第10章
Geraldwasherescapefromtheheavysloughofthepale，underworld，automaticcolliers。Hestartedoutofthemud。Hewasmaster。Shesawhisback，themovementofhiswhiteloins。Butnotthat——itwasthewhitenessheseemedtoencloseashebentforwards，rowing。Heseemedtostooptosomething。Hisglistening，whitishhairseemedliketheelectricityofthesky。
`There"sGudrun，"cameHermione"svoicefloatingdistinctoverthewater。
`Wewillgoandspeaktoher。Doyoumind？"
Geraldlookedroundandsawthegirlstandingbythewater"sedge，lookingathim。Hepulledtheboattowardsher，magnetically，withoutthinkingofher。Inhisworld，hisconsciousworld，shewasstillnobody。HeknewthatHermionehadacuriouspleasureintreadingdownallthesocialdifferences，atleastapparently，andheleftittoher。
`Howdoyoudo，Gudrun？"sangHermione，usingtheChristiannameinthefashionablemanner。`Whatareyoudoing？"
`Howdoyoudo，Hermione？Iwassketching。"
`Wereyou？"Theboatdriftednearer，tillthekeelgroundonthebank。
`Maywesee？Ishouldliketosomuch。"
ItwasnouseresistingHermione"sdeliberateintention。
`Well——"saidGudrunreluctantly，forshealwayshatedtohaveherunfinishedworkexposed——`there"snothingintheleastinteresting。"
`Isn"tthere？Butletmesee，willyou？"
Gudrunreachedoutthesketch—book，Geraldstretchedfromtheboattotakeit。Andashedidso，herememberedGudrun"slastwordstohim，andherfacelifteduptohimashesatontheswervinghorse。Anintensificationofpridewentoverhisnerves，becausehefelt，insomewayshewascompelledbyhim。Theexchangeoffeelingbetweenthemwasstrongandapartfromtheirconsciousness。
Andasifinaspell，Gudrunwasawareofhisbody，stretchingandsurginglikethemarsh—fire，stretchingtowardsher，hishandcomingstraightforwardlikeastem。Hervoluptuous，acuteapprehensionofhimmadethebloodfaintinherveins，hermindwentdimandunconscious。Andherockedonthewaterperfectly，liketherockingofphosphorescence。Helookedroundattheboat。Itwasdriftingoffalittle。Heliftedtheoartobringitback。
Andtheexquisitepleasureofslowlyarrestingtheboat，intheheavy—softwater，wascompleteasaswoon。
`That"swhatyouhavedone，"saidHermione，lookingsearchinglyattheplantsontheshore，andcomparingwithGudrun"sdrawing。GudrunlookedroundinthedirectionofHermione"slong，pointingfinger。`Thatisit，isn"tit？"repeatedHermione，needingconfirmation。
`Yes，"saidGudrunautomatically，takingnorealheed。
`Letmelook，"saidGerald，reachingforwardforthebook。ButHermioneignoredhim，hemustnotpresume，beforeshehadfinished。Buthe，hiswillasunthwartedandasunflinchingashers，stretchedforwardtillhetouchedthebook。Alittleshock，astormofrevulsionagainsthim，shookHermioneunconsciously。Shereleasedthebookwhenhehadnotproperlygotit，andittumbledagainstthesideoftheboatandbouncedintothewater。
`There！"sangHermione，withastrangeringofmalevolentvictory。`I"msosorry，soawfullysorry。Can"tyougetit，Gerald？"
ThislastwassaidinanoteofanxioussneeringthatmadeGerald"sveinstinglewithfinehateforher。Heleanedfaroutoftheboat，reachingdownintothewater。Hecouldfeelhispositionwasridiculous，hisloinsexposedbehindhim。
`Itisofnoimportance，"camethestrong，clangingvoiceofGudrun。
Sheseemedtotouchhim。Buthereachedfurther，theboatswayedviolently。
Hermione，however，remainedunperturbed。Hegraspedthebook，underthewater，andbroughtitup，dripping。
`I"msodreadfullysorry——dreadfullysorry，"repeatedHermione。`I"mafraiditwasallmyfault。"
