第8章
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。