`Hesaiditwouldbemostawfullyjolly，\'saidUrsula。
AgainGudrunlookeddown，andwassilent。
`Don\'tyouthinkitwould？\'saidUrsula，tentatively。ShewasneverquitesurehowmanydefencesGudrunwashavingroundherself。
Gudrunraisedherfacewithdifficultyandhelditaverted。
`Ithinkitmightbeawfullyjolly，asyousay，\'shereplied。
`Butdon\'tyouthinkitwasanunpardonablelibertytotake——totalkofsuchthingstoRupert——whoafterall——youseewhatImean，Ursula——theymighthavebeentwomenarranginganoutingwithsomelittletypethey\'dpickedup。Oh，Ithinkit\'sunforgivable，quite！\'SheusedtheFrenchword`type。\'
Hereyesflashed，hersoftfacewasflushedandsullen。Ursulalookedon，ratherfrightened，frightenedmostofallbecauseshethoughtGudrunseemedrathercommon，reallylikealittletype。Butshehadnotthecouragequitetothinkthis——notrightout。
`Ohno，\'shecried，stammering。`Ohno——notatalllikethat——ohno！No，Ithinkit\'sratherbeautiful，thefriendshipbetweenRupertandGerald。Theyjustaresimple——theysayanythingtoeachother，likebrothers。\'
Gudrunflusheddeeper。ShecouldnotbearitthatGeraldgaveheraway——eventoBirkin。
`Butdoyouthinkevenbrothershaveanyrighttoexchangeconfidencesofthatsort？\'sheasked，withdeepanger。
`Ohyes，\'saidUrsula。`There\'sneveranythingsaidthatisn\'tperfectlystraightforward。No，thethingthat\'samazedmemostinGerald——howperfectlysimpleanddirecthecanbe！Andyouknow，ittakesratherabigman。Mostofthemmustbeindirect，theyaresuchcowards。\'
ButGudrunwasstillsilentwithanger。Shewantedtheabsolutesecrecykept，withregardtohermovements。
`Won\'tyougo？\'saidUrsula。`Do，wemightallbesohappy！ThereissomethingIloveaboutGerald——he\'smuchmorelovablethanIthoughthim。He\'sfree，Gudrun，hereallyis。\'
Gudrun\'smouthwasstillclosed，sullenandugly。Sheopeneditatlength。
`Doyouknowwhereheproposestogo？\'sheasked。
`Yes——totheTyrol，whereheusedtogowhenhewasinGermany——
alovelyplacewherestudentsgo，smallandroughandlovely，forwintersport！\'
ThroughGudrun\'smindwenttheangrythought——`theyknoweverything。\'
`Yes，\'shesaidaloud，`aboutfortykilometresfromInnsbruck，isn\'tit？\'
`Idon\'tknowexactlywhere——butitwouldbelovely，don\'tyouthink，highintheperfectsnow——？\'
`Verylovely！\'saidGudrun，sarcastically。
Ursulawasputout。
`Ofcourse，\'shesaid，`IthinkGeraldspoketoRupertsothatitshouldn\'tseemlikeanoutingwithatype——\'
`Iknow，ofcourse，\'saidGudrun，`thathequitecommonlydoestakeupwiththatsort。\'
`Doeshe！\'saidUrsula。`Whyhowdoyouknow？\'
`IknowofamodelinChelsea，\'saidGudruncoldly。NowUrsulawassilent。
`Well，\'shesaidatlast，withadoubtfullaugh，`Ihopehehasagoodtimewithher。\'AtwhichGudrunlookedmoreglum。
WomenInLove:Chapter28CHAPTERXXVIIIGudruninthePompadourCHRISTMASDREWNEAR，allfourpreparedforflight。
BirkinandUrsulawerebusypackingtheirfewpersonalthings，makingthemreadytobesentoff，towhatevercountryandwhateverplacetheymightchooseatlast。Gudrunwasverymuchexcited。Shelovedtobeonthewing。
SheandGerald，beingreadyfirst，setoffviaLondonandParistoInnsbruck，wheretheywouldmeetUrsulaandBirkin。InLondontheystayedonenight。
Theywenttothemusic—hall，andafterwardstothePompadourCafe。
GudrunhatedtheCafe，yetshealwayswentbacktoit，asdidmostoftheartistsofheracquaintance。Sheloatheditsatmosphereofpettyviceandpettyjealousyandpettyart。Yetshealwayscalledinagain，whenshewasintown。Itwasasifshehadtoreturntothissmall，slow，centralwhirlpoolofdisintegrationanddissolution:justgiveitalook。
