Women in Love

y through the haze of smoke, reflected more dimly, and repeated ad infinitum in the great mirrors on the walls, so that one seemed to enter a vague, dim world of s

He seemed to be entering in some strange element, passing into an illuminated new region, among a host of licentious souls. He was pleased, and ente

princess's. She was small and delicately made, with warm colouring and large, dark hostile eyes. There was a delicacy, almost a beauty in a

Darrington. She gave her hand with a sudden, unwilling movement, looking all the

er two. Birkin was drinking something green, Miss Darrington

have some

last drop and putting down the

oesn't know I'm back. He'll be

abyish pronunciation which was at once affected and t

e then?' as

Lady Snellgrove's,' said the

was a

a dispassionate protective man

sullenly. She ha

g,' she replied. `I shall loo

ou go to?' a

rst. But I believe he's ang

from the

n't want me, I know I can

mart

hen -- he doe

and shoul

wfully decent.'

going to do about

said. `I shall

But she turned aside her face sulle

n came hurrying

ssum, when did you come

od

alliday

w. I don't c

hat quarter, does it? Do you min

mind?' she replied, coolly an

or the soul, eh?' said the

nd at Gerald, the young man moved o

felt that the girl was physically aware of his proximity. He

the flat?' the gir

s,' replied Bi

n always go to Bertha's

oice, with the distant manner of a woman who accepts her position as a soc

know Lon

've been up a good many times, but

n?' she said, in a tone th

he r

Napoleon of industry,' said Birkin, gi

ked the girl, with a co

ommission,' said Ger

he last war,

eally?' sai

azon,' said Birkin, `and now

felt proud too, full of male strength. His blue, keen eyes were lit up with laughter, his ruddy

you staying?'

plied. `But there is

g at him. And on them there seemed to float a film of disintegration, a sort of misery and sullenness, like oil on water. She wore no hat in the heated cafe, her loose, simple jumper was strung on a string round her neck. But it was made of rich peach-coloured crepe-de-chine, that hung heavily and softly from her young throat and her slender wrists. Her appearance was simple a

she was a victim. He felt that she was in his power, and he was generous. The electricity was turgid and voluptuously rich, in

ies for some time.

hed her dark, soft hair swing over her ears. He felt her watching intensely the man who was approaching, so he looked too. He saw a pale, full-built young man with rather long, solid fair

e perceived the girl. He recoiled, went p

at are you

ecile smile flickering palely on his face. The girl only stared at him with a black look in w

lliday, in the same high, hysterical

scous, heavy fashion, straight at him, as he stood

o come back -- come and si

k, and I told her not to come bac

,' she said in a heav

t all?' cried Halliday, his vo

aid Birkin. `Are you going

down with Pussum,

e said to him, very curtly, and yet with a so

he table, putting his hand

ussum, I wish you wouldn't do the

ing from you,'

before,' he crie

m, to Gerald Crich, whose eyes wer

d of the savages?' she asked i

harmless -- they're not born yet, you can't feel r

y? Aren't the

r of fact. There aren't many things, neither people no

erds,' inter

ught savages were all so dangerous, they'd

savages. They're too much like other people

wonderfully brave th

uestion of hardshi

ren't you e

ings -- of being shut up, locked up anywhere -- or be

know. And her dark eyes seemed to be looking through into his naked organism. He felt, she was compelled to him, she was fated to come into contact with him, must have the seeing him and knowing him. And this roused a curious exultance. Also he felt, she must relinquish h

his arms on the table, his sunbrowned, rather sinister hands, that were animal and yet very shapely and att

alk with Birkin and Halliday. Gerald

e you come

he glanced at Halliday, and then a black flare came over her eyes. The heavy, fair young man ignored her complet

to do with it?' he aske

or some seconds. Then

yet he won't let me go to anybody else. He wants me to live hidden in the

his own mind

at somebody tells him to do. He never does anything he wants to do hi

erate face of the young man. Its very softness was an attraction; it was a

ld over you, has

ss I went back to him. And he wouldn't go away, he would have stayed for ever. He made me go back. Then every time he behaves in this fashion. And now I'm going to ha

came over G

us. It seemed, to look at her, impossible, she was

had now a furtive look, and a look of a knowledge of evil

aid. `Isn't

want it?'

