第12章
Birkinwasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom，whenshewasshowninbythelandlady。Hetoowasmovedoutsidehimself。Shesawhimagitatedandshaken，afrail，unsubstantialbodysilentlikethenodeofsomeviolentforce，thatcameoutfromhimandshookheralmostintoaswoon。
`Youarealone？"hesaid。
`Yes—Gudruncouldnotcome。"
Heinstantlyguessedwhy。
Andtheywerebothseatedinsilence，intheterribletensionoftheroom。Shewasawarethatitwasapleasantroom，fulloflightandveryrestfulinitsform——awarealsoofafuchsiatree，withdanglingscarletandpurpleflowers。
`Hownicethefuchsiasare！"shesaid，tobreakthesilence。
`Aren"tthey！DidyouthinkIhadforgottenwhatIsaid？"
AswoonwentoverUrsula"smind。
`Idon"twantyoutorememberit——ifyoudon"twantto，"shestruggledtosay，throughthedarkmistthatcoveredher。
Therewassilenceforsomemoments。
`No，"hesaid。`Itisn"tthat。Only——ifwearegoingtoknoweachother，wemustpledgeourselvesforever。Ifwearegoingtomakearelationship，evenoffriendship，theremustbesomethingfinalandinfallibleaboutit。"
Therewasaclangofmistrustandalmostangerinhisvoice。Shedidnotanswer。Herheartwastoomuchcontracted。Shecouldnothavespoken。
Seeingshewasnotgoingtoreply，hecontinued，almostbitterly，givinghimselfaway:
`Ican"tsayitisloveIhavetooffer——anditisn"tloveIwant。
Itissomethingmuchmoreimpersonalandharder——andrarer。"
Therewasasilence，outofwhichshesaid:
`Youmeanyoudon"tloveme？"
Shesufferedfuriously，sayingthat。
`Yes，ifyouliketoputitlikethat。Thoughperhapsthatisn"ttrue。
Idon"tknow。Atanyrate，Idon"tfeeltheemotionofloveforyou——
no，andIdon"twantto。Becauseitgivesoutinthelastissues。"
`Lovegivesoutinthelastissues？"sheasked，feelingnumbtothelips。
`Yes，itdoes。Attheverylast，oneisalone，beyondtheinfluenceoflove。Thereisarealimpersonalme，thatisbeyondlove，beyondanyemotionalrelationship。Soitiswithyou。Butwewanttodeludeourselvesthatloveistheroot。Itisn"t。Itisonlythebranches。Therootisbeyondlove，anakedkindofisolation，anisolatedme，thatdoesnotmeetandmingle，andnevercan。"
Shewatchedhimwithwide，troubledeyes。Hisfacewasincandescentinitsabstractearnestness。
`Andyoumeanyoucan"tlove？"sheasked，intrepidation。
`Yes，ifyoulike。Ihaveloved。Butthereisabeyond，wherethereisnotlove。"
Shecouldnotsubmittothis。Shefeltitswooningoverher。Butshecouldnotsubmit。
`Buthowdoyouknow——ifyouhaveneverreallyloved？"sheasked。
`Itistrue，whatIsay;thereisabeyond，inyou，inme，whichisfurtherthanlove，beyondthescope，asstarsarebeyondthescopeofvision，someofthem。"
`Thenthereisnolove，"criedUrsula。
`Ultimately，no，thereissomethingelse。But，ultimately，thereisnolove。"
Ursulawasgivenovertothisstatementforsomemoments。Thenshehalfrosefromherchair，saying，inafinal，repellentvoice:
`Thenletmegohome——whatamIdoinghere？"
`Thereisthedoor，"hesaid。`Youareafreeagent。"
Hewassuspendedfinelyandperfectlyinthisextremity。Shehungmotionlessforsomeseconds，thenshesatdownagain。
`Ifthereisnolove，whatisthere？"shecried，almostjeering。
`Something，"hesaid，lookingather，battlingwithhissoul，withallhismight。
`What？"
Hewassilentforalongtime，unabletobeincommunicationwithherwhileshewasinthisstateofopposition。
`Thereis，"hesaid，inavoiceofpureabstraction;`afinalmewhichisstarkandimpersonalandbeyondresponsibility。Sothereisafinalyou。AnditisthereIwouldwanttomeetyou——notintheemotional，lovingplane——buttherebeyond，wherethereisnospeechandnotermsofagreement。Therewearetwostark，unknownbeings，twoutterlystrangecreatures，Iwouldwanttoapproachyou，andyoume。Andtherecouldbenoobligation，becausethereisnostandardforactionthere，becausenounderstandinghasbeenreapedfromthatplane。Itisquiteinhuman，——