`It"sofnoimportance——really，Iassureyou——itdoesn"tmatterintheleast，"saidGudrunloudly，withemphasis，herfaceflushedscarlet。
Andsheheldoutherhandimpatientlyforthewetbook，tohavedonewiththescene。Geraldgaveittoher。Hewasnotquitehimself。
`I"msodreadfullysorry，"repeatedHermione，tillbothGeraldandGudrunwereexasperated。`Istherenothingthatcanbedone？"
`Inwhatway？"askedGudrun，withcoolirony。
`Can"twesavethedrawings？"
Therewasamoment"spause，whereinGudrunmadeevidentallherrefutationofHermione"spersistence。
`Iassureyou，"saidGudrun，withcuttingdistinctness，`thedrawingsarequiteasgoodasevertheywere，formypurpose。Iwantthemonlyforreference。"
`Butcan"tIgiveyouanewbook？Iwishyou"dletmedothat。Ifeelsotrulysorry。Ifeelitwasallmyfault。"
`AsfarasIsaw，"saidGudrun，`itwasn"tyourfaultatall。Iftherewasanyfault，itwasMrCrich"s。Butthewholethingisentirelytrivial，anditreallyisridiculoustotakeanynoticeofit。"
GeraldwatchedGudrunclosely，whilstsherepulsedHermione。Therewasabodyofcoldpowerinher。Hewatchedherwithaninsightthatamountedtoclairvoyance。Hesawheradangerous，hostilespirit，thatcouldstandundiminishedandunabated。Itwassofinished，andofsuchperfectgesture，moreover。
`I"mawfullygladifitdoesn"tmatter，"hesaid;`ifthere"snorealharmdone。"
Shelookedbackathim，withherfineblueeyes，andsignalledfullintohisspirit，asshesaid，hervoiceringingwithintimacyalmostcaressivenowitwasaddressedtohim:
`Ofcourse，itdoesn"tmatterintheleast。"
Thebondwasestablishedbetweenthem，inthatlook，inhertone。Inhertone，shemadetheunderstandingclear——theywereofthesamekind，heandshe，asortofdiabolicfreemasonrysubsistedbetweenthem。Henceforward，sheknew，shehadherpoweroverhim。Wherevertheymet，theywouldbesecretlyassociated。Andhewouldbehelplessintheassociationwithher。
Hersoulexulted。
`Good—bye！I"msogladyouforgiveme。Gooood—bye！"
Hermionesangherfarewell，andwavedherhand。Geraldautomaticallytooktheoarandpushedoff。Buthewaslookingallthetime，withaglimmering，subtly—smilingadmirationinhiseyes，atGudrun，whostoodontheshoalshakingthewetbookinherhand。Sheturnedawayandignoredtherecedingboat。ButGeraldlookedbackasherowed，beholdingher，forgettingwhathewasdoing。
`Aren"twegoingtoomuchtotheleft？"sangHermione，asshesatignoredunderhercolouredparasol。
Geraldlookedroundwithoutreplying，theoarsbalancedandglancinginthesun。
`Ithinkit"sallright，"hesaidgood—humouredly，beginningtorowagainwithoutthinkingofwhathewasdoing。AndHermionedislikedhimextremelyforhisgood—humouredobliviousness，shewasnullified，shecouldnotregainascendancy。
WomenInLove:Chapter11CHAPTERXIAnIslandMEANWHILEUrsulahadwanderedonfromWilleyWateralongthecourseofthebrightlittlestream。Theafternoonwasfulloflarks"singing。Onthebrighthill—sideswasasubduedsmoulderofgorse。
Afewforget—me—notsfloweredbythewater。Therewasarousednessandaglancingeverywhere。
Shestrayedabsorbedlyon，overthebrooks。Shewantedtogotothemill—pondabove。Thebigmill—housewasdeserted，saveforalabourerandhiswifewholivedinthekitchen。Soshepassedthroughtheemptyfarm—yardandthroughthewildernessofagarden，andmountedthebankbythesluice。
Whenshegottothetop，toseetheold，velvetysurfaceofthepondbeforeher，shenoticedamanonthebank，tinkeringwithapunt。ItwasBirkinsawingandhammeringaway。
