Geraldstoodleaningbackagainstthemantel—piece。HelookeddownatBirkin，andhiseyesflashedwithasortofterrorliketheeyesofastallion，thatarebloodshotandoverwrought，turnedglancingbackwardsinastiffterror。
`IfellthatifIdon\'twatchmyself，Ishallfindmyselfdoingsomethingsilly，\'hesaid。
`Whynotdoit？\'saidBirkincoldly。
Geraldlistenedwithquickimpatience。HekeptglancingdownatBirkin，asiflookingforsomethingfromtheotherman。
`IusedtodosomeJapanesewrestling，\'saidBirkin。`AJaplivedinthesamehousewithmeinHeidelberg，andhetaughtmealittle。ButI
wasnevermuchgoodatit。\'
`Youdid！\'exclaimedGerald。`That\'soneofthethingsI\'venevereverseendone。Youmeanjiu—jitsu，Isuppose？\'
`Yes。ButIamnogoodatthosethings——theydon\'tinterestme。\'
`Theydon\'t？Theydome。What\'sthestart？\'
`I\'llshowyouwhatIcan，ifyoulike，\'saidBirkin。
`Youwill？\'Aqueer，smilinglooktightenedGerald\'sfaceforamoment，ashesaid，`Well，I\'dlikeitverymuch。\'
`Thenwe\'lltryjiu—jitsu。Onlyyoucan\'tdomuchinastarchedshirt。\'
`Thenletusstrip，anddoitproperly。Holdaminute——\'Herangthebell，andwaitedforthebutler。
`Bringacoupleofsandwichesandasyphon，\'hesaidtotheman，`andthendon\'ttroublemeanymoretonight——orletanybodyelse。\'
Themanwent。GeraldturnedtoBirkinwithhiseyeslighted。
`AndyouusedtowrestlewithaJap？\'hesaid。`Didyoustrip？\'
`Sometimes。\'
`Youdid！Whatwashelikethen，asawrestler？\'
`Good，Ibelieve。Iamnojudge。Hewasveryquickandslipperyandfullofelectricfire。Itisaremarkablething，whatacurioussortoffluidforcetheyseemtohaveinthem，thosepeoplenotlikeahumangrip——likeapolyp——\'
Geraldnodded。
`Ishouldimagineso，\'hesaid，`tolookatthem。Theyrepelme，rather。\'
`Repelandattract，both。Theyareveryrepulsivewhentheyarecold，andtheylookgrey。Butwhentheyarehotandroused，thereisadefiniteattraction——acuriouskindoffullelectricfluid——likeeels。\'
`Well——yes——probably。\'
Themanbroughtinthetrayandsetitdown。
`Don\'tcomeinanymore，\'saidGerald。
Thedoorclosed。
`Wellthen，\'saidGerald;`shallwestripandbegin？Willyouhaveadrinkfirst？\'
`No，Idon\'twantone。\'
`NeitherdoI。\'
Geraldfastenedthedoorandpushedthefurnitureaside。Theroomwaslarge，therewasplentyofspace，itwasthicklycarpeted。Thenhequicklythrewoffhisclothes，andwaitedforBirkin。Thelatter，whiteandthin，cameovertohim。Birkinwasmoreapresencethanavisibleobject，Geraldwasawareofhimcompletely，butnotreallyvisually。WhereasGeraldhimselfwasconcreteandnoticeable，apieceofpurefinalsubstance。
`Now，\'saidBirkin，`IwillshowyouwhatIlearned，andwhatIremember。
Youletmetakeyouso——\'Andhishandsclosedonthenakedbodyoftheotherman。Inanothermoment，hehadGeraldswungoverlightlyandbalancedagainsthisknee，headdownwards。Relaxed，Geraldsprangtohisfeetwitheyesglittering。
`That\'ssmart，\'hesaid。`Nowtryagain。\'
Sothetwomenbegantostruggletogether。Theywereverydissimilar。
Birkinwastallandnarrow，hisboneswereverythinandfine。Geraldwasmuchheavierandmoreplastic。Hisboneswerestrongandround，hislimbswererounded，allhiscontourswerebeautifullyandfullymoulded。Heseemedtostandwithaproper，richweightonthefaceoftheearth，whilstBirkinseemedtohavethecentreofgravitationinhisownmiddle。AndGeraldhadarich，frictionalkindofstrength，rathermechanical，butsuddenandinvincible，whereasBirkinwasabstractastobealmostintangible。