sotherecanbenocallingtobook，inanyformwhatsoever——becauseoneisoutsidethepaleofallthatisaccepted，andnothingknownapplies。
Onecanonlyfollowtheimpulse，takingthatwhichliesinfront，andresponsiblefornothing，askedfornothing，givingnothing，onlyeachtakingaccordingtotheprimaldesire。"
Ursulalistenedtothisspeech，herminddumbandalmostsenseless，whathesaidwassounexpectedandsountoward。
`Itisjustpurelyselfish，"shesaid。
`Ifitispure，yes。Butitisn"tselfishatall。BecauseIdon"tknowwhatIwantofyou。Idelivermyselfovertotheunknown，incomingtoyou，Iamwithoutreservesordefences，strippedentirely，intotheunknown。Onlythereneedsthepledgebetweenus，thatwewillbothcastoffeverything，castoffourselveseven，andceasetobe，sothatthatwhichisperfectlyourselvescantakeplaceinus。"
Sheponderedalongherownlineofthought。
`Butitisbecauseyouloveme，thatyouwantme？"shepersisted。
`Noitisn"t。ItisbecauseIbelieveinyou——ifIdobelieveinyou。"
`Aren"tyousure？"shelaughed，suddenlyhurt。
Hewaslookingathersteadfastly，scarcelyheedingwhatshesaid。
`Yes，Imustbelieveinyou，orelseIshouldn"tbeheresayingthis，"
hereplied。`ButthatisalltheproofIhave。Idon"tfeelanyverystrongbeliefatthisparticularmoment。"
Shedislikedhimforthissuddenrelapseintowearinessandfaithlessness。
`Butdon"tyouthinkmegood—looking？"shepersisted，inamockingvoice。
Helookedather，toseeifhefeltthatshewasgood—looking。
`Idon"tfeelthatyou"regood—looking，"hesaid。
`Notevenattractive？"shemocked，bitingly。
Heknittedhisbrowsinsuddenexasperation。
`Don"tyouseethatit"snotaquestionofvisualappreciationintheleast，"hecried。`Idon"twanttoseeyou。I"veseenplentyofwomen，I"msickandwearyofseeingthem。IwantawomanIdon"tsee。"
`I"msorryIcan"tobligeyoubybeinginvisible，"shelaughed。
`Yes，"hesaid，`youareinvisibletome，ifyoudon"tforcemetobevisuallyawareofyou。ButIdon"twanttoseeyouorhearyou。"
`Whatdidyouaskmetoteafor，then？"shemocked。
Buthewouldtakenonoticeofher。Hewastalkingtohimself。
`Iwanttofindyou，whereyoudon"tknowyourownexistence，theyouthatyourcommonselfdeniesutterly。ButIdon"twantyourgoodlooks，andIdon"twantyourwomanlyfeelings，andIdon"twantyourthoughtsnoropinionsnoryourideas——theyareallbagatellestome。"
`Youareveryconceited，Monsieur，"shemocked。`Howdoyouknowwhatmywomanlyfeelingsare，ormythoughtsormyideas？Youdon"tevenknowwhatIthinkofyounow。"
`NordoIcareintheslightest。"
`Ithinkyouareverysilly。Ithinkyouwanttotellmeyouloveme，andyougoallthiswayroundtodoit。"
`Allright，"hesaid，lookingupwithsuddenexasperation。`Nowgoawaythen，andleavemealone。Idon"twantanymoreofyourmeretriciouspersiflage。"
`Isitreallypersiflage？"shemocked，herfacereallyrelaxingintolaughter。Sheinterpretedit，thathehadmadeadeepconfessionoflovetoher。Buthewassoabsurdinhiswords，also。
Theyweresilentformanyminutes，shewaspleasedandelatedlikeachild。Hisconcentrationbroke，hebegantolookathersimplyandnaturally。
`WhatIwantisastrangeconjunctionwithyou——"hesaidquietly;
`notmeetingandmingling——youarequiteright——butanequilibrium，apurebalanceoftwosinglebeings——asthestarsbalanceeachother。"
Shelookedathim。Hewasveryearnest，andearnestnesswasalwaysratherridiculous，commonplace，toher。Itmadeherfeelunfreeanduncomfortable。
Yetshelikedhimsomuch。Butwhydraginthestars。
`Isn"tthisrathersudden？"shemocked。
Hebegantolaugh。