Shestoodattheheadofthesluice，lookingathim。Hewasunawareofanybody"spresence。Helookedverybusy，likeawildanimal，activeandintent。Shefeltsheoughttogoaway，hewouldnotwanther。Heseemedtobesomuchoccupied。Butshedidnotwanttogoaway。Thereforeshemovedalongthebanktillhewouldlookup。
Whichhesoondid。Themomenthesawher，hedroppedhistoolsandcameforward，saying:
`Howdoyoudo？I"mmakingthepuntwater—tight。Tellmeifyouthinkitisright。"
Shewentalongwithhim。
`Youareyourfather"sdaughter，soyoucantellmeifitwilldo，"
hesaid。
Shebenttolookatthepatchedpunt。
`IamsureIammyfather"sdaughter，"shesaid，fearfulofhavingtojudge。`ButIdon"tknowanythingaboutcarpentry。Itlooksright，don"tyouthink？"
`Yes，Ithink。Ihopeitwon"tletmetothebottom，that"sall。Thoughevenso，itisn"tagreatmatter，Ishouldcomeupagain。Helpmetogetitintothewater，willyou？"
Withcombinedeffortstheyturnedovertheheavypuntandsetitafloat。
`Now，"hesaid，`I"lltryitandyoucanwatchwhathappens。Thenifitcarries，I"lltakeyouovertotheisland。"
`Do，"shecried，watchinganxiously。
Thepondwaslarge，andhadthatperfectstillnessandthedarklustreofverydeepwater。Thereweretwosmallislandsovergrownwithbushesandafewtrees，towardsthemiddle。Birkinpushedhimselfoff，andveeredclumsilyinthepond。Luckilythepuntdriftedsothathecouldcatchholdofawillowbough，andpullittotheisland。
`Ratherovergrown，"hesaid，lookingintotheinterior，`butverynice。
I"llcomeandfetchyou。Theboatleaksalittle。"
Inamomenthewaswithheragain，andshesteppedintothewetpunt。
`It"llfloatusallright，"hesaid，andmanoeuvredagaintotheisland。
Theylandedunderawillowtree。Sheshrankfromthelittlejungleofrankplantsbeforeher，evil—smellingfigwortandhemlock。Butheexploredintoit。
`Ishallmowthisdown，"hesaid，`andthenitwillberomantic——likePauletVirginie。"
`Yes，onecouldhavelovelyWatteaupicnicshere，"criedUrsulawithenthusiasm。
Hisfacedarkened。
`Idon"twantWatteaupicnicshere，"hesaid。
`OnlyyourVirginie，"shelaughed。
`Virginieenough，"hesmiledwryly。`No，Idon"twanthereither。"
Ursulalookedathimclosely。ShehadnotseenhimsinceBreadalby。
Hewasverythinandhollow，withaghastlylookinhisface。
`Youhavebeenill;haven"tyou？"sheasked，ratherrepulsed。
`Yes，"herepliedcoldly。
Theyhadsatdownunderthewillowtree，andwerelookingatthepond，fromtheirretreatontheisland。
`Hasitmadeyoufrightened？"sheasked。
`Whatof？"heasked，turninghiseyestolookather。Somethinginhim，inhumanandunmitigated，disturbedher，andshookheroutofherordinaryself。
`Itisfrighteningtobeveryill，isn"tit？"shesaid。
`Itisn"tpleasant，"hesaid。`Whetheroneisreallyafraidofdeath，ornot，Ihaveneverdecided。Inonemood，notabit，inanother，verymuch。"
`Butdoesn"titmakeyoufeelashamed？Ithinkitmakesonesoashamed，tobeill——illnessissoterriblyhumiliating，don"tyouthink？"
Heconsideredforsomeminutes。
`May—be，"hesaid。`Thoughoneknowsallthetimeone"slifeisn"treallyright，atthesource。That"sthehumiliation。Idon"tseethattheillnesscountssomuch，afterthat。Oneisillbecauseonedoesn"tliveproperly——can"t。It"sthefailuretolivethatmakesoneill，andhumiliatesone。"
`Butdoyoufailtolive？"sheasked，almostjeering。
`Whyyes——Idon"tmakemuchofasuccessofmydays。Oneseemsalwaystobebumpingone"snoseagainsttheblankwallahead。"
Ursulalaughed。Shewasfrightened，andwhenshewasfrightenedshealwayslaughedandpretendedtobejaunty。