Heimpingedinvisiblyupontheotherman，scarcelyseemingtotouchhim，likeagarment，andthensuddenlypiercinginatensefinegripthatseemedtopenetrateintotheveryquickofGerald\'sbeing。
Theystopped，theydiscussedmethods，theypractisedgripsandthrows，theybecameaccustomedtoeachother，toeachother\'srhythm，theygotakindofmutualphysicalunderstanding。Andthenagaintheyhadarealstruggle。Theyseemedtodrivetheirwhitefleshdeeperanddeeperagainsteachother，asiftheywouldbreakintoaoneness。Birkinhadagreatsubtleenergy，thatwouldpressupontheothermanwithanuncannyforce，weighhimlikeaspellputuponhim。Thenitwouldpass，andGeraldwouldheavefree，withwhite，heaving，dazzlingmovements。
Sothetwomenentwinedandwrestledwitheachother，workingnearerandnearer。Bothwerewhiteandclear，butGeraldflushedsmartredwherehewastouched，andBirkinremainedwhiteandtense。HeseemedtopenetrateintoGerald\'smoresolid，morediffusebulk，tointerfusehisbodythroughthebodyoftheother，asiftobringitsubtlyintosubjection，alwaysseizingwithsomerapidnecromanticfore—knowledgeeverymotionoftheotherflesh，convertingandcounteractingit，playinguponthelimbsandtrunkofGeraldlikesomehardwind。ItwasasifBirkin\'swholephysicalintelligenceinterpenetratedintoGerald\'sbody，asifhisfine，sublimatedenergyenteredintothefleshofthefullerman，likesomepotency，castingafinenet，aprison，throughthemusclesintotheverydepthsofGerald\'sphysicalbeing。
Sotheywrestledswiftly，rapturously，intentandmindlessatlast，twoessentialwhitefiguresworkingintoatightercloseronenessofstruggle，withastrange，octopus—likeknottingandflashingoflimbsinthesubduedlightoftheroom;atensewhiteknotoffleshgrippedinsilencebetweenthewallsofoldbrownbooks。Nowandagaincameasharpgaspofbreath，orasoundlikeasigh，thentherapidthuddingofmovementonthethickly—carpetedfloor，thenthestrangesoundoffleshescapingunderflesh。Often，inthewhiteinterlacedknotofviolentlivingbeingthatswayedsilently，therewasnoheadtobeseen，onlytheswift，tightlimbs，thesolidwhitebacks，thephysicaljunctionoftwobodiesclinchedintooneness。Thenwouldappearthegleaming，ruffledheadofGerald，asthestrugglechanged，thenforamomentthedun—coloured，shadow—likeheadoftheothermanwouldliftupfromtheconflict，theeyeswideanddreadfulandsightless。
AtlengthGeraldlaybackinertonthecarpet，hisbreastrisingingreatslowpanting，whilstBirkinkneeledoverhim，almostunconscious。
Birkinwasmuchmoreexhausted。Hecaughtlittle，shortbreaths，hecouldscarcelybreatheanymore。Theearthseemedtotiltandsway，andacompletedarknesswascomingoverhismind。Hedidnotknowwhathappened。Heslidforwardquiteunconscious，overGerald，andGeralddidnotnotice。Thenhewashalf—consciousagain，awareonlyofthestrangetiltingandslidingoftheworld。Theworldwassliding，everythingwasslidingoffintothedarkness。Andhewassliding，endlessly，endlesslyaway。
Hecametoconsciousnessagain，hearinganimmenseknockingoutside。
