第14章
`Hue！Hi—eee！"cameasuddenloudshoutfromtheedgeofthegrove。
Thecattlebrokeandfellbackquitespontaneously，wentrunningupthehill，theirfleecewavinglikefiretotheirmotion。Gudrunstoodsuspendedoutonthegrass，Ursularosetoherfeet。
ItwasGeraldandBirkincometofindthem，andGeraldhadcriedouttofrightenoffthecattle。
`Whatdoyouthinkyou"redoing？"henowcalled，inahigh，wonderingvexedtone。
`Whyhaveyoucome？"camebackGudrun"sstridentcryofanger。
`Whatdoyouthinkyouweredoing？"Geraldrepeated，auto—matically。
`Weweredoingeurythmics，"laughedUrsula，inashakenvoice。
Gudrunstoodalooflookingatthemwithlargedarkeyesofresentment，suspendedforafewmoments。Thenshewalkedawayupthehill，afterthecattle，whichhadgatheredinalittle，spell—boundclusterhigherup。
`Whereareyougoing？"Geraldcalledafterher。Andhefollowedherupthehill—side。Thesunhadgonebehindthehill，andshadowswereclingingtotheearth，theskyabovewasfulloftravellinglight。
`Apoorsongforadance，"saidBirkintoUrsula，standingbeforeherwithasardonic，flickeringlaughonhisface。Andinanothersecond，hewassingingsoftlytohimself，anddancingagrotesquestep—danceinfrontofher，hislimbsandbodyshakingloose，hisfaceflickeringpalely，aconstantthing，whilsthisfeetbeatarapidmockingtattoo，andhisbodyseemedtohangalllooseandquakinginbetween，likeashadow。
`Ithinkwe"veallgonemad，"shesaid，laughingratherfrightened。
`Pitywearen"tmadder，"heanswered，ashekeptuptheincessantshakingdance。Thensuddenlyheleaneduptoherandkissedherfingerslightly，puttinghisfacetohersandlookingintohereyeswithapalegrin。Shesteppedback，affronted。
`Offended——？"heaskedironically，suddenlygoingquitestillandreservedagain。`Ithoughtyoulikedthelightfantastic。"
`Notlikethat，"shesaid，confusedandbewildered，almostaffronted。
Yetsomewhereinsidehershewasfascinatedbythesightofhisloose，vibratingbody，perfectlyabandonedtoitsowndroppingandswinging，andbythepallid，sardonic—smilingfaceabove。Yetautomaticallyshestiffenedherselfaway，anddisapproved。Itseemedalmostanobscenity，inamanwhotalkedasarulesoveryseriously。
`Whynotlikethat？"hemocked。Andimmediatelyhedroppedagainintotheincrediblyrapid，slack—wagglingdance，watchinghermalevolently。
Andmovingintherapid，stationarydance，hecamealittlenearer，andreachedforwardwithanincrediblymocking，satiricgleamonhisface，andwouldhavekissedheragain，hadshenotstartedback。
`No，don"t！"shecried，reallyafraid。
`Cordeliaafterall，"hesaidsatirically。Shewasstung，asifthiswereaninsult。Sheknewheintendeditassuch，anditbewilderedher。
`Andyou，"shecriedinretort，`whydoyoualwaystakeyoursoulinyourmouth，sofrightfullyfull？"
`SothatIcanspititoutthemorereadily，"hesaid，pleasedbyhisownretort。
GeraldCrich，hisfacenarrowingtoanintentgleam，followedupthehillwithquickstrides，straightafterGudrun。Thecattlestoodwiththeirnosestogetheronthebrowofaslope，watchingthescenebelow，themeninwhitehoveringaboutthewhiteformsofthewomen，watchingaboveallGudrun，whowasadvancingslowlytowardsthem。Shestoodamoment，glancingbackatGerald，andthenatthecattle。
