。

Tobothofwhichquestionsthemangrinned，andmurmured。

HemadeGeralduncertain，because，beingtallandslenderandreticent，helookedlikeagentleman。

`Whoisyourservant？"heaskedofHalliday。`Helooksaswell。"

`Ohyes——that"sbecausehe"sdressedinanotherman"sclothes。He"sanythingbutaswell，really。Wefoundhimintheroad，starving。SoI

tookhimhere，andanothermangavehimclothes。He"sanythingbutwhatheseemstobe——hisonlyadvantageisthathecan"tspeakEnglishandcan"tunderstandit，sohe"sperfectlysafe。"

`He"sverydirty，"saidtheyoungRussianswiftlyandsilently。

Directly，themanappearedinthedoorway。

`Whatisit？"saidHalliday。

TheHindugrinned，andmurmuredshyly:

`Wanttospeaktomaster。"

Geraldwatchedcuriously。Thefellowinthedoorwaywasgoodlookingandclean—limbed，hisbearingwascalm，helookedelegant，aristocratic。

Yethewashalfasavage，grinningfoolishly。Hallidaywentoutintothecorridortospeakwithhim。

`What？"theyheardhisvoice。`What？Whatdoyousay？Tellmeagain。

What？Wantmoney？Wantmoremoney？Butwhatdoyouwantmoneyfor？"

TherewastheconfusedsoundoftheHindu"stalking，thenHallidayappearedintheroom，smilingalsofoolishly，andsaying:

`Hesayshewantsmoneytobuyunderclothing。Cananybodylendmeashilling？Ohthanks，ashillingwilldotobuyalltheunderclotheshewants。"HetookthemoneyfromGeraldandwentoutintothepassageagain，wheretheyheardhimsaying，`Youcan"twantmoremoney，youhadthreeandsixyesterday。Youmustn"taskforanymore。Bringtheteainquickly。"

Geraldlookedroundtheroom。ItwasanordinaryLondonsitting—roominaflat，evidentlytakenfurnished，rathercommonandugly。Buttherewereseveralnegrostatues，wood—carvingsfromWestAfrica，strangeanddisturbing，thecarvednegroeslookedalmostlikethefoetusofahumanbeing。Onewasawomansittingnakedinastrangeposture，andlookingtortured，herabdomenstuckout。TheyoungRussianexplainedthatshewassittinginchild—birth，clutchingtheendsofthebandthathungfromherneck，oneineachhand，sothatshecouldbeardown，andhelplabour。Thestrange，transfixed，rudimentaryfaceofthewomanagainremindedGeraldofafoetus，itwasalsoratherwonderful，conveyingthesuggestionoftheextremeofphysicalsensation，beyondthelimitsofmentalconsciousness。

`Aren"ttheyratherobscene？"heasked，disapproving。

`Idon"tknow，"murmuredtheotherrapidly。`Ihaveneverdefinedtheobscene。Ithinktheyareverygood。"

Geraldturnedaway。Therewereoneortwonewpicturesintheroom，intheFuturistmanner;therewasalargepiano。Andthese，withsomeordinaryLondonlodging—housefurnitureofthebettersort，completedthewhole。

ThePussumhadtakenoffherhatandcoat，andwasseatedonthesofa。

Shewasevidentlyquiteathomeinthehouse，butuncertain，suspended。

Shedidnotquiteknowherposition。HerallianceforthetimebeingwaswithGerald，andshedidnotknowhowfarthiswasadmittedbyanyofthemen。Shewasconsideringhowsheshouldcarryoffthesituation。Shewasdeterminedtohaveherexperience。Now，atthiseleventhhour，shewasnottobebaulked。Herfacewasflushedaswithbattle，hereyewasbroodingbutinevitable。

ThemancameinwithteaandabottleofKummel。Hesetthetrayonalittletablebeforethecouch。

`Pussum，"saidHalliday，`pouroutthetea。"

Shedidnotmove。

`Won"tyoudoit？"Hallidayrepeated，inastateofnervousapprehension。

`I"venotcomebackhereasitwasbefore，"shesaid。`Ionlycamebecausetheotherswantedmeto，notforyoursake。"

`MydearPussum，youknowyouareyourownmistress。Idon"twantyoutodoanythingbutusetheflatforyourownconvenience——youknowit，I"vetoldyousomanytimes。"

Shedidnotreply，butsilently，reservedlyreachedforthetea—pot。

Theyallsatroundanddranktea。Geraldcouldfeeltheelectricconnectionbetweenhimandhersostrongly，asshesattherequietandwithheld，thatanothersetofconditionsaltogetherhadcometopass。Hersilenceandherimmutabilityperplexedhim。Howwashegoingtocometoher？