Whatcouldbehappening，whatwasit，thegreathammer—strokeresoundingthroughthehouse？Hedidnotknow。Andthenitcametohimthatitwashisownheartbeating。Butthatseemedimpossible，thenoisewasoutside。
No，itwasinsidehimself，itwashisownheart。Andthebeatingwaspainful，sostrained，surcharged。HewonderedifGeraldheardit。Hedidnotknowwhetherhewerestandingorlyingorfalling。
WhenherealisedthathehadfallenprostrateuponGerald\'sbodyhewondered，hewassurprised。Buthesatup，steadyinghimselfwithhishandandwaitingforhishearttobecomestillerandlesspainful。Ithurtverymuch，andtookawayhisconsciousness。
GeraldhoweverwasstilllessconsciousthanBirkin。Theywaiteddimly，inasortofnot—being，formanyuncounted，unknownminutes。
`Ofcourse——\'pantedGerald，`Ididn\'thavetoberough——withyou——Ihadtokeepback——myforce——\'
Birkinheardthesoundasifhisownspiritstoodbehindhim，outsidehim，andlistenedtoit。Hisbodywasinatranceofexhaustion，hisspiritheardthinly。Hisbodycouldnotanswer。Onlyheknewhisheartwasgettingquieter。Hewasdividedentirelybetweenhisspirit，whichstoodoutside，andknew，andhisbody，thatwasaplunging，unconsciousstrokeofblood。
`Icouldhavethrownyou——usingviolence——\'pantedGerald。`Butyoubeatmerightenough。\'
`Yes，\'saidBirkin，hardeninghisthroatandproducingthewordsinthetensionthere，`you\'remuchstrongerthanI——youcouldbeatme——
easily。\'
Thenherelaxedagaintotheterribleplungingofhisheartandhisblood。
`Itsurprisedme，\'pantedGerald，`whatstrengthyou\'vegot。Almostsupernatural。\'
`Foramoment，\'saidBirkin。
Hestillheardasifitwerehisowndisembodiedspirithearing，standingatsomedistancebehindhim。Itdrewnearerhowever，hisspirit。Andtheviolentstrikingofbloodinhischestwassinkingquieter，allowinghismindtocomeback。Herealisedthathewasleaningwithallhisweightonthesoftbodyoftheotherman。Itstartledhim，becausehethoughthehadwithdrawn。Herecoveredhimself，andsatup。Buthewasstillvagueandunestablished。Heputouthishandtosteadyhimself。IttouchedthehandofGerald，thatwaslyingoutonthefloor。AndGerald\'shandclosedwarmandsuddenoverBirkin\'s，theyremainedexhaustedandbreathless，theonehandclaspedcloselyovertheother。ItwasBirkinwhosehand，inswiftresponse，hadclosedinastrong，warmclaspoverthehandoftheother。Gerald\'sclasphadbeensuddenandmomentaneous。
Thenormalconsciousnesshoweverwasreturning，ebbingback。Birkincouldbreathealmostnaturallyagain。Gerald\'shandslowlywithdrew，Birkinslowly，dazedlyrosetohisfeetandwenttowardsthetable。Hepouredoutawhiskeyandsoda。Geraldalsocameforadrink。
`Itwasarealset—to，wasn\'tit？\'saidBirkin，lookingatGeraldwithdarkenedeyes。
`God，yes，\'saidGerald。Helookedatthedelicatebodyoftheotherman，andadded:`Itwasn\'ttoomuchforyou，wasit？\'
`No。Oneoughttowrestleandstriveandbephysicallyclose。Itmakesonesane。\'
`Youdothinkso？\'
`Ido。Don\'tyou？\'
`Yes，\'saidGerald。
Therewerelongspacesofsilencebetweentheirwords。Thewrestlinghadsomedeepmeaningtothem——anunfinishedmeaning。
`Wearementally，spirituallyintimate，thereforeweshouldbemoreorlessphysicallyintimatetoo——itismorewhole。\'
`Certainlyitis，\'saidGerald。Thenhelaughedpleasantly，adding:
`It\'sratherwonderfultome。\'Hestretchedouthisarmshandsomely。
`Yes，\'saidBirkin。`Idon\'tknowwhyoneshouldhavetojustifyoneself。\'
`No。\'
Thetwomenbegantodress。
`Ithinkalsothatyouarebeautiful，\'saidBirkintoGerald，`andthatisenjoyabletoo。Oneshouldenjoywhatisgiven。\'
`YouthinkIambeautiful——howdoyoumean，physically？\'askedGerald，hiseyesglistening。
`Yes。Youhaveanorthernkindofbeauty，likelightrefractedfromsnow——andabeautiful，plasticform。Yes，thatistheretoenjoyaswell。
Weshouldenjoyeverything。\'
Geraldlaughedinhisthroat，andsaid:
`That\'scertainlyonewayoflookingatit。Icansaythismuch，Ifeelbetter。Ithascertainlyhelpedme。IsthistheBruderschaftyouwanted？\'
`Perhaps。Doyouthinkthispledgesanything？\'
`Idon\'tknow，\'laughedGerald。
`Atanyrate，onefeelsfreerandmoreopennow——andthatiswhatwewant。\'
`Certainly，\'saidGerald。
Theydrewtothefire，withthedecantersandtheglassesandthefood。
`IalwayseatalittlebeforeIgotobed，\'saidGerald。`Isleepbetter。\'
`Ishouldnotsleepsowell，\'saidBirkin。
`No？Thereyouare，wearenotalike。I\'llputadressing—gownon。\'
Birkinremainedalone，lookingatthefire。HismindhadrevertedtoUrsula。
Sheseemedtoreturnagainintohisconsciousness。Geraldcamedownwearingagownofbroad—barred，thickblack—and—greensilk，brilliantandstriking。
`Youareveryfine，\'saidBirkin，lookingatthefullrobe。
`ItwasacaftaninBokhara，\'saidGerald。`Ilikeit。\'
`Ilikeittoo。\'
Birkinwassilent，thinkinghowscrupulousGeraldwasinhisattire，howexpensivetoo。Heworesilksocks，andstudsoffineworkmanship，andsilkunderclothing，andsilkbraces。Curious！Thiswasanotherofthedifferencesbetweenthem。Birkinwascarelessandunimaginativeabouthisownappearance。
`Ofcourseyou，\'saidGerald，asifhehadbeenthinking;`there\'ssomethingcuriousaboutyou。You\'recuriouslystrong。Onedoesn\'texpectit，itisrathersurprising。\'
Birkinlaughed。Hewaslookingatthehandsomefigureoftheotherman，blondandcomelyintherichrobe，andhewashalfthinkingofthedifferencebetweenitandhimself——sodifferent;asfar，perhaps，apartasmanfromwoman，yetinanotherdirection。ButreallyitwasUrsula，itwasthewomanwhowasgainingascendanceoverBirkin\'sbeing，atthismoment。Geraldwasbecomingdimagain，lapsingoutofhim。
`Doyouknow，\'hesaidsuddenly，`IwentandproposedtoUrsulaBrangwentonight，thatsheshouldmarryme。\'
HesawtheblankshiningwondercomeoverGerald\'sface。
`Youdid？\'
`Yes。Almostformally——speakingfirsttoherfather，asitshouldbe，intheworld——thoughthatwasaccident——ormischief。\'
Geraldonlystaredinwonder，asifhedidnotgrasp。
`Youdon\'tmeantosaythatyouseriouslywentandaskedherfathertoletyoumarryher？\'
`Yes，\'saidBirkin，`Idid。\'
`What，hadyouspokentoherbeforeaboutit，then？\'
`No，notaword。IsuddenlythoughtIwouldgothereandaskher——
andherfatherhappenedtocomeinsteadofher——soIaskedhimfirst。\'
`Ifyoucouldhaveher？\'concludedGerald。
`Ye—es，that。\'
`Andyoudidn\'tspeaktoher？\'
`Yes。Shecameinafterwards。Soitwasputtoheraswell。\'
`Itwas！Andwhatdidshesaythen？You\'reanengagedman？\'
`No，——sheonlysaidshedidn\'twanttobebulliedintoanswering。\'
`Shewhat？\'