ShesatwithGeralddrinkingsomesweetishliqueur，andstaringwithblack，sullenlooksatthevariousgroupsofpeopleatthetables。Shewouldgreetnobody，butyoungmennoddedtoherfrequently，withakindofsneeringfamiliarity。Shecutthemall。Anditgaveherpleasuretositthere，cheeksflushed，eyesblackandsullen，seeingthemallobjectively，asputawayfromher，likecreaturesinsomemenagerieofapishdegradedsouls。God，whatafoulcrewtheywere！Herbloodbeatblackandthickinherveinswithrageandloathing。Yetshemustsitandwatch，watch。
Oneortwopeoplecametospeaktoher。FromeverysideoftheCafe，eyesturnedhalffurtively，halfjeeringlyather，menlookingovertheirshoulders，womenundertheirhats。
Theoldcrowdwasthere，Carlyoninhiscornerwithhispupilsandhisgirl，HallidayandLibidnikovandthePussum——theywereallthere。GudrunwatchedGerald。ShewatchedhiseyeslingeramomentonHalliday，onHalliday\'sparty。Theselastwereonthelook—out——theynoddedtohim，henoddedagain。Theygiggledandwhisperedamongthemselves。Geraldwatchedthemwiththesteadytwinkleinhiseyes。TheywereurgingthePussumtosomething。
Sheatlastrose。Shewaswearingacuriousdressofdarksilksplashedandspatteredwithdifferentcolours，acuriousmotleyeffect。Shewasthinner，hereyeswereperhapshotter，moredisintegrated。Otherwiseshewasjustthesame。Geraldwatchedherwiththesamesteadytwinkleinhiseyesasshecameacross。Sheheldoutherthinbrownhandtohim。
`Howareyou？\'shesaid。
Heshookhandswithher，butremainedseated，andletherstandnearhim，againstthetable。ShenoddedblacklytoGudrun，whomshedidnotknowtospeakto，butwellenoughbysightandreputation。
`Iamverywell，\'saidGerald。`Andyou？\'
`OhI\'mallwight。WhataboutWupert？\'
`Rupert？He\'sverywell，too。\'
`Yes，Idon\'tmeanthat。Whatabouthimbeingmarried？\'
`Oh——yes，heismarried。\'
ThePussum\'seyeshadahotflash。
`Oh，he\'sweallybwoughtitoffthen，hashe？Whenwashemarried？\'
`Aweekortwoago。\'
`Weally！He\'sneverwritten。\'
`No。\'
`No。Don\'tyouthinkit\'stoobad？\'
Thislastwasinatoneofchallenge。ThePussumletitbeknownbyhertone，thatshewasawareofGudrun\'slistening。
`Isupposehedidn\'tfeellikeit，\'repliedGerald。
`Butwhydidn\'the？\'pursuedthePussum。
Thiswasreceivedinsilence。Therewasanugly，mockingpersistenceinthesmall，beautifulfigureoftheshort—hairedgirl，asshestoodnearGerald。
`Areyoustayingintownlong？\'sheasked。
`Tonightonly。\'
`Oh，onlytonight。AreyoucomingovertospeaktoJulius？\'
`Nottonight。\'
`Ohverywell。I\'lltellhimthen。\'Thencamehertouchofdiablerie。
`You\'relookingawf\'llyfit。\'
`Yes——Ifeelit。\'Geraldwasquitecalmandeasy，asparkofsatiricamusementinhiseye。
`Areyouhavingagoodtime？\'
ThiswasadirectblowforGudrun，spokeninalevel，tonelessvoiceofcallousease。
`Yes，\'hereplied，quitecolourlessly。
`I\'mawf\'llysorryyouaren\'tcomingroundtotheflat。Youaren\'tveryfaithfultoyourfwiends。\'
`Notvery，\'hesaid。
Shenoddedthemboth`Good—night\'，andwentbackslowlytoherownset。
Gudrunwatchedhercuriouswalk，stiffandjerkingattheloins。Theyheardherlevel，tonelessvoicedistinctly。
`Hewon\'tcomeover;——heisotherwiseengaged，\'itsaid。Therewasmorelaughterandloweredvoicesandmockeryatthetable。
`Issheafriendofyours？\'saidGudrun，lookingcalmlyatGerald。
`I\'vestayedatHalliday\'sflatwithBirkin，\'hesaid，meetingherslow，calmeyes。AndsheknewthatthePussumwasoneofhismistresses——andheknewsheknew。
Shelookedround，andcalledforthewaiter。Shewantedanicedcocktail，ofallthings。ThisamusedGerald——hewonderedwhatwasup。
