Theylaughedwithpleasurewhentheywereinthehall。Theplaceseemedfullandbusy。
`DoyouknowifMrandMrsCrich——English——fromParis，havearrived？\'
BirkinaskedinGerman。
Theporterreflectedamoment，andwasjustgoingtoanswer，whenUrsulacaughtsightofGudrunsaunteringdownthestairs，wearingherdarkglossycoat，withgreyfur。
`Gudrun！Gudrun！\'shecalled，wavingupthewellofthestaircase。`Shu—hu！\'
Gudrunlookedovertherail，andimmediatelylosthersauntering，diffidentair。Hereyesflashed。
`Really——Ursula！\'shecried。AndshebegantomovedownstairsasUrsularanup。Theymetataturnandkissedwithlaughterandexclamationsinarticulateandstirring。
`But！\'criedGudrun，mortified。`Wethoughtitwastomorrowyouwerecoming！Iwantedtocometothestation。\'
`No，we\'vecometoday！\'criedUrsula。`Isn\'titlovelyhere！\'
`Adorable！\'saidGudrun。`Gerald\'sjustgoneouttogetsomething。Ursula，aren\'tyoufearfullytired？\'
`No，notsovery。ButIlookafilthysight，don\'tI！\'
`No，youdon\'t。Youlookalmostperfectlyfresh。Ilikethatfurcapimmensely！\'SheglancedoverUrsula，whoworeabigsoftcoatwithacollarofdeep，soft，blondfur，andasoftblondcapoffur。
`Andyou！\'criedUrsula。`Whatdoyouthinkyoulooklike！\'
Gudrunassumedanunconcerned，expressionlessface。
`Doyoulikeit？\'shesaid。
`It\'sveryfine！\'criedUrsula，perhapswithatouchofsatire。
`Goup——orcomedown，\'saidBirkin。Fortherethesistersstood，GudrunwithherhandonUrsula\'sarm，ontheturnofthestairshalfwaytothefirstlanding，blockingthewayandaffordingfullentertainmenttothewholeofthehallbelow，fromthedoorportertotheplumpJewinblackclothes。
Thetwoyoungwomenslowlymounted，followedbyBirkinandthewaiter。
`Firstfloor？\'askedGudrun，lookingbackoverhershoulder。
`SecondMadam——thelift！\'thewaiterreplied。Andhedartedtotheelevatortoforestallthetwowomen。Buttheyignoredhim，as，chatteringwithoutheed，theysettomountthesecondflight。Ratherchagrined，thewaiterfollowed。
Itwascurious，thedelightofthesistersineachother，atthismeeting。
Itwasasiftheymetinexile，andunitedtheirsolitaryforcesagainstalltheworld。Birkinlookedonwithsomemistrustandwonder。
Whentheyhadbathedandchanged，Geraldcamein。Helookedshininglikethesunonfrost。
`GowithGeraldandsmoke，\'saidUrsulatoBirkin。`GudrunandIwanttotalk。\'
ThenthesisterssatinGudrun\'sbedroom，andtalkedclothes，andexperiences。
GudruntoldUrsulatheexperienceoftheBirkinletterinthecafe。Ursulawasshockedandfrightened。
`Whereistheletter？\'sheasked。
`Ikeptit，\'saidGudrun。
`You\'llgiveitme，won\'tyou？\'shesaid。
ButGudrunwassilentforsomemoments，beforeshereplied:
`Doyoureallywantit，Ursula？\'
`Iwanttoreadit，\'saidUrsula。
`Certainly，\'saidGudrun。
Evennow，shecouldnotadmit，toUrsula，thatshewantedtokeepit，asamemento，orasymbol。ButUrsulaknew，andwasnotpleased。Sothesubjectwasswitchedoff。
`WhatdidyoudoinParis？\'askedUrsula。
`Oh，\'saidGudrunlaconically——`theusualthings。WehadafinepartyonenightinFannyBath\'sstudio。\'
`Didyou？AndyouandGeraldwerethere！Whoelse？Tellmeaboutit。\'
`Well，\'saidGudrun。`There\'snothingparticulartotell。YouknowFannyisfrightfullyinlovewiththatpainter，BillyMacfarlane。Hewasthere——soFannysparednothing，shespentveryfreely。Itwasreallyremarkable！Ofcourse，everybodygotfearfullydrunk——butinaninterestingway，notlikethatfilthyLondoncrowd。Thefactisthesewereallpeoplethatmatter，whichmakesallthedifference。TherewasaRoumanian，afinechap。Hegotcompletelydrunk，andclimbedtothetopofahighstudioladder，andgavethemostmarvellousaddress——really，Ursula，itwaswonderful！HebeganinFrench——Lavie，c\'estuneaffaired\'amesimperiales——inamostbeautifulvoice——hewasafine—lookingchap——