`Saidshedidn\'twanttobebulliedintoanswering。\'
`\"Saidshedidn\'twanttobebulliedintoanswering！\"Why，whatdidshemeanbythat？\'
Birkinraisedhisshoulders。`Can\'tsay，\'heanswered。`Didn\'twanttobebotheredjustthen，Isuppose。\'
`Butisthisreallyso？Andwhatdidyoudothen？\'
`Iwalkedoutofthehouseandcamehere。\'
`Youcamestraighthere？\'
`Yes。\'
Geraldstaredinamazementandamusement。Hecouldnottakeitin。
`Butisthisreallytrue，asyousayitnow？\'
`Wordforword。\'
`Itis？\'
Heleanedbackinhischair，filledwithdelightandamusement。
`Well，that\'sgood，\'hesaid。`Andsoyoucameheretowrestlewithyourgoodangel，didyou？\'
`DidI？\'saidBirkin。
`Well，itlookslikeit。Isn\'tthatwhatyoudid？\'
NowBirkincouldnotfollowGerald\'smeaning。
`Andwhat\'sgoingtohappen？\'saidGerald。`You\'regoingtokeepopentheproposition，sotospeak？\'
`Isupposeso。IvowedtomyselfIwouldseethemalltothedevil。
ButIsupposeIshallaskheragain，inalittlewhile。\'
Geraldwatchedhimsteadily。
`Soyou\'refondofherthen？\'heasked。
`Ithink——Iloveher，\'saidBirkin，hisfacegoingverystillandfixed。
Geraldglistenedforamomentwithpleasure，asifitweresomethingdonespeciallytopleasehim。Thenhisfaceassumedafittinggravity，andhenoddedhisheadslowly。
`Youknow，\'hesaid，`Ialwaysbelievedinlove——truelove。Butwheredoesonefinditnowadays？\'
`Idon\'tknow，\'saidBirkin。
`Veryrarely，\'saidGerald。Then，afterapause，`I\'veneverfeltitmyself——notwhatIshouldcalllove。I\'vegoneafterwomen——andbeenkeenenoughoversomeofthem。ButI\'veneverfeltlove。Idon\'tbelieveI\'veeverfeltasmuchloveforawoman，asIhaveforyou——notlove。YouunderstandwhatImean？\'
`Yes。I\'msureyou\'veneverlovedawoman。\'
`Youfeelthat，doyou？AnddoyouthinkIevershall？YouunderstandwhatImean？\'Heputhishandtohisbreast，closinghisfistthere，asifhewoulddrawsomethingout。`Imeanthat——thatIcan\'texpresswhatitis，butIknowit。\'
`Whatisit，then？\'askedBirkin。
`Yousee，Ican\'tputitintowords。Imean，atanyrate，somethingabiding，somethingthatcan\'tchange——\'
Hiseyeswerebrightandpuzzled。
`NowdoyouthinkIshalleverfeelthatforawoman？\'hesaid，anxiously。
Birkinlookedathim，andshookhishead。
`Idon\'tknow，\'hesaid。`Icouldnotsay。\'
Geraldhadbeenonthequivive，asawaitinghisfate。Nowhedrewbackinhischair。
`No，\'hesaid，`andneitherdoI，andneitherdoI。\'
`Wearedifferent，youandI，\'saidBirkin。`Ican\'ttellyourlife。\'
`No，\'saidGerald，`nomorecanI。ButItellyou——Ibegintodoubtit！\'
`Thatyouwilleverloveawoman？\'
`Well——yes——whatyouwouldtrulycalllove——\'
`Youdoubtit？\'
`Well——Ibeginto。\'
Therewasalongpause。
`Lifehasallkindsofthings，\'saidBirkin。`Thereisn\'tonlyoneroad。\'
`Yes，Ibelievethattoo。Ibelieveit。Andmindyou，Idon\'tcarehowitiswithme——Idon\'tcarehowitis——solongasIdon\'tfeel——\'
hepaused，andablank，barrenlookpassedoverhisface，toexpresshisfeeling——`solongasIfeelI\'velived，somehow——andIdon\'tcarehowitis——butIwanttofeelthat——\'
`Fulfilled，\'saidBirkin。
`We—ell，perhapsitisfulfilled;Idon\'tusethesamewordsasyou。\'
`Itisthesame。\'