TheHallidaypartywastipsy，andmalicious。TheyweretalkingoutloudlyaboutBirkin，ridiculinghimoneverypoint，particularlyonhismarriage。
`Oh，don\'tmakemethinkofBirkin，\'Hallidaywassquealing。
`Hemakesmeperfectlysick。HeisasbadasJesus。\"Lord，whatmustIdotobesaved！\"\'
Hegiggledtohimselftipsily。
`Doyouremember，\'camethequickvoiceoftheRussian，`thelettersheusedtosend。\"Desireisholy——\"\'
`Ohyes！\'criedHalliday。`Oh，howperfectlysplendid。Why，I\'vegotoneinmypocket。I\'msureIhave。\'
Hetookoutvariouspapersfromhispocketbook。
`I\'msureI\'ve——hic！Ohdear！——gotone。\'
GeraldandGudrunwerewatchingabsorbedly。
`Ohyes，howperfectly——hic！——splendid！Don\'tmakemelaugh，Pussum，itgivesmethehiccup。Hic！——\'Theyallgiggled。
`Whatdidhesayinthatone？\'thePussumasked，leaningforward，herdark，softhairfallingandswingingagainstherface。Therewassomethingcuriouslyindecent，obscene，abouthersmall，longish，darkskull，particularlywhentheearsshowed。
`Wait——ohdowait！No—o，Iwon\'tgiveittoyou，I\'llreaditaloud。I\'llreadyouthechoicebits，——hic！Ohdear！DoyouthinkifIdrinkwateritwouldtakeoffthishiccup？Hic！Oh，Ifeelperfectlyhelpless。\'
`Isn\'tthattheletteraboutunitingthedarkandthelight——andtheFluxofCorruption？\'askedMaxim，inhisprecise，quickvoice。
`Ibelieveso，\'saidthePussum。
`Ohisit？I\'dforgotten——hic！——itwasthatone，\'Hallidaysaid，openingtheletter。`Hic！Ohyes。Howperfectlysplendid！
Thisisoneofthebest。\"Thereisaphaseineveryrace——\"\'hereadinthesing—song，slow，distinctvoiceofaclergymanreadingtheScriptures，`\"Whenthedesirefordestructionovercomeseveryotherdesire。Intheindividual，thisdesireisultimatelyadesirefordestructionintheself\"
——hic！——\'hepausedandlookedup。
`Ihopehe\'sgoingaheadwiththedestructionofhimself，\'saidthequickvoiceoftheRussian。Hallidaygiggled，andlolledhisheadback，vaguely。
`There\'snotmuchtodestroyinhim，\'saidthePussum。`He\'ssothinalready，there\'sonlyafag—endtostarton。\'
`Oh，isn\'titbeautiful！Ilovereadingit！Ibelieveithascuredmyhiccup！\'squealedHalliday。`Doletmegoon。\"Itisadesireforthereductionprocessinoneself，areducingbacktotheorigin，areturnalongtheFluxofCorruption，totheoriginalrudimentaryconditionsofbeing——！\"Oh，butIdothinkitiswonderful。ItalmostsupersedestheBible——\'
`Yes——FluxofCorruption，\'saidtheRussian，`Irememberthatphrase。\'
`Oh，hewasalwaystalkingaboutCorruption，\'saidthePussum。`Hemustbecorrupthimself，tohaveitsomuchonhismind。\'
`Exactly！\'saidtheRussian。
`Doletmegoon！Oh，thisisaperfectlywonderfulpiece！Butdolistentothis。\"Andinthegreatretrogression，thereducingbackofthecreatedbodyoflife，wegetknowledge，andbeyondknowledge，thephosphorescentecstasyofacutesensation。\"Oh，Idothinkthesephrasesaretooabsurdlywonderful。Ohbutdon\'tyouthinktheyare——they\'renearlyasgoodasJesus。\"Andif，Julius，youwantthisecstasyofreductionwiththePussum，youmustgoontillitisfulfilled。Butsurelythereisinyoualso，somewhere，thelivingdesireforpositivecreation，relationshipsinultimatefaith，whenallthisprocessofactivecorruption，withallitsflowersofmud，istranscended，andmoreorlessfinished——\"Idowonderwhattheflowersofmudare。Pussum，youareaflowerofmud。\'
`Thankyou——andwhatareyou？\'
`Oh，I\'manother，surely，accordingtothisletter！We\'reallflowersofmud——Fleurs——hic！dumal！It\'sperfectlywonderful，BirkinharrowingHell——harrowingthePompadour——Hic！\'