Theninasuddenmotion，sheliftedherarmsandrushedsheeruponthelong—hornedbullocks，inshudderingirregularruns，pausingforasecondandlookingatthem，thenliftingherhandsandrunningforwardwithaflash，tilltheyceasedpawingtheground，andgaveway，snortingwithterror，liftingtheirheadsfromthegroundandflingingthemselvesaway，gallopingoffintotheevening，becomingtinyinthedistance，andstillnotstopping。
Gudrunremainedstaringafterthem，withamask—likedefiantface。
`Whydoyouwanttodrivethemmad？"askedGerald，comingupwithher。
Shetooknonoticeofhim，onlyavertedherfacefromhim。`It"snotsafe，youknow，"hepersisted。`They"renasty，whentheydoturn。"
`Turnwhere？Turnaway？"shemockedloudly。
`No，"hesaid，`turnagainstyou。"
`Turnagainstme？"shemocked。
Hecouldmakenothingofthis。
`Anyway，theygoredoneofthefarmer"scowstodeath，theotherday，"
hesaid。
`WhatdoIcare？"shesaid。
`Icaredthough，"hereplied，`seeingthatthey"remycattle。"
`Howaretheyyours！Youhaven"tswallowedthem。Givemeoneofthemnow，"shesaid，holdingoutherhand。
`Youknowwheretheyare，"hesaid，pointingoverthehill。`Youcanhaveoneifyou"dlikeitsenttoyoulateron。"
Shelookedathiminscrutably。
`YouthinkI"mafraidofyouandyourcattle，don"tyou？"sheasked。
Hiseyesnarroweddangerously。Therewasafaintdomineeringsmileonhisface。
`WhyshouldIthinkthat？"hesaid。
Shewaswatchinghimallthetimewithherdark，dilated，inchoateeyes。
Sheleanedforwardandswungroundherarm，catchinghimalightblowonthefacewiththebackofherhand。
`That"swhy，"shesaid，mocking。
Andshefeltinhersoulanunconquerabledesirefordeepviolenceagainsthim。Sheshutoffthefearanddismaythatfilledherconsciousmind。Shewantedtodoasshedid，shewasnotgoingtobeafraid。
Herecoiledfromtheslightblowonhisface。Hebecamedeadlypale，andadangerousflamedarkenedhiseyes。Forsomesecondshecouldnotspeak，hislungsweresosuffusedwithblood，hisheartstretchedalmosttoburstingwithagreatgushofungovernableemotion。Itwasasifsomereservoirofblackemotionhadburstwithinhim，andswampedhim。
`Youhavestruckthefirstblow，"hesaidatlast，forcingthewordsfromhislungs，inavoicesosoftandlow，itsoundedlikeadreamwithinher，notspokenintheouterair。
`AndIshallstrikethelast，"sheretortedinvoluntarily，withconfidentassurance。Hewassilent，hedidnotcontradicther。
Shestoodnegligently，staringawayfromhim，intothedistance。Ontheedgeofherconsciousnessthequestionwasaskingitself，automatically:
`Whyareyoubehavinginthisimpossibleandridiculousfashion。"Butshewassullen，shehalfshovedthequestionoutofherself。
Shecouldnotgetitcleanaway，soshefeltself—conscious。
Gerald，verypale，waswatchingherclosely。Hiseyeswerelitupwithintentlights，absorbedandgleaming。Sheturnedsuddenlyonhim。
`It"syouwhomakemebehavelikethis，youknow，"shesaid，almostsuggestive。
`I？How？"hesaid。
Butsheturnedaway，andsetofftowardsthelake。Below，onthewater，lanternswerecomingalight，faintghostsofwarmflamefloatinginthepallorofthefirsttwilight。Theearthwasspreadwithdarkness，likelacquer，overheadwasapalesky，allprimrose，andthelakewaspaleasmilkinonepart。Awayatthelandingstage，tiniestpointsofcolouredrayswerestringingthemselvesinthedusk。Thelaunchwasbeingilluminated。
Allround，shadowwasgatheringfromthetrees。