buthehadgotintoRoumanianbeforehehadfinished，andnotasoulunderstood。
ButDonaldGilchristwasworkedtoafrenzy。Hedashedhisglasstotheground，anddeclared，byGod，hewasgladhehadbeenborn，byGod，itwasamiracletobealive。Anddoyouknow，Ursula，soitwas——\'Gudrunlaughedratherhollowly。
`ButhowwasGeraldamongthemall？\'askedUrsula。
`Gerald！Oh，myword，hecameoutlikeadandelioninthesun！He\'sawholesaturnaliainhimself，onceheisroused。Ishouldn\'tliketosaywhosewaisthisarmdidnotgoround。Really，Ursula，heseemstoreapthewomenlikeaharvest。Therewasn\'tonethatwouldhaveresistedhim。
Itwastooamazing！Canyouunderstandit？\'
Ursulareflected，andadancinglightcameintohereyes。
`Yes，\'shesaid。`Ican。Heissuchawhole—hogger。\'
`Whole—hogger！Ishouldthinkso！\'exclaimedGudrun。`Butitistrue，Ursula，everywomanintheroomwasreadytosurrendertohim。Chanticleerisn\'tinit——evenFannyBath，whoisgenuinelyinlovewithBillyMacfarlane！Ineverwasmoreamazedinmylife！Andyouknow，afterwards——IfeltIwasawholeroomfulofwomen。Iwasnomoremyselftohim，thanIwasQueenVictoria。Iwasawholeroomfulofwomenatonce。
Itwasmostastounding！Butmyeye，I\'dcaughtaSultanthattime——\'
Gudrun\'seyeswereflashing，hercheekwashot，shelookedstrange，exotic，satiric。Ursulawasfascinatedatonce——andyetuneasy。
Theyhadtogetreadyfordinner。Gudruncamedowninadaringgownofvividgreensilkandtissueofgold，withgreenvelvetbodiceandastrangeblack—and—whitebandroundherhair。Shewasreallybrilliantlybeautifulandeverybodynoticedher。Geraldwasinthatfull—blooded，gleamingstatewhenhewasmosthandsome。Birkinwatchedthemwithquick，laughing，half—sinistereyes，Ursulaquitelostherhead。Thereseemedaspell，almostablindingspell，castroundtheirtable，asiftheywerelightedupmorestronglythantherestofthedining—room。
`Don\'tyoulovetobeinthisplace？\'criedGudrun。`Isn\'tthesnowwonderful！Doyounoticehowitexaltseverything？Itissimplymarvellous。
Onereallydoesfeeliibermenschlich——morethanhuman。\'
`Onedoes，\'criedUrsula。`Butisn\'tthatpartlythebeingoutofEngland？\'
`Oh，ofcourse，\'criedGudrun。`OnecouldneverfeellikethisinEngland，forthesimplereasonthatthedamperisneverliftedoffone，there。
Itisquiteimpossiblereallytoletgo，inEngland，ofthatIamassured。\'
Andsheturnedagaintothefoodshewaseating。Shewasflutteringwithvividintensity。
`It\'squitetrue，\'saidGerald，`itneverisquitethesameinEngland。
Butperhapswedon\'twantittobe——perhapsit\'slikebringingthelightalittletoonearthepowder—magazine，toletgoaltogether，inEngland。
Oneisafraidwhatmighthappen，ifeverybodyelseletgo。\'
`MyGod！\'criedGudrun。`Butwouldn\'titbewonderful，ifallEnglanddidsuddenlygoofflikeadisplayoffireworks。\'
`Itcouldn\'t，\'saidUrsula。`Theyarealltoodamp，thepowderisdampinthem。\'
`I\'mnotsosureofthat，\'saidGerald。
`NorI，\'saidBirkin。`WhentheEnglishreallybegintogooff，enmasse，it\'llbetimetoshutyourearsandrun。\'
`Theyneverwill，\'saidUrsula。
`We\'llsee，\'hereplied。
`Isn\'titmarvellous，\'saidGudrun，`howthankfulonecanbe，tobeoutofone\'scountry。Icannotbelievemyself，Iamsotransported，themomentIsetfootonaforeignshore。Isaytomyself\"Herestepsanewcreatureintolife。\"\'
`Don\'tbetoohardonpooroldEngland，\'saidGerald。`Thoughwecurseit，weloveitreally。\'
ToUrsula，thereseemedafundofcynicisminthesewords。
`Wemay，\'saidBirkin。`Butit\'sadamnablyuncomfortablelove:likealoveforanagedparentwhosuffershorriblyfromacomplicationofdiseases，forwhichthereisnohope。\'
Gudrunlookedathimwithdilateddarkeyes。