`Goon——goon，\'saidMaxim。`Whatcomesnext？It\'sreallyveryinteresting。\'
`Ithinkit\'sawfulcheektowritelikethat，\'saidthePussum。
`Yes——yes，sodoI，\'saidtheRussian。`Heisamegalomaniac，ofcourse，itisaformofreligiousmania。HethinksheistheSaviourofman——
goonreading。\'
`Surely，\'Hallidayintoned，`\"surelygoodnessandmercyhathfollowedmeallthedaysofmylife——\"\'hebrokeoffandgiggled。Thenhebeganagain，intoninglikeaclergyman。`\"Surelytherewillcomeanendinustothisdesire——fortheconstantgoingapart，——thispassionforputtingasunder——everything——ourselves，reducingourselvespartfrompart——
reactinginintimacyonlyfordestruction，——usingsexasagreatreducingagent，reducingthetwogreatelementsofmaleandfemalefromtheirhighlycomplexunity——reducingtheoldideas，goingbacktothesavagesforoursensations，——alwaysseekingtoloseourselvesinsomeultimateblacksensation，mindlessandinfinite——burningonlywithdestructivefires，ragingonwiththehopeofbeingburntoututterly——\"\'
`Iwanttogo，\'saidGudruntoGerald，asshesignalledthewaiter。
Hereyeswereflashing，hercheekswereflushed。ThestrangeeffectofBirkin\'sletterreadaloudinaperfectclericalsing—song，clearandresonant，phrasebyphrase，madethebloodmountintoherheadasifsheweremad。
Sherose，whilstGeraldwaspayingthebill，andwalkedovertoHalliday\'stable。Theyallglancedupather。
`Excuseme，\'shesaid。`Isthatagenuineletteryouarereading？\'
`Ohyes，\'saidHalliday。`Quitegenuine。\'
`MayIsee？\'
Smilingfoolishlyhehandedittoher，asifhypnotised。
`Thankyou，\'shesaid。
AndsheturnedandwalkedoutoftheCafewiththeletter，alldownthebrilliantroom，betweenthetables，inhermeasuredfashion。Itwassomemomentsbeforeanybodyrealisedwhatwashappening。
FromHalliday\'stablecamehalfarticulatecries，thensomebodybooed，thenallthefarendoftheplacebeganbooingafterGudrun\'sretreatingform。Shewasfashionablydressedinblackish—greenandsilver，herhatwasbrilliantgreen，likethesheenonaninsect，butthebrimwassoftdarkgreen，afallingedgewithfinesilver，hercoatwasdarkgreen，lustrous，withahighcollarofgreyfur，andgreatfurcuffs，theedgeofherdressshowedsilverandblackvelvet，herstockingsandshoesweresilvergrey。
Shemovedwithslow，fashionableindifferencetothedoor。Theporteropenedobsequiouslyforher，and，athernod，hurriedtotheedgeofthepavementandwhistledforataxi。Thetwolightsofavehiclealmostimmediatelycurvedroundtowardsher，liketwoeyes。
Geraldhadfollowedinwonder，amidallthebooing，nothavingcaughthermisdeed。HeheardthePussum\'svoicesaying:
`Goandgetitbackfromher。Ineverheardofsuchathing！Goandgetitbackfromher。TellGeraldCrich——therehegoes——goandmakehimgiveitup。\'
Gudrunstoodatthedoorofthetaxi，whichthemanheldopenforher。
`Tothehotel？\'sheasked，asGeraldcameout，hurriedly。
`Whereyoulike，\'heanswered。
`Right！\'shesaid。Thentothedriver，`Wagstaff\'s——BartonStreet。\'
Thedriverbowedhishead，andputdowntheflag。
Gudrunenteredthetaxi，withthedeliberatecoldmovementofawomanwhoiswell—dressedandcontemptuousinhersoul。Yetshewasfrozenwithoverwroughtfeelings。Geraldfollowedher。
`You\'veforgottentheman，\'shesaidcooly，withaslightnodofherhat。Geraldgavetheporterashilling。Themansaluted。Theywereinmotion。
`Whatwasalltherowabout？\'askedGerald，inwonderingexcitement。
`IwalkedawaywithBirkin\'sletter，\'shesaid，andhesawthecrushedpaperinherhand。
Hiseyesglitteredwithsatisfaction。
`Ah！\'hesaid。`Splendid！Asetofjackasses！\'