Gerald，whitelikeapresenceinhissummerclothes，wasfollowingdowntheopengrassyslope。Gudrunwaitedforhimtocomeup。Thenshesoftlyputoutherhandandtouchedhim，sayingsoftly:
`Don"tbeangrywithme。"
Aflameflewoverhim，andhewasunconscious。Yethestammered:
`I"mnotangrywithyou。I"minlovewithyou。"
Hismindwasgone，hegraspedforsufficientmechanicalcontrol，tosavehimself。Shelaughedasilverylittlemockery，yetintolerablycaressive。
`That"sonewayofputtingit，"shesaid。
Theterribleswooningburdenonhismind，theawfulswooning，thelossofallhiscontrol，wastoomuchforhim。Hegraspedherarminhisonehand，asifhishandwereiron。
`It"sallright，then，isit？"hesaid，holdingherarrested。
Shelookedatthefacewiththefixedeyes，setbeforeher，andherbloodrancold。
`Yes，it"sallright，"shesaidsoftly，asifdrugged，hervoicecrooningandwitch—like。
Hewalkedonbesideher，astriding，mindlessbody。Butherecoveredalittleashewent。Hesufferedbadly。Hehadkilledhisbrotherwhenaboy，andwassetapart，likeCain。
TheyfoundBirkinandUrsulasittingtogetherbytheboats，talkingandlaughing。BirkinhadbeenteasingUrsula。
`Doyousmellthislittlemarsh？"hesaid，sniffingtheair。Hewasverysensitivetoscents，andquickinunderstandingthem。
`It"srathernice，"shesaid。
`No，"hereplied，`alarming。"
`Whyalarming？"shelaughed。
`Itseethesandseethes，ariverofdarkness，"hesaid，`puttingforthliliesandsnakes，andtheignisfatuus，androllingallthetimeonward。
That"swhatwenevertakeintocount——thatitrollsonwards。"
`Whatdoes？"
`Theotherriver，theblackriver。Wealwaysconsiderthesilverriveroflife，rollingonandquickeningalltheworldtoabrightness，onandontoheaven，flowingintoabrighteternalsea，aheavenofangelsthronging。
Buttheotherisourrealreality——"
`Butwhatother？Idon"tseeanyother，"saidUrsula。
`Itisyourreality，nevertheless，"hesaid;`thatdarkriverofdissolution。
Youseeitrollsinusjustastheotherrolls——theblackriverofcorruption。
Andourflowersareofthis——oursea—bornAphrodite，allourwhitephosphorescentflowersofsensuousperfection，allourreality，nowadays。"
`YoumeanthatAphroditeisreallydeathly？"askedUrsula。
`Imeansheisthefloweringmysteryofthedeath—process，yes，"hereplied。`Whenthestreamofsyntheticcreationlapses，wefindourselvespartoftheinverseprocess，thebloodofdestructivecreation。Aphroditeisborninthefirstspasmofuniversaldissolution——thenthesnakesandswansandlotus——marsh—flowers——andGudrunandGerald——bornintheprocessofdestructivecreation。"
`Andyouandme——？"sheasked。
`Probably，"hereplied。`Inpart，certainly。Whetherwearethat，intoto，Idon"tyetknow。"
`Youmeanweareflowersofdissolution——fleursdumal？Idon"tfeelasifIwere，"sheprotested。
Hewassilentforatime。
`Idon"tfeelasifwewere，altogether，"hereplied。`Somepeoplearepureflowersofdarkcorruption——lilies。Butthereoughttobesomeroses，warmandflamy。YouknowHerakleitossays"adrysoulisbest。"
Iknowsowellwhatthatmeans。Doyou？"
`I"mnotsure，"Ursulareplied。`Butwhatifpeopleareallflowersofdissolution——whenthey"reflowersatall——whatdifferencedoesitmake？"