`Yourpoornose！"shesaid，lookingatthatfeatureofhisface。
`Nowonderit"sugly，"hereplied。
Shewassilentforsomeminutes，strugglingwithherownself—deception。
Itwasaninstinctinher，todeceiveherself。
`ButI"mhappy——Ithinklifeisawfullyjolly，"shesaid。
`Good，"heanswered，withacertaincoldindifference。
Shereachedforabitofpaperwhichhadwrappedasmallpieceofchocolateshehadfoundinherpocket，andbeganmakingaboat。Hewatchedherwithoutheedingher。Therewassomethingstrangelypatheticandtenderinhermoving，unconsciousfinger—tips，thatwereagitatedandhurt，really。
`Idoenjoythings——don"tyou？"sheasked。
`Ohyes！ButitinfuriatesmethatIcan"tgetright，atthereallygrowingpartofme。Ifeelalltangledandmessedup，andIcan"tgetstraightanyhow。Idon"tknowwhatreallytodo。Onemustdosomethingsomewhere。"
`Whyshouldyoualwaysbedoing？"sheretorted。`Itissoplebeian。
Ithinkitismuchbettertobereallypatrician，andtodonothingbutjustbeoneself，likeawalkingflower。"
`Iquiteagree，"hesaid，`ifonehasburstintoblossom。ButIcan"tgetmyflowertoblossomanyhow。Eitheritisblightedinthebud，orhasgotthesmother—fly，oritisn"tnourished。Curseit，itisn"tevenabud。
Itisacontravenedknot。"
Againshelaughed。Hewassoveryfretfulandexasperated。Butshewasanxiousandpuzzled。Howwasonetogetout，anyhow。Theremustbeawayoutsomewhere。
Therewasasilence，whereinshewantedtocry。Shereachedforanotherbitofchocolatepaper，andbegantofoldanotherboat。
`Andwhyisit，"sheaskedatlength，`thatthereisnoflowering，nodignityofhumanlifenow？"
`Thewholeideaisdead。Humanityitselfisdry—rotten，really。Therearemyriadsofhumanbeingshangingonthebush——andtheylookveryniceandrosy，yourhealthyyoungmenandwomen。ButtheyareapplesofSodom，asamatteroffact，DeadSeaFruit，gall—apples。Itisn"ttruethattheyhaveanysignificance——theirinsidesarefullofbitter，corruptash。"
`Buttherearegoodpeople，"protestedUrsula。
`Goodenoughforthelifeoftoday。Butmankindisadeadtree，coveredwithfinebrilliantgallsofpeople。"
Ursulacouldnothelpstiffeningherselfagainstthis，itwastoopicturesqueandfinal。Butneithercouldshehelpmakinghimgoon。
`Andifitisso，whyisit？"sheasked，hostile。Theywererousingeachothertoafinepassionofopposition。
`Why，whyarepeopleallballsofbitterdust？Becausetheywon"tfalloffthetreewhenthey"reripe。Theyhangontotheiroldpositionswhenthepositionisover—past，tilltheybecomeinfestedwithlittlewormsanddry—rot。"
Therewasalongpause。Hisvoicehadbecomehotandverysarcastic。
Ursulawastroubledandbewildered，theywerebothobliviousofeverythingbuttheirownimmersion。
`Butevenifeverybodyiswrong——whereareyouright？"shecried，`whereareyouanybetter？"
`I？——I"mnotright，"hecriedback。`AtleastmyonlyrightnessliesinthefactthatIknowit。IdetestwhatIam，outwardly。Iloathemyselfasahumanbeing。Humanityisahugeaggregatelie，andahugelieislessthanasmalltruth。Humanityisless，farlessthantheindividual，becausetheindividualmaysometimesbecapableoftruth，andhumanityisatreeoflies。Andtheysaythatloveisthegreatestthing;theypersistinsayingthis，thefoulliars，andjustlookatwhattheydo！Lookatallthemillionsofpeoplewhorepeateveryminutethatloveisthegreatest，andcharityisthegreatest——andseewhattheyaredoingallthetime。Bytheirworksyeshallknowthem，fordirtyliarsandcowards，whodaren"tstandbytheirownactions，muchlessbytheirownwords。"