`Youthinkthereisnohope？\'sheasked，inherpertinentfashion。
ButBirkinbackedaway。Hewouldnotanswersuchaquestion。
`AnyhopeofEngland\'sbecomingreal？Godknows。It\'sagreatactualunrealitynow，anaggregationintounreality。Itmightbereal，iftherewerenoEnglishmen。\'
`YouthinktheEnglishwillhavetodisappear？\'persistedGudrun。Itwasstrange，herpointedinterestinhisanswer。Itmighthavebeenherownfateshewasinquiringafter。Herdark，dilatedeyesrestedonBirkin，asifshecouldconjurethetruthofthefutureoutofhim，asoutofsomeinstrumentofdivination。
Hewaspale。Then，reluctantly，heanswered:
`Well——whatelseisinfrontofthem，butdisappearance？They\'vegottodisappearfromtheirownspecialbrandofEnglishness，anyhow。\'
Gudrunwatchedhimasifinahypnoticstate，hereyeswideandfixedonhim。
`Butinwhatwaydoyoumean，disappear？——\'shepersisted。
`Yes，doyoumeanachangeofheart？\'putinGerald。
`Idon\'tmeananything，whyshouldI？\'saidBirkin。`I\'manEnglishman，andI\'vepaidthepriceofit。Ican\'ttalkaboutEngland——Icanonlyspeakformyself。\'
`Yes，\'saidGudrunslowly，`youloveEnglandimmensely，immensely，Rupert。\'
`Andleaveher，\'hereplied。
`No，notforgood。You\'llcomeback，\'saidGerald，noddingsagely。
`Theysaythelicecrawloffadyingbody，\'saidBirkin，withaglareofbitterness。`SoIleaveEngland。\'
`Ah，butyou\'llcomeback，\'saidGudrun，withasardonicsmile。
`Tantpispourmoi，\'hereplied。
`Isn\'theangrywithhismothercountry！\'laughedGerald，amused。
`Ah，apatriot！\'saidGudrun，withsomethinglikeasneer。
Birkinrefusedtoansweranymore。
Gudrunwatchedhimstillforafewseconds。Thensheturnedaway。Itwasfinished，herspellofdivinationinhim。Shefeltalreadypurelycynical。
ShelookedatGerald。Hewaswonderfullikeapieceofradiumtoher。Shefeltshecouldconsumeherselfandknowall，bymeansofthisfatal，livingmetal。Shesmiledtoherselfatherfancy。Andwhatwouldshedowithherself，whenshehaddestroyedherself？Forifspirit，ifintegralbeingisdestructible，Matterisindestructible。
Hewaslookingbrightandabstracted，puzzled，forthemoment。Shestretchedoutherbeautifularm，withitsfluffofgreentulle，andtouchedhischinwithhersubtle，artist\'sfingers。
`Whataretheythen？\'sheasked，withastrange，knowingsmile。
`What？\'hereplied，hiseyessuddenlydilatingwithwonder。
`Yourthoughts。\'
Geraldlookedlikeamancomingawake。
`IthinkIhadnone，\'hesaid。
`Really！\'shesaid，withgravelaughterinhervoice。
AndtoBirkinitwasasifshekilledGerald，withthattouch。
`Ahbut，\'criedGudrun，`letusdrinktoBritannia——letusdrinktoBritannia。\'
Itseemedtherewaswilddespairinhervoice。Geraldlaughed，andfilledtheglasses。
`IthinkRupertmeans，\'hesaid，`thatnationallyallEnglishmenmustdie，sothattheycanexistindividuallyand——\'
`Super—nationally——\'putinGudrun，withaslightironicgrimace，raisingherglass。
Thenextday，theydescendedatthetinyrailwaystationofHohenhausen，attheendofthetinyvalleyrailway。Itwassnoweverywhere，awhite，perfectcradleofsnow，newandfrozen，sweepingupaneitherside，blackcrags，andwhitesweepsofsilvertowardsthebluepaleheavens。
Astheysteppedoutonthenakedplatform，withonlysnowaroundandabove，Gudrunshrankasifitchilledherheart。
`MyGod，Jerry，\'shesaid，turningtoGeraldwithsuddenintimacy，`you\'vedoneitnow。\'
`What？\'
Shemadeafaintgesture，indicatingtheworldoneitherhand。
`Lookatit！\'
Sheseemedafraidtogoon。Helaughed。
Theywereintheheartofthemountains。Fromhighabove，oneitherside，sweptdownthewhitefoldofsnow，sothatoneseemedsmallandtinyinavalleyofpureconcreteheaven，allstrangelyradiantandchangelessandsilent。
`Itmakesonefeelsosmallandalone，\'saidUrsula，turningtoBirkinandlayingherhandonhisarm。