`Nodifference——andallthedifference。Dissolutionrollson，justasproductiondoes，"hesaid。`Itisaprogressiveprocess——anditendsinuniversalnothing——theendoftheworld，ifyoulike。Butwhyisn"ttheendoftheworldasgoodasthebeginning？"
`Isupposeitisn"t，"saidUrsula，ratherangry。
`Ohyes，ultimately，"hesaid。`Itmeansanewcycleofcreationafter——butnotforus。Ifitistheend，thenweareoftheend——fleursdumalifyoulike。Ifwearefleursdumal，wearenotrosesofhappiness，andthereyouare。"
`ButIthinkIam，"saidUrsula。`IthinkIamaroseofhappiness。"
`Ready—made？"heaskedironically。
`No——real，"shesaid，hurt。
`Ifwearetheend，wearenotthebeginning，"hesaid。
`Yesweare，"shesaid。`Thebeginningcomesoutoftheend。"
`Afterit，notoutofit。Afterus，notoutofus。"
`Youareadevil，youknow，really，"shesaid。`Youwanttodestroyourhope。Youwantustobedeathly。"
`No，"hesaid，`Ionlywantustoknowwhatweare。"
`Ha！"shecriedinanger。`Youonlywantustoknowdeath。"
`You"requiteright，"saidthesoftvoiceofGerald，outoftheduskbehind。
Birkinrose。GeraldandGudruncameup。Theyallbegantosmoke，inthemomentsofsilence。Oneafteranother，Birkinlightedtheircigarettes。
Thematchflickeredinthetwilight，andtheywereallsmokingpeacefullybythewater—side。Thelakewasdim，thelightdyingfromoffit，inthemidstofthedarkland。Theairallroundwasintangible，neitherherenorthere，andtherewasanunrealnoiseofbanjoes，orsuchlikemusic。
Asthegoldenswimoflightoverheaddiedout，themoongainedbrightness，andseemedtobegintosmileforthherascendancy。Thedarkwoodsontheoppositeshoremeltedintouniversalshadow。Andamidthisuniversalunder—shadow，therewasascatteredintrusionoflights。Fardownthelakewerefantasticpalestringsofcolour，likebeadsofwanfire，greenandredandyellow。
Themusiccameoutinalittlepuff，asthelaunch，allilluminated，veeredintothegreatshadow，stirringheroutlinesofhalf—livinglights，puffingouthermusicinlittledrifts。
Allwerelightingup。Hereandthere，closeagainstthefaintwater，andatthefarendofthelake，wherethewaterlaymilkyinthelastwhitenessofthesky，andtherewasnoshadow，solitary，frailflamesoflanternsfloatedfromtheunseenboats。Therewasasoundofoars，andaboatpassedfromthepallorintothedarknessunderthewood，whereherlanternsseemedtokindleintofire，hanginginruddylovelyglobes。Andagain，inthelake，shadowyredgleamshoveredinreflectionabouttheboat。Everywherewerethesenoiselessruddycreaturesoffiredriftingnearthesurfaceofthewater，caughtatbytherarest，scarcevisiblereflections。
Birkinbroughtthelanternsfromthebiggerboat，andthefourshadowywhitefiguresgatheredround，tolightthem。Ursulaheldupthefirst，Birkinloweredthelightfromtherosy，glowingcupofhishands，intothedepthsofthelantern。Itwaskindled，andtheyallstoodbacktolookatthegreatbluemoonoflightthathungfromUrsula"shand，castingastrangegleamonherface。Itflickered，andBirkinwentbendingoverthewelloflight。Hisfaceshoneoutlikeanapparition，sounconscious，andagain，somethingdemoniacal。Ursulawasdimandveiled，loomingoverhim。
`Thatisallright，"saidhisvoicesoftly。
Sheheldupthelantern。Ithadaflightofstorksstreamingthroughaturquoiseskyoflight，overadarkearth。
`Thisisbeautiful，"shesaid。
`Lovely，"echoedGudrun，whowantedtoholdonealso，andliftitupfullofbeauty。