`But，"saidUrsulasadly，`thatdoesn"talterthefactthatloveisthegreatest，doesit？Whattheydodoesn"talterthetruthofwhattheysay，doesit？"
`Completely，becauseifwhattheysayweretrue，thentheycouldn"thelpfulfillingit。Buttheymaintainalie，andsotheyrunamokatlast。
It"salietosaythatloveisthegreatest。Youmightaswellsaythathateisthegreatest，sincetheoppositeofeverythingbalances。Whatpeoplewantishate——hateandnothingbuthate。Andinthenameofrighteousnessandlove，theygetit。Theydistilthemselveswithnitroglycerine，allthelotofthem，outofverylove。It"stheliethatkills。Ifwewanthate，letushaveit——death，murder，torture，violentdestruction——
letushaveit:butnotinthenameoflove。ButIabhorhumanity，Iwishitwassweptaway。Itcouldgo，andtherewouldbenoabsoluteloss，ifeveryhumanbeingperishedtomorrow。Therealitywouldbeuntouched。
Nay，itwouldbebetter。Therealtreeoflifewouldthenberidofthemostghastly，heavycropofDeadSeaFruit，theintolerableburdenofmyriadsimulacraofpeople，aninfiniteweightofmortallies。"
`Soyou"dlikeeverybodyintheworlddestroyed？"saidUrsula。
`Ishouldindeed。"
`Andtheworldemptyofpeople？"
`Yestruly。Youyourself，don"tyoufinditabeautifulcleanthought，aworldemptyofpeople，justuninterruptedgrass，andaharesittingup？"
ThepleasantsincerityofhisvoicemadeUrsulapausetoconsiderherownproposition。Andreallyitwasattractive:aclean，lovely，humanlessworld。Itwasthereallydesirable。Herhearthesitated，andexulted。Butstill，shewasdissatisfiedwithhim。
`But，"sheobjected，`you"dbedeadyourself，sowhatgoodwoulditdoyou？"
`Iwoulddielikeashot，toknowthattheearthwouldreallybecleanedofallthepeople。Itisthemostbeautifulandfreeingthought。Thentherewouldneverbeanotherfoulhumanitycreated，forauniversaldefilement。"
`No，"saidUrsula，`therewouldbenothing。"
`What！Nothing？Justbecausehumanitywaswipedout？Youflatteryourself。
There"dbeeverything。"
`Buthow，iftherewerenopeople？"
`Doyouthinkthatcreationdependsonman！Itmerelydoesn"t。
Therearethetreesandthegrassandbirds。Imuchprefertothinkofthelarkrisingupinthemorninguponahuman—lessworld。Manisamistake，hemustgo。Thereisthegrass，andharesandadders，andtheunseenhosts，actualangelsthatgoaboutfreelywhenadirtyhumanitydoesn"tinterruptthem——andgoodpure—tissueddemons:verynice。"
ItpleasedUrsula，whathesaid，pleasedherverymuch，asaphantasy。
Ofcourseitwasonlyapleasantfancy。Sheherselfknewtoowelltheactualityofhumanity，itshideousactuality。Sheknewitcouldnotdisappearsocleanlyandconveniently。Ithadalongwaytogoyet，alongandhideousway。Hersubtle，feminine，demoniacalsoulknewitwell。
`Ifonlymanwassweptoffthefaceoftheearth，creationwouldgoonsomarvellously，withanewstart，non—human。Manisoneofthemistakesofcreation——liketheichthyosauri。Ifonlyheweregoneagain，thinkwhatlovelythingswouldcomeoutoftheliberateddays;——thingsstraightoutofthefire。"
`Butmanwillneverbegone，"shesaid，withinsidious，diabolicalknowledgeofthehorrorsofpersistence。`Theworldwillgowithhim。"
`Ahno，"heanswered，`notso。Ibelieveintheproudangelsandthedemonsthatareourfore—runners。Theywilldestroyus，becausewearenotproudenough。Theichthyosauriwerenotproud:theycrawledandflounderedaswedo。Andbesides，lookatelder—flowersandbluebells——theyareasignthatpurecreationtakesplace——eventhebutterfly。Buthumanitynevergetsbeyondthecaterpillarstage——itrotsinthechrysalis，itneverwillhavewings。Itisanti—creation，likemonkeysandbaboons。"