WomenInLove:Chapter21CHAPTERXXIThresholdGUDRUNWASAWAYinLondon，havingalittleshowofherwork，withafriend，andlookinground，preparingforflightfromBeldover。Comewhatmightshewouldbeonthewinginaveryshorttime。
ShereceivedaletterfromWinifredCrich，ornamentedwithdrawings。
`FatheralsohasbeentoLondon，tobeexaminedbythedoctors。Itmadehimverytired。Theysayhemustrestaverygreatdeal，soheismostlyinbed。Hebroughtmealovelytropicalparrotinfaience，ofDresdenware，alsoamanploughing，andtwomiceclimbingupastalk，alsoinfaience。
ThemicewereCopenhagenware。Theyarethebest，butmicedon\'tshinesomuch，otherwisetheyareverygood，theirtailsareslimandlong。Theyallshinenearlylikeglass。Ofcourseitistheglaze，butIdon\'tlikeit。Geraldlikesthemanploughingthebest，histrousersaretorn，heisploughingwithanox，beingIsupposeaGermanpeasant。Itisallgreyandwhite，whiteshirtandgreytrousers，butveryshinyandclean。MrBirkinlikesthegirlbest，underthehawthornblossom，withalamb，andwithdaffodilspaintedonherskirts，inthedrawingroom。Butthatissilly，becausethelambisnotareallamb，andsheissillytoo。
`DearMissBrangwen，areyoucomingbacksoon，youareverymuchmissedhere。Iencloseadrawingoffathersittingupinbed。Hesayshehopesyouarenotgoingtoforsakeus。OhdearMissBrangwen，Iamsureyouwon\'t。
Docomebackanddrawtheferrets，theyarethemostlovelynobledarlingsintheworld。Wemightcarvetheminholly—wood，playingagainstabackgroundofgreenleaves。Ohdoletus，fortheyaremostbeautiful。
`Fathersayswemighthaveastudio。Geraldsayswecouldeasilyhaveabeautifuloneoverthestables，itwouldonlyneedwindowstobeputintheslantoftheroof，whichisasimplematter。Thenyoucouldstayherealldayandwork，andwecouldliveinthestudio，liketworealartists，likethemaninthepictureinthehall，withthefrying—panandthewallsallcoveredwithdrawings。Ilongtobefree，tolivethefreelifeofanartist。EvenGeraldtoldfatherthatonlyanartistisfree，becausehelivesinacreativeworldofhisown——\'
Gudruncaughtthedriftofthefamilyintentions，inthisletter。GeraldwantedhertobeattachedtothehouseholdatShortlands，hewasusingWinifredashisstalking—horse。Thefatherthoughtonlyofhischild，hesawarockofsalvationinGudrun。AndGudrunadmiredhimforhisperspicacity。
Thechild，moreover，wasreallyexceptional。Gudrunwasquitecontent。
Shewasquitewilling，givenastudio，tospendherdaysatShortlands。
ShedislikedtheGrammarSchoolalreadythoroughly，shewantedtobefree。
Ifastudiowereprovided，shewouldbefreetogoonwithherwork，shewouldawaittheturnofeventswithcompleteserenity。AndshewasreallyinterestedinWinifred，shewouldbequitegladtounderstandthegirl。
SotherewasquitealittlefestivityonWinifred\'saccount，thedayGudrunreturnedtoShortlands。
`YoushouldmakeabunchofflowerstogivetoMissBrangwenwhenshearrives，\'Geraldsaidsmilingtohissister。
`Ohno，\'criedWinifred，`it\'ssilly。\'
`Notatall。Itisaverycharmingandordinaryattention。\'