Andyethefeltitquiteinevitable。Hetrustedcompletelytothecurrentthatheldthem。Hisperplexitywasonlysuperficial，newconditionsreigned，theoldweresurpassed;hereonedidasonewaspossessedtodo，nomatterwhatitwas。

Birkinrose。Itwasnearlyoneo"clock。

`I"mgoingtobed，"hesaid。`Gerald，I"llringyouupinthemorningatyourplaceoryouringmeuphere。"

`Right，"saidGerald，andBirkinwentout。

Whenhewaswellgone，Hallidaysaidinastimulatedvoice，toGerald:

`Isay，won"tyoustayhere——ohdo！"

`Youcan"tputeverybodyup，"saidGerald。

`OhbutIcan，perfectly——therearethreemorebedsbesidesmine——

dostay，won"tyou。Everythingisquiteready——thereisalwayssomebodyhere——Ialwaysputpeopleup——Ilovehavingthehousecrowded。"

`Butthereareonlytworooms，"saidthePussum，inacold，hostilevoice，`nowRupert"shere。"

`Iknowthereareonlytworooms，"saidHalliday，inhisodd，highwayofspeaking。`Butwhatdoesthatmatter？"

Hewassmilingratherfoolishly，andhespokeeagerly，withaninsinuatingdetermination。

`JuliusandIwillshareoneroom，"saidtheRussianinhisdiscreet，precisevoice。HallidayandhewerefriendssinceEton。

`It"sverysimple，"saidGerald，risingandpressingbackhisarms，stretchinghimself。Thenhewentagaintolookatoneofthepictures。

Everyoneofhislimbswasturgidwithelectricforce，andhisbackwastenselikeatiger"s，withslumberingfire。Hewasveryproud。

ThePussumrose。ShegaveablacklookatHalliday，blackanddeadly，whichbroughttheratherfoolishlypleasedsmiletothatyoungman"sface。

Thenshewentoutoftheroom，withacoldgood—nighttothemallgenerally。

Therewasabriefinterval，theyheardadoorclose，thenMaximsaid，inhisrefinedvoice:

`That"sallright。"

HelookedsignificantlyatGerald，andsaidagain，withasilentnod:

`That"sallright——you"reallright。"

Geraldlookedatthesmooth，ruddy，comelyface，andatthestrange，significanteyes，anditseemedasifthevoiceoftheyoungRussian，sosmallandperfect，soundedinthebloodratherthanintheair。

`I"mallrightthen，"saidGerald。

`Yes！Yes！You"reallright，"saidtheRussian。

Hallidaycontinuedtosmile，andtosaynothing。

SuddenlythePussumappearedagaininthedoor，hersmall，childishfacelookingsullenandvindictive。

`Iknowyouwanttocatchmeout，"camehercold，ratherresonantvoice。

`ButIdon"tcare，Idon"tcarehowmuchyoucatchmeout。"

Sheturnedandwasgoneagain。Shehadbeenwearingaloosedressing—gownofpurplesilk，tiedroundherwaist。Shelookedsosmallandchildishandvulnerable，almostpitiful。AndyettheblacklooksofhereyesmadeGeraldfeeldrownedinsomepotentdarknessthatalmostfrightenedhim。

Themenlitanothercigaretteandtalkedcasually。

WomenInLove:Chapter7CHAPTERVIIFetishINTHEMORNINGGeraldwokelate。Hehadsleptheavily。

Pussumwasstillasleep，sleepingchildishlyandpathetically。Therewassomethingsmallandcurledupanddefencelessabouther，thatrousedanunsatisfiedflameofpassionintheyoungman"sblood，adevouringavidpity。Helookedatheragain。Butitwouldbetoocrueltowakeher。Hesubduedhimself，andwentaway。

Hearingvoicescomingfromthesitting—room，HallidaytalkingtoLibidnikov，hewenttothedoorandglancedin。Hehadonasilkwrapofabeautifulbluishcolour，withanamethysthem。

Tohissurprisehesawthetwoyoungmenbythefire，starknaked。Hallidaylookedup，ratherpleased。

`Good—morning，"hesaid。`Oh——didyouwanttowels？"Andstarknakedhewentoutintothehall，stridingastrange，whitefigurebetweentheunlivingfurniture。Hecamebackwiththetowels，andtookhisformerposition，crouchingseatedbeforethefireonthefender。