Ursulawatchedhimashetalked。Thereseemedacertainimpatientfuryinhim，allthewhile，andatthesametimeagreatamusementineverything，andafinaltolerance。Anditwasthistoleranceshemistrusted，notthefury。Shesawthat，allthewhile，inspiteofhimself，hewouldhavetobetryingtosavetheworld。Andthisknowledge，whilstitcomfortedherheartsomewherewithalittleself—satisfaction，stability，yetfilledherwithacertainsharpcontemptandhateofhim。Shewantedhimtoherself，shehatedtheSalvatorMunditouch。Itwassomethingdiffuseandgeneralisedabouthim，whichshecouldnotstand。Hewouldbehaveinthesameway，saythesamethings，givehimselfascompletelytoanybodywhocamealong，anybodyandeverybodywholikedtoappealtohim。Itwasdespicable，averyinsidiousformofprostitution。
`But，"shesaid，`youbelieveinindividuallove，evenifyoudon"tbelieveinlovinghumanity——？"
`Idon"tbelieveinloveatall——thatis，anymorethanIbelieveinhate，oringrief。Loveisoneoftheemotionslikealltheothers——
andsoitisallrightwhilstyoufeelitButIcan"tseehowitbecomesanabsolute。Itisjustpartofhumanrelationships，nomore。Anditisonlypartofanyhumanrelationship。Andwhyoneshouldberequiredalwaystofeelit，anymorethanonealwaysfeelssorrowordistantjoy，Icannotconceive。Loveisn"tadesideratum——itisanemotionyoufeeloryoudon"tfeel，accordingtocircumstance。"
`Thenwhydoyoucareaboutpeopleatall？"sheasked，`ifyoudon"tbelieveinlove？Whydoyoubotherabouthumanity？"
`WhydoI？BecauseIcan"tgetawayfromit。"
`Becauseyouloveit，"shepersisted。
Itirritatedhim。
`IfIdoloveit，"hesaid，`itismydisease。"
`Butitisadiseaseyoudon"twanttobecuredof，"shesaid，withsomecoldsneering。
Hewassilentnow，feelingshewantedtoinsulthim。
`Andifyoudon"tbelieveinlove，whatdoyoubelievein？"sheaskedmocking。`Simplyintheendoftheworld，andgrass？"
Hewasbeginningtofeelafool。
`Ibelieveintheunseenhosts，"hesaid。
`Andnothingelse？Youbelieveinnothingvisible，exceptgrassandbirds？Yourworldisapoorshow。"
`Perhapsitis，"hesaid，coolandsuperiornowhewasoffended，assumingacertaininsufferablealoofsuperiority，andwithdrawingintohisdistance。
Ursuladislikedhim。Butalsoshefeltshehadlostsomething。Shelookedathimashesatcrouchedonthebank。TherewasacertainpriggishSunday—schoolstiffnessoverhim，priggishanddetestable。Andyet，atthesametime，themouldingofhimwassoquickandattractive，itgavesuchagreatsenseoffreedom:themouldingofhisbrows，hischin，hiswholephysique，somethingsoalive，somewhere，inspiteofthelookofsickness。
Anditwasthisdualityinfeelingwhichhecreatedinher，thatmadeafinehateofhimquickeninherbowels。Therewashiswonderful，desirablelife—rapidity，therarequalityofanutterlydesirableman:andtherewasatthesametimethisridiculous，meaneffacementintoaSalvatorMundiandaSunday—schoolteacher，aprigofthestiffesttype。
Helookedupather。Hesawherfacestrangelyenkindled，asifsuffusedfromwithinbyapowerfulsweetfire。Hissoulwasarrestedinwonder。
Shewasenkindledinherownlivingfire。Arrestedinwonderandinpure，perfectattraction，hemovedtowardsher。Shesatlikeastrangequeen，almostsupernaturalinherglowingsmilingrichness。
`Thepointaboutlove，"hesaid，hisconsciousnessquicklyadjustingitself，`isthatwehatethewordbecausewehavevulgarisedit。Itoughttobeprescribed，tabooedfromutterance，formanyyears，tillwegetanew，betteridea。"