`Besttoreadthetermsofthecontract，beforewesign，"hesaid。
Ayounggreycatthathadbeensleepingonthesofajumpeddownandstretched，risingonitslonglegs，andarchingitsslimback。Thenitsatconsideringforamoment，erectandkingly。Andthen，likeadart，ithadshotoutoftheroom，throughtheopenwindow—doors，andintothegarden。
`What"sheafter？"saidBirkin，rising。
Theyoungcattrottedlordlydownthepath，wavinghistail。Hewasanordinarytabbywithwhitepaws，aslenderyounggentleman。Acrouching，fluffy，brownish—greycatwasstealingupthesideofthefence。TheMinowalkedstatelilyuptoher，withmanlynonchalance。Shecrouchedbeforehimandpressedherselfonthegroundinhumility，afluffysoftoutcast，lookingupathimwithwildeyesthatweregreenandlovelyasgreatjewels。
Helookedcasuallydownonher。Soshecreptafewinchesfurther，proceedingonherwaytothebackdoor，crouchinginawonderful，soft，self—obliteratingmanner，andmovinglikeashadow。
He，goingstatelilyonhisslimlegs，walkedafterher，thensuddenly，forpureexcess，hegaveheralightcuffwithhispawonthesideofherface。Sheranoffafewsteps，likeablownleafalongtheground，thencrouchedunobtrusively，insubmissive，wildpatience。TheMinopretendedtotakenonoticeofher。Heblinkedhiseyessuperblyatthelandscape。
Inaminuteshedrewherselftogetherandmovedsoftly，afleecybrown—greyshadow，afewpacesforward。Shebegantoquickenherpace，inamomentshewouldbegonelikeadream，whentheyounggreylordsprangbeforeher，andgaveheralighthandsomecuff。Shesubsidedatonce，submissively。
`Sheisawildcat，"saidBirkin。`Shehascomeinfromthewoods。"
Theeyesofthestraycatflaredroundforamoment，likegreatgreenfiresstaringatBirkin。Thenshehadrushedinasoftswiftrush，halfwaydownthegarden。Thereshepausedtolookround。TheMinoturnedhisfaceinpuresuperioritytohismaster，andslowlyclosedhiseyes，standinginstatuesqueyoungperfection。Thewildcat"sround，green，wonderingeyeswerestaringallthewhilelikeuncannyfires。Thenagain，likeashadow，sheslidtowardsthekitchen。
Inalovelyspringingleap，likeawind，theMinowasuponher，andhadboxedhertwice，verydefinitely，withawhite，delicatefist。Shesankandslidback，unquestioning。Hewalkedafterher，andcuffedheronceortwice，leisurely，withsuddenlittleblowsofhismagicwhitepaws。
`Nowwhydoeshedothat？"criedUrsulainindignation。
`Theyareonintimateterms，"saidBirkin。
`Andisthatwhyhehitsher？"
`Yes，"laughedBirkin，`Ithinkhewantstomakeitquiteobvioustoher。"
`Isn"tithorridofhim！"shecried;andgoingoutintothegardenshecalledtotheMino:
`Stopit，don"tbully。Stophittingher。"
Thestraycatvanishedlikeaswift，invisibleshadow。TheMinoglancedatUrsula，thenlookedfromherdisdainfullytohismaster。
`Areyouabully，Mino？"Birkinasked。
Theyoungslimcatlookedathim，andslowlynarroweditseyes。Thenitglancedawayatthelandscape，lookingintothedistanceasifcompletelyobliviousofthetwohumanbeings。
`Mino，"saidUrsula，`Idon"tlikeyou。Youareabullylikeallmales。"
`No，"saidBirkin，`heisjustified。Heisnotabully。Heisonlyinsistingtothepoorstraythatsheshallacknowledgehimasasortoffate，herownfate:becauseyoucanseesheisfluffyandpromiscuousasthewind。
Iamwithhimentirely。Hewantssuperfinestability。"
`Yes，Iknow！"criedUrsula。`Hewantshisownway——Iknowwhatyourfinewordsworkdownto——bossiness，Icallit，bossiness。"
TheyoungcatagainglancedatBirkinindisdainofthenoisywoman。
`Iquiteagreewithyou，Miciotto，"saidBirkintothecat。`Keepyourmaledignity，andyourhigherunderstanding。"