`Don"tyoulovetofeelthefireonyourskin？"hesaid。

`Itisratherpleasant，"saidGerald。

`Howperfectlysplendiditmustbetobeinaclimatewhereonecoulddowithoutclothingaltogether，"saidHalliday。

`Yes，"saidGerald，`ifthereweren"tsomanythingsthatstingandbite。"

`That"sadisadvantage，"murmuredMaxim。

Geraldlookedathim，andwithaslightrevulsionsawthehumananimal，goldenskinnedandbare，somehowhumiliating。Hallidaywasdifferent。Hehadaratherheavy，slack，brokenbeauty，whiteandfirm。HewaslikeaChristinaPieta。Theanimalwasnotthereatall，onlytheheavy，brokenbeauty。AndGeraldrealisedhowHalliday"seyeswerebeautifultoo，soblueandwarmandconfused，brokenalsointheirexpression。Thefireglowfellonhisheavy，ratherbowedshoulders，hesatslacklycrouchedonthefender，hisfacewasuplifted，weak，perhapsslightlydisintegrate，andyetwithamovingbeautyofitsown。

`Ofcourse，"saidMaxim，`you"vebeeninhotcountrieswherethepeoplegoaboutnaked。"

`Ohreally！"exclaimedHalliday。`Where？"

`SouthAmerica——Amazon，"saidGerald。

`Ohbuthowperfectlysplendid！It"soneofthethingsIwantmosttodo——tolivefromdaytodaywithouteverputtingonanysortofclothingwhatever。IfIcoulddothat，IshouldfeelIhadlived。"

`Butwhy？"saidGerald。`Ican"tseethatitmakessomuchdifference。"

`Oh，Ithinkitwouldbeperfectlysplendid。I"msurelifewouldbeentirelyanotherthing——entirelydifferent，andperfectlywonderful。"

`Butwhy？"askedGerald。`Whyshouldit？"

`Oh——onewouldfeelthingsinsteadofmerelylookingatthem。

Ishouldfeeltheairmoveagainstme，andfeelthethingsItouched，insteadofhavingonlytolookatthem。I"msurelifeisallwrongbecauseithasbecomemuchtoovisual——wecanneitherhearnorfeelnorunderstand，wecanonlysee。I"msurethatisentirelywrong。"

`Yes，thatistrue，thatistrue，"saidtheRussian。

Geraldglancedathim，andsawhim，hissuave，goldencolouredbodywiththeblackhairgrowingfineandfreely，liketendrils，andhislimbslikesmoothplant—stems。Hewassohealthyandwell—made，whydidhemakeoneashamed，whydidonefeelrepelled？WhyshouldGeraldevendislikeit，whydiditseemtohimtodetractfromhisowndignity。Wasthatallahumanbeingamountedto？Souninspired！thoughtGerald。

Birkinsuddenlyappearedinthedoorway，inwhitepyjamasandwethair，andatoweloverhisarm。Hewasaloofandwhite，andsomehowevanescent。

`There"sthebath—roomnow，ifyouwantit，"hesaidgenerally，andwasgoingawayagain，whenGeraldcalled:

`Isay，Rupert！"

`What？"Thesinglewhitefigureappearedagain，apresenceintheroom。

`Whatdoyouthinkofthatfigurethere？Iwanttoknow，"Geraldasked。

Birkin，whiteandstrangelyghostly，wentovertothecarvedfigureofthenegrowomaninlabour。Hernude，protuberantbodycrouchedinastrange，clutchingposture，herhandsgrippingtheendsoftheband，aboveherbreast。

`Itisart，"saidBirkin。

`Verybeautiful，it"sverybeautiful，"saidtheRussian。

Theyalldrewneartolook。Geraldlookedatthegroupofmen，theRussiangoldenandlikeawater—plant，Hallidaytallandheavily，brokenlybeautiful，Birkinverywhiteandindefinite，nottobeassigned，ashelookedcloselyatthecarvenwoman。Strangelyelated，Geraldalsoliftedhiseyestothefaceofthewoodenfigure。Andhisheartcontracted。

Hesawvividlywithhisspiritthegrey，forward—stretchingfaceofthenegrowoman，Africanandtense，abstractedinutterphysicalstress。

Itwasaterribleface，void，peaked，abstractedalmostintomeaninglessnessbytheweightofsensationbeneath。HesawthePussuminit。Asinadream，heknewher。

`Whyisitart？"Geraldasked，shocked，resentful。

`Itconveysacompletetruth，"saidBirkin。`Itcontainsthewholetruthofthatstate，whateveryoufeelaboutit。"

