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。