`Icouldhavekilledthem！\'shecriedinpassion。`Dogs！——theyaredogs！WhyisRupertsuchafoolastowritesuchletterstothem？Whydoeshegivehimselfawaytosuchcanaille？It\'sathingthatcannotbeborne。\'
Geraldwonderedoverherstrangepassion。
AndshecouldnotrestanylongerinLondon。TheymustgobythemorningtrainfromCharingCross。Astheydrewoverthebridge，inthetrain，havingglimpsesoftheriverbetweenthegreatirongirders，shecried:
`IfeelIcouldneverseethisfoultownagain——Icouldn\'tbeartocomebacktoit。\'
WomenInLove:Chapter29CHAPTERXXIXContinentalURSULAWENToninanunrealsuspense，thelastweeksbeforegoingaway。Shewasnotherself，——shewasnotanything。
Shewassomethingthatisgoingtobe——soon——soon——verysoon。Butasyet，shewasonlyimminent。
Shewenttoseeherparents。Itwasaratherstiff，sadmeeting，morelikeaverificationofseparatenessthanareunion。Buttheywereallvagueandindefinitewithoneanother，stiffenedinthefatethatmovedthemapart。
ShedidnotreallycometountilshewasontheshipcrossingfromDovertoOstend。DimlyshehadcomedowntoLondonwithBirkin，Londonhadbeenavagueness，sohadthetrain—journeytoDover。Itwasalllikeasleep。
Andnow，atlast，asshestoodinthesternoftheship，inapitch—dark，ratherblowynight，feelingthemotionofthesea，andwatchingthesmall，ratherdesolatelittlelightsthattwinkledontheshoresofEngland，asontheshoresofnowhere，watchedthemsinkingsmallerandsmallerontheprofoundandlivingdarkness，shefelthersoulstirringtoawakefromitsanaestheticsleep。
`Letusgoforward，shallwe？\'saidBirkin。Hewantedtobeatthetipoftheirprojection。Sotheyleftofflookingatthefaintsparksthatglimmeredoutofnowhere，inthefardistance，calledEngland，andturnedtheirfacestotheunfathomednightinfront。
Theywentrighttothebowsofthesoftlyplungingvessel。Inthecompleteobscurity，Birkinfoundacomparativelyshelterednook，whereagreatropewascoiledup。Itwasquiteneartheverypointoftheship，neartheblack，unpiercedspaceahead。Theretheysatdown，foldedtogether，foldedroundwiththesamerug，creepinginnearerandevernearertooneanother，tillitseemedtheyhadcreptrightintoeachother，andbecomeonesubstance。
Itwasverycold，andthedarknesswaspalpable。
Oneoftheship\'screwcamealongthedeck，darkasthedarkness，notreallyvisible。Theythenmadeoutthefaintestpallorofhisface。Hefelttheirpresence，andstopped，unsure——thenbentforward。Whenhisfacewasnearthem，hesawthefaintpalloroftheirfaces。Thenhewithdrewlikeaphantom。Andtheywatchedhimwithoutmakinganysound。
Theyseemedtofallawayintotheprofounddarkness。Therewasnosky，noearth，onlyoneunbrokendarkness，intowhich，withasoft，sleepingmotion，theyseemedtofalllikeoneclosedseedoflifefallingthroughdark，fathomlessspace。
Theyhadforgottenwheretheywere，forgottenallthatwasandallthathadbeen，consciousonlyintheirheart，andthereconsciousonlyofthispuretrajectorythroughthesurpassingdarkness。Theship\'sprowcleavedon，withafaintnoiseofcleavage，intothecompletenight，withoutknowing，withoutseeing，onlysurgingon。
InUrsulathesenseoftheunrealisedworldaheadtriumphedovereverything。
Inthemidstofthisprofounddarkness，thereseemedtoglowonherhearttheeffulgenceofaparadiseunknownandunrealised。Herheartwasfullofthemostwonderfullight，goldenlikehoneyofdarkness，sweetlikethewarmthofday，alightwhichwasnotshedontheworld，onlyontheunknownparadisetowardswhichshewasgoing，asweetnessofhabitation，adelightoflivingquiteunknown，buthersinfallibly。Inhertransportsheliftedherfacesuddenlytohim，andhetoucheditwithhislips。Socold，sofresh，sosea—clearherfacewas，itwaslikekissingaflowerthatgrowsnearthesurf。