he replied e

id, `how long h

eks,' s

He remained silent, thinking. Then, switching off and becom

an eat here? Is there a

, `I should ado

e'll have oysters.' And

the little plate was set befo

at oysters when you'

o to do with y

. `But you can't eat oysters

d the last drops of her liqueur over his face. He gave a

f her, and that he loved his terror. He seemed to relish his own horror and hatred of her, turn it ove

in a very small, quick Eton voic

hurt him,'

n asked. He was dark, and smooth-sk

porter, Maxim,

,' came the whispering, gen

ealised that this

champagne?' he

dwy,' she lis

. Maxim, the prim young Russian with the smooth, warm-coloured face and black, oiled hair was the only one who seemed to be perfectly calm and sober. Birkin was white and abstract, unnatural, Gerald was smiling with a constant bright, amused, cold light in his eyes, leaning a little protectively towards the Pussum, who wa

there seemed an unseeing film of flame, fully upon Gerald. He laughed dangerously, from the blood. Her childish speech caressed

ings. But black-beetles -- ugh!' she shuddered convul

been drinking, `that you are afraid of the sight of a black-beetle, or

ite?' crie

loathsome!' exc

Do black-beetles bite? But that isn't the point. Are you a

ull upon him all the t

If I see one, it gives me the creeps all over. If one were

whispered the

ould, Maxim,'

d Gerald, smiling and knowing. In

l, as Gerald says

ittle pause o

Pussum?' asked the young Russian, i

id of some things, but not weally

with a thick, pale, jeering face, who had j

him a sulky look of d

f blud?' the other persiste

not,' she

od, except in a dentist's sp

to you,' she repl

er me, can't

nife across his thick, pale hand.

are,' said the Pu

tanding by the table and looking d

Gerald, in quick,

ic contempt, a cowed, selfconscious look on his thi

ay!' squealed Halliday, turni

lius? Garn, it's nothing, man, don't give her the pleasure of letting her think she's

uealed H

y by the arm, leading him away. Birkin, white and diminished, looked on as if he were displeased. Th

aid the Pussum to Gerald. `He's g

he?' ask

really. I can

mportant. But what's

er seen,' she cried. `He always faints if

said

his courage. But he's the biggest coward of them all, really, because he's a

ur between them,' said

very handsome, flushed, and confident in dreadful knowle

ussum, because you're l

t so,' s

w more intens

r; or a young,

!' said Birkin,

oked uneasil

e said to him, with a slight insole

ng back, looking

ouldn't do these things -- Oh!'

go home,' sh

ald. `I should be so glad if you would. Do -- that'll be splendid. I say?' He looked round for a waiter. `G

ch an idiot?' she sa

ssum, you are coming. What? Oh but you must come, yes, you must. What? Oh, my dear g

't drink,' she sa

gusting behaviour, Pussum, it's nothing els

ly one glass,' came the rapid, h

with him. He was aware of this, and filled with demonsatisfaction that his motion held good for tw

Pussum took her place, and Gerald sat next to her. They heard the young Russian giving orders to the driver, then they were all seate

ant, as she talked indifferently with Birkin and with Maxim. Between her and Gerald was this silence and this black, electric comprehension in the darkness. Then she found his hand, and grasped it in her own firm, small clasp. It was so utterly dark, and yet such a naked statement, that rapid vibrations ran through his blood and over his brain

s being opened for them by a Hindu. Gerald looked in surprise, wondering if he were a

Hasan,' sai

room for me?

estions the man gri

, being tall and slender and reti

' he asked of Hallida

im in the road, starving. So I took him here, and another man gave him clothes. He's anything but what he seem

id the young Russian

man appeared i

it?' said

inned, and m

speak t

bed, his bearing was calm, he looked elegant, aristocratic. Yet he was half a sa

Want more money? But what do you want money for?' There was the confused sound of the H

he underclothes he wants.' He took the money from Gerald and went out into the passage again, where they heard him sayin

foetus of a human being. One was a woman sitting naked in a strange posture, and looking tortured, her abdomen stuck out. The young Russian explained that she was sitting in child-birth, clutching the ends of the band that hung from her neck, one in each hand, so t

er obscene?' he a

rapidly. `I have never defined the

he Futurist manner; there was a large piano. And these, with some ordina

ion. Her alliance for the time being was with Gerald, and she did not know how far this was admitted by any of the men. She was considering how she should carry off the situat

ttle of Kummel. He set the tray o

Halliday, `po

id no

day repeated, in a state

re,' she said. `I only came because the

n't want you to do anything but use the flat for your own

et and withheld, that another set of conditions altogether had come to pass. Her silence and her immutability perplexed him. How was he going to come to her? And yet he felt it quite inevitable. He

It was nearly

, I'll ring you up in the morning at

Gerald, and Bi

Halliday said in a stim

t you stay h

everybody up,

do stay, won't you. Everything is quite ready -- there is always someb

said the Pussum, in a cold, ho

id Halliday, in his odd, high way of

ly, and he spoke eagerly, wit

the Russian in his discreet, precise voic

n he went again to look at one of the pictures. Every one of his limbs was turgid with elec

ch brought the rather foolishly pleased smile to that young man's face. T

ey heard a door close, then Ma

s all

at Gerald, and said ag

ight -- you'r

significant eyes, and it seemed as if the voice of the young Russia

ght then,'

re all right,'

ed to smile, and

in the door, her small, childish

cold, rather resonant voice. `But I don't ca

ound her waist. She looked so small and childish and vulnerable, almost pitiful. And yet the bla

her cigarette an