Therewasabeamofunderstandingbetweenthem。
`Butitalwaysmeansthesamething，"shesaid。
`AhGod，no，letitnotmeanthatanymore，"hecried。`Lettheoldmeaningsgo。"
`Butstillitislove，"shepersisted。Astrange，wickedyellowlightshoneathiminhereyes。
Hehesitated，baffled，withdrawing。
`No，"hesaid，`itisn"t。Spokenlikethat，neverintheworld。You"venobusinesstouttertheword。"
`Imustleaveittoyou，totakeitoutoftheArkoftheCovenantattherightmoment，"shemocked。
Againtheylookedateachother。Shesuddenlysprangup，turnedherbacktohim，andwalkedaway。Hetooroseslowlyandwenttothewater"sedge，where，crouching，hebegantoamusehimselfunconsciously。Pickingadaisyhedroppeditonthepond，sothatthestemwasakeel，theflowerfloatedlikealittlewaterlily，staringwithitsopenfaceuptothesky。Itturnedslowlyround，inaslow，slowDervishdance，asitveeredaway。
Hewatchedit，thendroppedanotherdaisyintothewater，andafterthatanother，andsatwatchingthemwithbright，absolvedeyes，crouchingnearonthebank。Ursulaturnedtolook。Astrangefeelingpossessedher，asifsomethingweretakingplace。Butitwasallintangible。Andsomesortofcontrolwasbeingputonher。Shecouldnotknow。Shecouldonlywatchthebrilliantlittlediscsofthedaisiesveeringslowlyintravelonthedark，lustrouswater。Thelittleflotillawasdriftingintothelight，acompanyofwhitespecksinthedistance。
`Doletusgototheshore，tofollowthem，"shesaid，afraidofbeinganylongerimprisonedontheisland。Andtheypushedoffinthepunt。
Shewasgladtobeonthefreelandagain。Shewentalongthebanktowardsthesluice。Thedaisieswerescatteredbroadcastonthepond，tinyradiantthings，likeanexaltation，pointsofexaltationhereandthere。Whydidtheymovehersostronglyandmystically？
`Look，"hesaid，`yourboatofpurplepaperisescortingthem，andtheyareaconvoyofrafts。"
Someofthedaisiescameslowlytowardsher，hesitating，makingashybrightlittlecotilliononthedarkclearwater。Theirgaybrightcandourmovedhersomuchastheycamenear，thatshewasalmostintears。
`Whyaretheysolovely，"shecried。`WhydoIthinkthemsolovely？"
`Theyareniceflowers，"hesaid，heremotionaltonesputtingaconstraintonhim。
`Youknowthatadaisyisacompanyofflorets，aconcourse，becomeindividual。Don"tthebotanistsputithighestinthelineofdevelopment？
Ibelievetheydo。"
`Thecompositae，yes，Ithinkso，"saidUrsula，whowasneververysureofanything。Thingssheknewperfectlywell，atonemoment，seemedtobecomedoubtfulthenext。
`Explainitso，then，"hesaid。`Thedaisyisaperfectlittledemocracy，soit"sthehighestofflowers，henceitscharm。"
`No，"shecried，`no——never。Itisn"tdemocratic。"
`No，"headmitted。`It"sthegoldenmoboftheproletariat，surroundedbyashowywhitefenceoftheidlerich。"
`Howhateful——yourhatefulsocialorders！"shecried。
`Quite！It"sadaisy——we"llleaveitalone。"
`Do。Letitbeadarkhorseforonce，"shesaid:`ifanythingcanbeadarkhorsetoyou，"sheaddedsatirically。
Theystoodaside，forgetful。Asifalittlestunned，theybothweremotionless，barelyconscious。Thelittleconflictintowhichtheyhadfallenhadtorntheirconsciousnessandleftthemliketwoimpersonalforces，thereincontact。
Hebecameawareofthelapse。Hewantedtosaysomething，togetontoanewmoreordinaryfooting。
`Youknow，"hesaid，`thatIamhavingroomshereatthemill？Don"tyouthinkwecanhavesomegoodtimes？"
`Ohareyou？"shesaid，ignoringallhisimplicationofadmittedintimacy。