Buthedidnotknowtheecstasyofblissinfore—knowledgethatsheknew。Tohim，thewonderofthistransitwasoverwhelming。Hewasfallingthroughagulfofinfinitedarkness，likeameteoriteplungingacrossthechasmbetweentheworlds。Theworldwastornintwo，andhewasplunginglikeanunlitstarthroughtheineffablerift。Whatwasbeyondwasnotyetforhim。Hewasovercomebythetrajectory。
InatrancehelayenfoldingUrsularoundabout。Hisfacewasagainstherfine，fragilehair，hebreatheditsfragrancewiththeseaandtheprofoundnight。Andhissoulwasatpeace;yielded，ashefellintotheunknown。Thiswasthefirsttimethatanutterandabsolutepeacehadenteredhisheart，now，inthisfinaltransitoutoflife。
Whentherecamesomestironthedeck，theyroused。Theystoodup。Howstiffandcrampedtheywere，inthenight—time！Andyettheparadisalglowonherheart，andtheunutterablepeaceofdarknessinhis，thiswastheall—in—all。
Theystoodupandlookedahead。Lowlightswereseendownthedarkness。
Thiswastheworldagain。Itwasnottheblissofherheart，northepeaceofhis。Itwasthesuperficialunrealworldoffact。Yetnotquitetheoldworld。Forthepeaceandtheblissintheirheartswasenduring。
Strange，anddesolateaboveallthings，likedisembarkingfromtheStyxintothedesolatedunderworld，wasthislandingatnight。Therewastheraw，half—lighted，covered—invastnessofthedarkplace，boardedandhollowunderfoot，withonlydesolationeverywhere。Ursulahadcaughtsightofthebig，pallid，mysticletters`OSTEND，\'standinginthedarkness。Everybodywashurryingwithablind，insect—likeintentnessthroughthedarkgreyair，porterswerecallinginun—EnglishEnglish，thentrottingwithheavybags，theircolourlessblouseslookingghostlyastheydisappeared;Ursulastoodatalong，low，zinc—coveredbarrier，alongwithhundredsofotherspectralpeople，andallthewaydownthevast，rawdarknesswasthislowstretchofopenbagsandspectralpeople，whilst，ontheothersideofthebarrier，pallidofficialsinpeakedcapsandmoustacheswereturningtheunderclothinginthebags，thenscrawlingachalk—mark。
Itwasdone。Birkinsnappedthehandbags，offtheywent，theportercomingbehind。Theywerethroughagreatdoorway，andintheopennightagain——ah，arailwayplatform！Voiceswerestillcallingininhumanagitationthroughthedark—greyair，spectreswererunningalongthedarknessbetweenthetrain。
`Koln——Berlin——\'Ursulamadeoutontheboardshungonthehightrainononeside。
`Hereweare，\'saidBirkin。Andonhersideshesaw:`Elsass——Lothringen——Luxembourg，Metz——Basle。\'
`Thatwasit，Basle！\'
Theportercameup。
`ABale——deuxiemeclasse？——Voila！\'Andheclamberedintothehightrain。Theyfollowed。Thecompartmentswerealreadysomeofthemtaken。
Butmanyweredimandempty。Theluggagewasstowed，theporterwastipped。
`Nousavonsencore——？\'saidBirkin，lookingathiswatchandattheporter。
`Encoreunedemi—heure。\'Withwhich，inhisblueblouse，hedisappeared。
Hewasuglyandinsolent。
`Come，\'saidBirkin。`Itiscold。Letuseat。\'
Therewasacoffee—wagonontheplatform。Theydrankhot，waterycoffee，andatethelongrolls，split，withhambetween，whichweresuchawidebitethatitalmostdislocatedUrsula\'sjaw;andtheywalkedbesidethehightrains。Itwasallsostrange，soextremelydesolate，liketheunderworld，grey，grey，dirtgrey，desolate，forlorn，nowhere——grey，drearynowhere。
Atlasttheyweremovingthroughthenight。InthedarknessUrsulamadeouttheflatfields，thewetflatdrearydarknessoftheContinent。Theypulledupsurprisinglysoon——Bruges！Thenonthroughtheleveldarkness，withglimpsesofsleepingfarmsandthinpoplartreesanddesertedhigh—roads。