AgaintheMinonarrowedhiseyesasifhewerelookingatthesun。Then，suddenlyaffectingtohavenoconnectionatallwiththetwopeople，hewenttrottingoff，withassumedspontaneityandgaiety，histailerect，hiswhitefeetblithe。
`Nowhewillfindthebellesauvageoncemore，andentertainherwithhissuperiorwisdom，"laughedBirkin。
Ursulalookedatthemanwhostoodinthegardenwithhishairblowingandhiseyessmilingironically，andshecried:
`Ohitmakesmesocross，thisassumptionofmalesuperiority！Anditissuchalie！Onewouldn"tmindiftherewereanyjustificationforit。"
`Thewildcat，"saidBirkin，`doesn"tmind。Sheperceivesthatitisjustified。"
`Doesshe！"criedUrsula。`AndtellittotheHorseMarines。"
`Tothemalso。"
`ItisjustlikeGeraldCrichwithhishorse——alustforbullying——arealWillezurMacht——sobase，sopetty。"
`IagreethattheWillezurMachtisabaseandpettything。ButwiththeMino，itisthedesiretobringthisfemalecatintoapurestableequilibrium，atranscendentandabidingrapportwiththesinglemale。Whereaswithouthim，asyousee，sheisamerestray，afluffysporadicbitofchaos。Itisavolontedepouvoir，ifyoulike，awilltoability，takingpouvoirasaverb。"
`Ah——！Sophistries！It"stheoldAdam。"
`Ohyes。AdamkeptEveintheindestructibleparadise，whenhekepthersinglewithhimself，likeastarinitsorbit。"
`Yes——yes——"criedUrsula，pointingherfingerathim。`Thereyouare——astarinitsorbit！Asatellite——asatelliteofMars——that"swhatsheistobe！There——there——you"vegivenyourselfaway！Youwantasatellite，Marsandhissatellite！You"vesaidit——you"vesaidit——
you"vedishedyourself！"
Hestoodsmilinginfrustrationandamusementandirritationandadmirationandlove。Shewassoquick，andsolambent，likediscerniblefire，andsovindictive，andsorichinherdangerousflamysensitiveness。
`I"venotsaiditatall，"hereplied，`ifyouwillgivemeachancetospeak。"
`No，no！"shecried。`Iwon"tletyouspeak。You"vesaidit，asatellite，you"renotgoingtowriggleoutofit。You"vesaidit。"
`You"llneverbelievenowthatIhaven"tsaidit，"heanswered。
`Ineitherimpliednorindicatednormentionedasatellite，norintendedasatellite，never。"
`Youprevaricator！"shecried，inrealindignation。
`Teaisready，sir，"saidthelandladyfromthedoorway。
Theybothlookedather，verymuchasthecatshadlookedatthem，alittlewhilebefore。
`Thankyou，MrsDaykin。"
Aninterruptedsilencefelloverthetwoofthem，amomentofbreach。
`Comeandhavetea，"hesaid。
`Yes，Ishouldloveit，"shereplied，gatheringherselftogether。
Theysatfacingeachotheracrosstheteatable。
`Ididnotsay，norimply，asatellite。Imeanttwosingleequalstarsbalancedinconjunction——"
`Yougaveyourselfaway，yougaveawayyourlittlegamecompletely，"
shecried，beginningatoncetoeat。Hesawthatshewouldtakenofurtherheedofhisexpostulation，sohebegantopourthetea。
`Whatgoodthingstoeat！"shecried。
`Takeyourownsugar，"hesaid。
Hehandedherhercup。Hehadeverythingsonice，suchprettycupsandplates，paintedwithmauve—lustreandgreen，alsoshapelybowlsandglassplates，andoldspoons，onawovenclothofpalegreyandblackandpurple。
Itwasveryrichandfine。ButUrsulacouldseeHermione"sinfluence。
`Yourthingsaresolovely！"shesaid，almostangrily。
`Ilikethem。Itgivesmerealpleasuretousethingsthatareattractiveinthemselves——pleasantthings。AndMrsDaykinisgood。Shethinkseverythingiswonderful，formysake。"
`Really，"saidUrsula，`landladiesarebetterthanwives，nowadays。
Theycertainlycareagreatdealmore。Itismuchmorebeautifulandcompleteherenow，thanifyouweremarried。"
`Butthinkoftheemptinesswithin，"helaughed。
`No，"shesaid。`Iamjealousthatmenhavesuchperfectlandladiesandsuchbeautifullodgings。Thereisnothingleftthemtodesire。"