`Oh，itissilly，\'protestedWinifred，withalltheextrememauvaisehonteofheryears。Nevertheless，theideaappealedtoher。Shewantedverymuchtocarryitout。Sheflittedroundthegreen—housesandtheconservatorylookingwistfullyattheflowersontheirstems。Andthemoreshelooked，themoreshelongedtohaveabunchoftheblossomsshesaw，themorefascinatedshebecamewithherlittlevisionofceremony，andthemoreconsumedlyshyandself—consciousshegrew，tillshewasalmostbesideherself。Shecouldnotgettheideaoutofhermind。Itwasasifsomehauntingchallengepromptedher，andshehadnotenoughcouragetotakeitup。Soagainshedriftedintothegreen—houses，lookingatthelovelyrosesintheirpots，andatthevirginalcyclamens，andatthemysticwhiteclustersofacreeper。Thebeauty，ohthebeautyofthem，andohtheparadisalbliss，ifsheshouldhaveaperfectbouquetandcouldgiveittoGudrunthenextday。Herpassionandhercompleteindecisionalmostmadeherill。
Atlastsheslidtoherfather\'sside。
`Daddie——\'shesaid。
`What，myprecious？\'
Butshehungback，thetearsalmostcomingtohereyes，inhersensitiveconfusion。Herfatherlookedather，andhisheartranhotwithtenderness，ananguishofpoignantlove。
`Whatdoyouwanttosaytome，mylove？\'
`Daddie——！\'hereyessmiledlaconically——`isn\'titsillyifIgiveMissBrangwensomeflowerswhenshecomes？\'
Thesickmanlookedatthebright，knowingeyesofhischild，andhisheartburnedwithlove。
`No，darling，that\'snotsilly。It\'swhattheydotoqueens。\'
ThiswasnotveryreassuringtoWinifred。Shehalfsuspectedthatqueensinthemselveswereasilliness。Yetshesowantedherlittleromanticoccasion。
`ShallIthen？\'sheasked。
`GiveMissBrangwensomeflowers？Do，Birdie。TellWilsonIsayyouaretohavewhatyouwant。\'
Thechildsmiledasmall，subtle，unconscioussmiletoherself，inanticipationofherway。
`ButIwon\'tgetthemtilltomorrow，\'shesaid。
`Nottilltomorrow，Birdie。Givemeakissthen——\'
Winifredsilentlykissedthesickman，anddriftedoutoftheroom。
Sheagainwenttheroundofthegreen—housesandtheconservatory，informingthegardener，inherhigh，peremptory，simplefashion，ofwhatshewanted，tellinghimallthebloomsshehadselected。
`Whatdoyouwantthesefor？\'Wilsonasked。
`Iwantthem，\'shesaid。Shewishedservantsdidnotaskquestions。
`Ay，you\'vesaidasmuch。Butwhatdoyouwantthemfor，fordecoration，ortosendaway，orwhat？\'
`Iwantthemforapresentationbouquet。\'
`Apresentationbouquet！Who\'scomingthen？——theDuchessofPortland？\'
`No。\'
`Oh，nother？Wellyou\'llhaveararepoppy—showifyouputallthethingsyou\'vementionedintoyourbouquet。\'
`Yes，Iwantararepoppy—show。\'
`Youdo！Thenthere\'snomoretobesaid。\'
ThenextdayWinifred，inadressofsilveryvelvet，andholdingagaudybunchofflowersinherhand，waitedwithkeenimpatienceintheschoolroom，lookingdownthedriveforGudrun\'sarrival。Itwasawetmorning。Underhernosewasthestrangefragranceofhot—houseflowers，thebunchwaslikealittlefiretoher，sheseemedtohaveastrangenewfireinherheart。Thisslightsenseofromancestirredherlikeanintoxicant。
AtlastshesawGudruncoming，andsherandownstairstowarnherfatherandGerald。They，laughingatheranxietyandgravity，camewithherintothehall。Theman—servantcamehasteningtothedoor，andtherehewas，relievingGudrunofherumbrella，andthenofherraincoat。Thewelcomingpartyhungbacktilltheirvisitorenteredthehall。
Gudrunwasflushedwiththerain，herhairwasblowninlooselittlecurls，shewaslikeaflowerjustopenedintherain，theheartoftheblossomjustnewlyvisible，seemingtoemitawarmthofretainedsunshine。