Shesatdismayed，handinhandwithBirkin。Hepale，immobilelikearevenanthimself，lookedsometimesoutofthewindow，sometimesclosedhiseyes。
Thenhiseyesopenedagain，darkasthedarknessoutside。
Aflashofafewlightsonthedarkness——Ghentstation！Afewmorespectresmovingoutsideontheplatform——thenthebell——thenmotionagainthroughtheleveldarkness。Ursulasawamanwithalanterncomeoutofafarmbytherailway，andcrosstothedarkfarm—buildings。ShethoughtoftheMarsh，theold，intimatefarm—lifeatCossethay。MyGod，howfarwassheprojectedfromherchildhood，howfarwasshestilltogo！Inonelife—timeonetravelledthroughaeons。ThegreatchasmofmemoryfromherchildhoodintheintimatecountrysurroundingsofCossethayandtheMarshFarm——sherememberedtheservantTilly，whousedtogiveherbreadandbuttersprinkledwithbrownsugar，intheoldliving—roomwherethegrandfatherclockhadtwopinkrosesinabasketpaintedabovethefiguresontheface——andnowwhenshewastravellingintotheunknownwithBirkin，anutterstranger——wassogreat，thatitseemedshehadnoidentity，thatthechildshehadbeen，playinginCossethaychurchyard，wasalittlecreatureofhistory，notreallyherself。
TheywereatBrussels——halfanhourforbreakfast。Theygotdown。
Onthegreatstationclockitsaidsixo\'clock。Theyhadcoffeeandrollsandhoneyinthevastdesertrefreshmentroom，sodreary，alwayssodreary，dirty，sospacious，suchdesolationofspace。Butshewashedherfaceandhandsinhotwater，andcombedherhair——thatwasablessing。
Soontheywereinthetrainagainandmovingon。Thegreynessofdawnbegan。Therewereseveralpeopleinthecompartment，largefloridBelgianbusiness—menwithlongbrownbeards，talkingincessantlyinanuglyFrenchshewastootiredtofollow。
Itseemedthetrainranbydegreesoutofthedarknessintoafaintlight，thenbeatafterbeatintotheday。Ah，howwearyitwas！Faintly，thetreesshowed，likeshadows。Thenahouse，white，hadacuriousdistinctness。
Howwasit？Thenshesawavillage——therewerealwayshousespassing。
Thiswasanoldworldshewasstilljourneyingthrough，winter—heavyanddreary。Therewasplough—landandpasture，andcopsesofbaretrees，copsesofbushes，andhomesteadsnakedandwork—bare。Nonewearthhadcometopass。
ShelookedatBirkin\'sface。Itwaswhiteandstillandeternal，tooeternal。Shelinkedherfingersimploringlyinhis，underthecoverofherrug。Hisfingersresponded，hiseyeslookedbackather。Howdark，likeanight，hiseyeswere，likeanotherworldbeyond！Oh，ifheweretheworldaswell，ifonlytheworldwerehe！Ifonlyhecouldcallaworldintobeing，thatshouldbetheirownworld！
TheBelgiansleft，thetrainranon，throughLuxembourg，throughAlsace—Lorraine，throughMetz。Butshewasblind，shecouldseenomore。Hersouldidnotlookout。
TheycameatlasttoBasle，tothehotel。Itwasalladriftingtrance，fromwhichshenevercameto。Theywentoutinthemorning，beforethetraindeparted。Shesawthestreet，theriver，shestoodonthebridge。
Butitallmeantnothing。Sherememberedsomeshops——onefullofpictures，onewithorangevelvetandermine。Butwhatdidthesesignify？——nothing。
Shewasnotateasetilltheywereinthetrainagain。Thenshewasrelieved。Solongastheyweremovingonwards，shewassatisfied。TheycametoZurich，then，beforeverylong，ranunderthemountains，thatweredeepinsnow。Atlastshewasdrawingnear。Thiswastheotherworldnow。
Innsbruckwaswonderful，deepinsnow，andevening。Theydroveinanopensledgeoverthesnow:thetrainhadbeensohotandstifling。Andthehotel，withthegoldenlightglowingundertheporch，seemedlikeahome。