`Inthehouse—keepingway，we"llhopenot。Itisdisgusting，peoplemarryingforahome。"
`Still，"saidUrsula，`amanhasverylittleneedforawomannow，hashe？"
`Inouterthings，maybe——excepttosharehisbedandbearhischildren。
Butessentially，thereisjustthesameneedasthereeverwas。Onlynobodytakesthetroubletobeessential。"
`Howessential？"shesaid。
`Idothink，"hesaid，`thattheworldisonlyheldtogetherbythemysticconjunction，theultimateunisonbetweenpeople——abond。Andtheimmediatebondisbetweenmanandwoman。"
`Butit"ssucholdhat，"saidUrsula。`Whyshouldlovebeabond？No，I"mnothavingany。"
`Ifyouarewalkingwestward，"hesaid，`youforfeitthenorthernandeastwardandsoutherndirection。Ifyouadmitaunison，youforfeitallthepossibilitiesofchaos。"
`Butloveisfreedom，"shedeclared。
`Don"tcanttome，"hereplied。`Loveisadirectionwhichexcludesallotherdirections。It"safreedomtogether，ifyoulike。"
`No，"shesaid，`loveincludeseverything。"
`Sentimentalcant，"hereplied。`Youwantthestateofchaos，that"sall。Itisultimatenihilism，thisfreedom—in—lovebusiness，thisfreedomwhichisloveandlovewhichisfreedom。Asamatteroffact，ifyouenterintoapureunison，itisirrevocable，anditisneverpuretillitisirrevocable。Andwhenitisirrevocable，itisoneway，likethepathofastar。"
`Ha！"shecriedbitterly。`Itistheolddeadmorality。"
`No，"hesaid，`itisthelawofcreation。Oneiscommitted。Onemustcommitoneselftoaconjunctionwiththeother——forever。Butitisnotselfless——itisamaintainingoftheselfinmysticbalanceandintegrity——likeastarbalancedwithanotherstar。"
`Idon"ttrustyouwhenyoudraginthestars，"shesaid。`Ifyouwerequitetrue，itwouldn"tbenecessarytobesofar—fetched。"
`Don"ttrustmethen，"hesaid，angry。`ItisenoughthatItrustmyself。"
`Andthatiswhereyoumakeanothermistake，"shereplied。`Youdon"ttrustyourself。Youdon"tfullybelieveyourselfwhatyouaresaying。Youdon"treallywantthisconjunction，otherwiseyouwouldn"ttalksomuchaboutit，you"dgetit。"
Hewassuspendedforamoment，arrested。
`How？"hesaid。
`Byjustloving，"sheretortedindefiance。
Hewasstillamoment，inanger。Thenhesaid:
`Itellyou，Idon"tbelieveinlovelikethat。Itellyou，youwantlovetoadministertoyouregoism，tosubserveyou。Loveisaprocessofsubserviencewithyou——andwitheverybody。Ihateit。"
`No，"shecried，pressingbackherheadlikeacobra，hereyesflashing。
`Itisaprocessofpride——Iwanttobeproud——"
`Proudandsubservient，proudandsubservient，Iknowyou，"heretorteddryly。`Proudandsubservient，thensubservienttotheproud——Iknowyouandyourlove。Itisatick—tack，tick—tack，adanceofopposites。"
`Areyousure？"shemockedwickedly，`whatmyloveis？"
`Yes，Iam，"heretorted。
`Sococksure！"shesaid。`Howcananybodyeverberight，whoissococksure？
Itshowsyouarewrong。"
Hewassilentinchagrin。
Theyhadtalkedandstruggledtilltheywerebothweariedout。
`Tellmeaboutyourselfandyourpeople，"hesaid。
AndshetoldhimabouttheBrangwens，andabouthermother，andaboutSkrebensky，herfirstlove，andaboutherlaterexperiences。Hesatverystill，watchingherasshetalked。Andheseemedtolistenwithreverence。
Herfacewasbeautifulandfullofbaffledlightasshetoldhimallthethingsthathadhurtherorperplexedhersodeeply。Heseemedtowarmandcomforthissoulatthebeautifullightofhernature。
`Ifshereallycouldpledgeherself，"hethoughttohimself，withpassionateinsistencebuthardlyanyhope。Yetacuriouslittleirresponsiblelaughterappearedinhisheart。
`Wehaveallsufferedsomuch，"hemocked，ironically。
Shelookedupathim，andaflashofwildgaietywentoverherface，astrangeflashofyellowlightcomingfromhereyes。