`Lightoneforme，"shesaid。Geraldstoodbyher，incapacitated。Birkinlitthelanternsheheldup。Herheartbeatwithanxiety，toseehowbeautifulitwouldbe。Itwasprimroseyellow，withtallstraightflowersgrowingdarklyfromtheirdarkleaves，liftingtheirheadsintotheprimroseday，whilebutterflieshoveredaboutthem，inthepureclearlight。
Gudrungavealittlecryofexcitement，asifpiercedwithdelight。
`Isn"titbeautiful，oh，isn"titbeautiful！"
Hersoulwasreallypiercedwithbeauty，shewastranslatedbeyondherself。
Geraldleanedneartoher，intoherzoneoflight，asiftosee。Hecameclosetoher，andstoodtouchingher，lookingwithherattheprimrose—shiningglobe。Andsheturnedherfacetohis，thatwasfaintlybrightinthelightofthelantern，andtheystoodtogetherinoneluminousunion，closetogetherandringedroundwithlight，alltherestexcluded。
Birkinlookedaway，andwenttolightUrsula"ssecondlantern。Ithadapaleruddysea—bottom，withblackcrabsandsea—weedmovingsinuouslyunderatransparentsea，thatpassedintoflamyruddinessabove。
`You"vegottheheavensabove，andthewatersundertheearth，"saidBirkintoher。
`Anythingbuttheearthitself，"shelaughed，watchinghislivehandsthathoveredtoattendtothelight。
`I"mdyingtoseewhatmysecondoneis，"criedGudrun，inavibratingratherstridentvoice，thatseemedtorepeltheothersfromher。
Birkinwentandkindledit。Itwasofalovelydeepbluecolour，witharedfloor，andagreatwhitecuttle—fishflowinginwhitesoftstreamsalloverit。Thecuttle—fishhadafacethatstaredstraightfromtheheartofthelight，veryfixedandcoldlyintent。
`Howtrulyterrifying！"exclaimedGudrun，inavoiceofhorror。Gerald，atherside，gavealowlaugh。
`Butisn"titreallyfearful！"shecriedindismay。
Againhelaughed，andsaid:
`ChangeitwithUrsula，forthecrabs。"
Gudrunwassilentforamoment。
`Ursula，"shesaid，`couldyoubeartohavethisfearfulthing？"
`Ithinkthecolouringislovely，"saidUrsula。
`SodoI，"saidGudrun。`Butcouldyoubeartohaveitswingingtoyourboat？Don"tyouwanttodestroyitatonce？"
`Ohno，"saidUrsula。`Idon"twanttodestroyit。"
`Welldoyoumindhavingitinsteadofthecrabs？Areyousureyoudon"tmind？"
Gudruncameforwardtoexchangelanterns。
`No，"saidUrsula，yieldingupthecrabsandreceivingthecuttle—fish。
YetshecouldnothelpfeelingratherresentfulatthewayinwhichGudrunandGeraldshouldassumearightoverher，aprecedence。
`Comethen，"saidBirkin。`I"llputthemontheboats。"
HeandUrsulaweremovingawaytothebigboat。
`Isupposeyou"llrowmeback，Rupert，"saidGerald，outofthepaleshadowoftheevening。
`Won"tyougowithGudruninthecanoe？"saidBirkin。`It"llbemoreinteresting。"
Therewasamoment"spause。BirkinandUrsulastooddimly，withtheirswinginglanterns，bythewater"sedge。Theworldwasallillusive。
`Isthatallright？"saidGudruntohim。
`It"llsuitmeverywell，"hesaid。`Butwhataboutyou，andtherowing？Idon"tseewhyyoushouldpullme。"
`Whynot？"shesaid。`IcanpullyouaswellasIcouldpullUrsula。"
Byhertonehecouldtellshewantedtohavehimintheboattoherself，andthatshewassubtlygratifiedthatsheshouldhavepoweroverthemboth。Hegavehimself，inastrange，electricsubmission。
Shehandedhimthelanterns，whilstshewenttofixthecaneattheendofthecanoe。Hefollowedafterher，andstoodwiththelanternsdanglingagainsthiswhite—flannelledthighs，emphasisingtheshadowaround。