`Butyoucan"tcallithighart，"saidGerald。

`High！Therearecenturiesandhundredsofcenturiesofdevelopmentinastraightline，behindthatcarving;itisanawfulpitchofculture，ofadefinitesort。"

`Whatculture？"Geraldasked，inopposition。HehatedthesheerAfricanthing。

`Purecultureinsensation，cultureinthephysicalconsciousness，reallyultimatephysicalconsciousness，mindless，utterlysensual。Itissosensualastobefinal，supreme。"

ButGeraldresentedit。Hewantedtokeepcertainillusions，certainideaslikeclothing。

`Youlikethewrongthings，Rupert，"hesaid，`thingsagainstyourself。"

`Oh，Iknow，thisisn"teverything，"Birkinreplied，movingaway。

WhenGeraldwentbacktohisroomfromthebath，healsocarriedhisclothes。Hewassoconventionalathome，thatwhenhewasreallyaway，andontheloose，asnow，heenjoyednothingsomuchasfulloutrageousness。

Sohestrodewithhisbluesilkwrapoverhisarmandfeltdefiant。

ThePussumlayinherbed，motionless，herround，darkeyeslikeblack，unhappypools。Hecouldonlyseetheblack，bottomlesspoolsofhereyes。

Perhapsshesuffered。Thesensationofherinchoatesufferingrousedtheoldsharpflameinhim，amordantpity，apassionalmostofcruelty。

`Youareawakenow，"hesaidtoher。

`Whattimeisit？"camehermutedvoice。

Sheseemedtoflowback，almostlikeliquid，fromhisapproach，tosinkhelplesslyawayfromhim。Herinchoatelookofaviolatedslave，whosefulfilmentliesinherfurtherandfurtherviolation，madehisnervesquiverwithacutelydesirablesensation。Afterall，hiswastheonlywill，shewasthepassivesubstanceofhiswill。Hetingledwiththesubtle，bitingsensation。Andthenheknew，hemustgoawayfromher，theremustbepureseparationbetweenthem。

Itwasaquietandordinarybreakfast，thefourmenalllookingverycleanandbathed。GeraldandtheRussianwerebothcorrectandcommeilfautinappearanceandmanner，Birkinwasgauntandsick，andlookedafailureinhisattempttobeaproperlydressedman，likeGeraldandMaxim。Hallidayworetweedsandagreenflannelshirt，andaragofatie，whichwasjustrightforhim。TheHindubroughtinagreatdealofsofttoast，andlookedexactlythesameashehadlookedthenightbefore，staticallythesame。

AttheendofthebreakfastthePussumappeared，inapurplesilkwrapwithashimmeringsash。Shehadrecoveredherselfsomewhat，butwasmuteandlifelessstill。Itwasatormenttoherwhenanybodyspoketoher。

Herfacewaslikeasmall，finemask，sinistertoo，maskedwithunwillingsuffering。Itwasalmostmidday。Geraldroseandwentawaytohisbusiness，gladtogetout。Buthehadnotfinished。Hewascomingbackagainatevening，theywerealldiningtogether，andhehadbookedseatsfortheparty，exceptingBirkin，atamusic—hall。

Atnighttheycamebacktotheflatverylateagain，againflushedwithdrink。Againtheman—servant——whoinvariablydisappearedbetweenthehoursoftenandtwelveatnight——cameinsilentlyandinscrutablywithtea，bendinginaslow，strange，leopard—likefashiontoputthetraysoftlyonthetable。Hisfacewasimmutable，aristocratic—looking，tingedslightlywithgreyundertheskin;hewasyoungandgood—looking。ButBirkinfeltaslightsickness，lookingathim，andfeelingtheslightgreynessasanashoracorruption，inthearistocraticinscrutabilityofexpressionanauseating，bestialstupidity。

Againtheytalkedcordiallyandrousedlytogether。Butalreadyacertainfriabilitywascomingovertheparty，Birkinwasmadwithirritation，HallidaywasturninginaninsanehatredagainstGerald，thePussumwasbecominghardandcold，likeaflintknife，andHallidaywaslayinghimselfouttoher。Andherintention，ultimately，wastocaptureHalliday，tohavecompletepoweroverhim。

Inthemorningtheyallstalkedandloungedaboutagain。ButGeraldcouldfeelastrangehostilitytohimself，intheair。Itrousedhisobstinacy，andhestoodupagainstit。Hehungonfortwomoredays。TheresultwasanastyandinsanescenewithHallidayonthefourthevening。HallidayturnedwithabsurdanimosityuponGerald，inthecafe。Therewasarow。