`Haven"twe！"shecried，inahigh，recklesscry。`Itisalmostabsurd，isn"tit？"
`Quiteabsurd，"hesaid。`Sufferingboresme，anymore。"
`Soitdoesme。"
Hewasalmostafraidofthemockingrecklessnessofhersplendidface。
Herewasonewhowouldgotothewholelengthsofheavenorhell，whichevershehadtogo。Andhemistrustedher，hewasafraidofawomancapableofsuchabandon，suchdangerousthoroughnessofdestructivity。Yethechuckledwithinhimselfalso。
Shecameovertohimandputherhandonhisshoulder，lookingdownathimwithstrangegolden—lightedeyes，verytender，butwithacuriousdevilishlooklurkingunderneath。
`Sayyouloveme，say"mylove"tome，"shepleadedHelookedbackintohereyes，andsaw。Hisfaceflickeredwithsardoniccomprehension。
`Iloveyourightenough，"hesaid，grimly。`ButIwantittobesomethingelse。"
`Butwhy？Butwhy？"sheinsisted，bendingherwonderfulluminousfacetohim。`Whyisn"titenough？"
`Becausewecangoonebetter，"hesaid，puttinghisarmsroundher。
`No，wecan"t，"shesaid，inastrong，voluptuousvoiceofyielding。
`Wecanonlyloveeachother。Say"mylove"tome，sayit，sayit。"
Sheputherarmsroundhisneck。Heenfoldedher，andkissedhersubtly，murmuringinasubtlevoiceoflove，andirony，andsubmission:
`Yes，——mylove，yes，——mylove。Letlovebeenoughthen。Iloveyouthen——Iloveyou。I"mboredbytherest。"
`Yes，"shemurmured，nestlingverysweetandclosetohim。
WomenInLove:Chapter14CHAPTERXIVWater—partyEVERYYEARMrCrichgaveamoreorlesspublicwater—partyonthelake。Therewasalittlepleasure—launchonWilleyWaterandseveralrowingboats，andguestscouldtaketeaeitherinthemarqueethatwassetupinthegroundsofthehouse，ortheycouldpicnicintheshadeofthegreatwalnuttreeattheboat—housebythelake。ThisyearthestaffoftheGrammar—Schoolwasinvited，alongwiththechiefofficialsofthefirm。GeraldandtheyoungerCrichesdidnotcareforthisparty，butithadbecomecustomarynow，anditpleasedthefather，asbeingtheonlyoccasionwhenhecouldgathersomepeopleofthedistricttogetherinfestivitywithhim。Forhelovedtogivepleasurestohisdependentsandtothosepoorerthanhimself。Buthischildrenpreferredthecompanyoftheirownequalsinwealth。Theyhatedtheirinferiors"humilityorgratitudeorawkwardness。
Neverthelesstheywerewillingtoattendatthisfestival，astheyhaddonealmostsincetheywerechildren，themoreso，astheyallfeltalittleguiltynow，andunwillingtothwarttheirfatheranymore，sincehewassoillinhealth。Therefore，quitecheerfullyLaurapreparedtotakehermother"splaceashostess，andGeraldassumedresponsibilityfortheamusementsonthewater。
BirkinhadwrittentoUrsulasayingheexpectedtoseeherattheparty，andGudrun，althoughshescornedthepatronageoftheCriches，wouldneverthelessaccompanyhermotherandfatheriftheweatherwerefine。
Thedaycameblueandfullofsunshine，withlittlewaftsofwind。Thesistersbothworedressesofwhitecrepe，andhatsofsoftgrass。ButGudrunhadasashofbrilliantblackandpinkandyellowcolourwoundbroadlyroundherwaist，andshehadpinksilkstockings，andblackandpinkandyellowdecorationonthebrimofherhat，weighingitdownalittle。Shecarriedalsoayellowsilkcoatoverherarm，sothatshelookedremarkable，likeapaintingfromtheSalon。Herappearancewasasoretrialtoherfather，whosaidangrily:
`Don"tyouthinkyoumightaswellgetyourselfupforaChristmascracker，an"ha"donewithit？"
ButGudrunlookedhandsomeandbrilliant，andsheworeherclothesinpuredefiance。Whenpeoplestaredather，andgiggledafterher，shemadeapointofsayingloudly，toUrsula:
`Regarde，regardecesgens—la！Nesont—ilspasdeshibouxincroyables？"
AndwiththewordsofFrenchinhermouth，shewouldlookoverhershoulderatthegigglingparty。