`Kissmebeforewego，"camehisvoicesoftlyfromoutoftheshadowabove。
Shestoppedherworkinreal，momentaryastonishment。
`Butwhy？"sheexclaimed，inpuresurprise。
`Why？"heechoed，ironically。
Andshelookedathimfixedlyforsomemoments。Thensheleanedforwardandkissedhim，withaslow，luxuriouskiss，lingeringonthemouth。Andthenshetookthelanternsfromhim，whilehestoodswooningwiththeperfectfirethatburnedinallhisjoints。
Theyliftedthecanoeintothewater，Gudruntookherplace，andGeraldpushedoff。
`Areyousureyoudon"thurtyourhand，doingthat？"sheasked，solicitous。
`BecauseIcouldhavedoneitperfectly。"
`Idon"thurtmyself，"hesaidinalow，softvoice，thatcaressedherwithinexpressiblebeauty。
Andshewatchedhimashesatnearher，veryneartoher，inthesternofthecanoe，hislegscomingtowardshers，hisfeettouchinghers。Andshepaddledsoftly，lingeringly，longingforhimtosaysomethingmeaningfultoher。Butheremainedsilent。
`Youlikethis，doyou？"shesaid，inagentle，solicitousvoice。
Helaughedshortly。
`Thereisaspacebetweenus，"hesaid，inthesamelow，unconsciousvoice，asifsomethingwerespeakingoutofhim。Andshewasasifmagicallyawareoftheirbeingbalancedinseparation，intheboat。Sheswoonedwithacutecomprehensionandpleasure。
`ButI"mverynear，"shesaidcaressively，gaily。
`Yetdistant，distant，"hesaid。
Againshewassilentwithpleasure，beforesheanswered，speakingwithareedy，thrilledvoice:
`Yetwecannotverywellchange，whilstweareonthewater。"Shecaressedhimsubtlyandstrangely，havinghimcompletelyathermercy。
Adozenormoreboatsonthelakeswungtheirrosyandmoon—likelanternslowonthewater，thatreflectedasfromafire。Inthedistance，thesteamertwangedandthrummedandwashedwithherfaintly—splashingpaddles，trailingherstringsofcolouredlights，andoccasionallylightingupthewholesceneluridlywithaneffusionoffireworks，Romancandlesandsheafsofstarsandothersimpleeffects，illuminatingthesurfaceofthewater，andshowingtheboatscreepinground，lowdown。Thenthelovelydarknessfellagain，thelanternsandthelittlethreadedlightsglimmeredsoftly，therewasamuffledknockingofoarsandawavingofmusic。
Gudrunpaddledalmostimperceptibly。Geraldcouldsee，notfarahead，therichblueandtheroseglobesofUrsula"slanternsswayingsoftlycheektocheekasBirkinrowed，andiridescent，evanescentgleamschasinginthewake。Hewasaware，too，ofhisowndelicatelycolouredlightscastingtheirsoftnessbehindhim。
Gudrunrestedherpaddleandlookedround。Thecanoeliftedwiththelightestebbingofthewater。Gerald"swhitekneeswereveryneartoher。
`Isn"titbeautiful！"shesaidsoftly，asifreverently。
Shelookedathim，asheleanedbackagainstthefaintcrystalofthelantern—light。Shecouldseehisface，althoughitwasapureshadow。Butitwasapieceoftwilight。Andherbreastwaskeenwithpassionforhim，hewassobeautifulinhismalestillnessandmystery。Itwasacertainpureeffluenceofmaleness，likeanaromafromhissoftly，firmlymouldedcontours，acertainrichperfectionofhispresence，thattouchedherwithanecstasy，athrillofpureintoxication。Shelovedtolookathim。Forthepresentshedidnotwanttotouchhim，toknowthefurther，satisfyingsubstanceofhislivingbody。Hewaspurelyintangible，yetsonear。Herhandslayonthepaddlelikeslumber，sheonlywantedtoseehim，likeacrystalshadow，tofeelhisessentialpresence。
`Yes，"hesaidvaguely。`Itisverybeautiful。"
Hewaslisteningtothefaintnearsounds，thedroppingofwater—dropsfromtheoar—blades，theslightdrummingofthelanternsbehindhim，astheyrubbedagainstoneanother，theoccasionalrustlingofGudrun"sfullskirt，analienlandnoise。Hismindwasalmostsubmerged，hewasalmosttransfused，lapsedoutforthefirsttimeinhislife，intothethingsabouthim。Forhealwayskeptsuchakeenattentiveness，concentratedandunyieldinginhimself。Nowhehadletgo，imperceptiblyhewasmeltingintoonenesswiththewhole。Itwaslikepure，perfectsleep，hisfirstgreatsleepoflife。Hehadbeensoinsistent，soguarded，allhislife。
Butherewassleep，andpeace，andperfectlapsingout。
`ShallIrowtothelanding—stage？"askedGudrunwistfully。
`Anywhere，"heanswered。`Letitdrift。"
`Tellmethen，ifwearerunningintoanything，"shereplied，inthatveryquiet，tonelessvoiceofsheerintimacy。
`Thelightswillshow，"hesaid。
Sotheydriftedalmostmotionless，insilence。Hewantedsilence，pureandwhole。Butshewasuneasyyetforsomeword，forsomeassurance。
`Nobodywillmissyou？"sheasked，anxiousforsomecommunication。
`Missme？"heechoed。`No！Why？"
`Iwonderedifanybodywouldbelookingforyou。"
`Whyshouldtheylookforme？"Andthenherememberedhismanners。`Butperhapsyouwanttogetback，"hesaid，inachangedvoice。
`No，Idon"twanttogetback，"shereplied。`No，Iassureyou。"
`You"requitesureit"sallrightforyou？"
`Perfectlyallright。"
Andagaintheywerestill。Thelaunchtwangedandhooted，somebodywassinging。Thenasifthenightsmashed，suddenlytherewasagreatshout，aconfusionofshouting，warringonthewater，thenthehorridnoiseofpaddlesreversedandchurnedviolently。
Geraldsatup，andGudrunlookedathiminfear。
`Somebodyinthewater，"hesaid，angrily，anddesperately，lookingkeenlyacrossthedusk。`Canyourowup？"
`Where，tothelaunch？"askedGudrun，innervouspanic。
`Yes。"
`You"lltellmeifIdon"tsteerstraight，"shesaid，innervousapprehension。
`Youkeepprettylevel，"hesaid，andthecanoehastenedforward。
Theshoutingandthenoisecontinued，soundinghorridthroughthedusk，overthesurfaceofthewater。
`Wasn"tthisboundtohappen？"saidGudrun，withheavyhatefulirony。Buthehardlyheard，andsheglancedoverhershouldertoseeherway。Thehalf—darkwatersweresprinkledwithlovelybubblesofswayinglights，thelaunchdidnotlookfaroff。Shewasrockingherlightsintheearlynight。Gudrunrowedashardasshecould。Butnowthatitwasaseriousmatter，sheseemeduncertainandclumsyinherstroke，itwasdifficulttopaddleswiftly。Sheglancedathisface。Hewaslookingfixedlyintothedarkness，verykeenandalertandsingleinhimself，instrumental。
Herheartsank，sheseemedtodieadeath。`Ofcourse，"shesaidtoherself，`nobodywillbedrowned。Ofcoursetheywon"t。Itwouldbetooextravagantandsensational。"Butherheartwascold，becauseofhissharpimpersonalface。Itwasasifhebelongednaturallytodreadandcatastrophe，asifhewerehimselfagain。
Thentherecameachild"svoice，agirl"shigh，piercingshriek:
`Di——Di——Di——Di——OhDi——OhDi——OhDi！"
ThebloodrancoldinGudrun"sveins。