`You\'renotsorryyou\'vecome，areyou？\'saidGeraldtoGudrun。
Shelookeddoubtful。Theywentoutofthestationbetweenbanksofsnow。
`Ah，\'saidGerald，sniffingtheairinelation，`thisisperfect。There\'soursledge。We\'llwalkabit——we\'llrunuptheroad。\'
Gudrun，alwaysdoubtful，droppedherheavycoatonthesledge，ashedidhis，andtheysetoff。Suddenlyshethrewupherheadandsetoffscuddingalongtheroadofsnow，pullinghercapdownoverherears。Herblue，brightdressflutteredinthewind，herthickscarletstockingswerebrilliantabovethewhiteness。Geraldwatchedher:sheseemedtoberushingtowardsherfate，andleavinghimbehind。Helethergetsomedistance，then，looseninghislimbs，hewentafterher。
Everywherewasdeepandsilentsnow。Greatsnow—eavesweigheddownthebroad—roofedTyrolesehouses，thatweresunktothewindow—sashesinsnow。
Peasant—women，full—skirted，wearingeachacross—overshawl，andthicksnow—boots，turnedinthewaytolookatthesoft，determinedgirlrunningwithsuchheavyfleetnessfromtheman，whowasovertakingher，butnotgaininganypoweroverher。
Theypassedtheinnwithitspaintedshuttersandbalcony，afewcottages，halfburiedinthesnow;thenthesnow—buriedsilentsawmillbytheroofedbridge，whichcrossedthehiddenstream，overwhichtheyranintotheverydepthoftheuntouchedsheetsofsnow。Itwasasilenceandasheerwhitenessexhilaratingtomadness。Buttheperfectsilencewasmostterrifying，isolatingthesoul，surroundingtheheartwithfrozenair。
`It\'samarvellousplace，forallthat，\'saidGudrun，lookingintohiseyeswithastrange，meaninglook。Hissoulleapt。
`Good，\'hesaid。
Afierceelectricenergyseemedtoflowoverallhislimbs，hismusclesweresurcharged，hishandsfelthardwithstrength。Theywalkedalongrapidlyupthesnow—road，thatwasmarkedbywitheredbranchesoftreesstuckinatintervals。Heandshewereseparate，likeoppositepolesofonefierceenergy。Buttheyfeltpowerfulenoughtoleapovertheconfinesoflifeintotheforbiddenplaces，andbackagain。
BirkinandUrsulawererunningalongalso，overthesnow。Hehaddisposedoftheluggage，andtheyhadalittlestartofthesledges。Ursulawasexcitedandhappy，butshekeptturningsuddenlytocatchholdofBirkin\'sarm，tomakesureofhim。
`ThisissomethingIneverexpected，\'shesaid。`Itisadifferentworld，here。\'
Theywentonintoasnowmeadow。Theretheywereovertakenbythesledge，thatcametinklingthroughthesilence。ItwasanothermilebeforetheycameuponGudrunandGeraldonthesteepup—climb，besidethepink，half—buriedshrine。
Thentheypassedintoagulley，wherewerewallsofblackrockandariverfilledwithsnow，andastillblueskyabove。Throughacoveredbridgetheywent，drummingroughlyovertheboards，crossingthesnow—bedoncemore，thenslowlyupandup，thehorseswalkingswiftly，thedrivercrackinghislongwhipashewalkedbeside，andcallinghisstrangewildhue—hue！，thewallsofrockpassingslowlyby，tilltheyemergedagainbetweenslopesandmassesofsnow。Upandup，graduallytheywent，throughthecoldshadow—radianceoftheafternoon，silencedbytheimminenceofthemountains，theluminous，dazingsidesofsnowthatroseabovethemandfellawaybeneath。
Theycameforthatlastinalittlehightable—landofsnow，wherestoodthelastpeaksofsnowliketheheartpetalsofanopenrose。Inthemidstofthelastdesertedvalleysofheavenstoodalonelybuildingwithbrownwoodenwallsandwhiteheavyroof，deepanddesertedinthewasteofsnow，likeadream。Itstoodlikearockthathadrolleddownfromthelaststeepslopes，arockthathadtakentheformofahouse，andwasnowhalf—buried。
Itwasunbelievablethatonecouldlivethereuncrushedbyallthisterriblewasteofwhitenessandsilenceandclear，upper，ringingcold。
Yetthesledgesranupinfinestyle，peoplecametothedoorlaughingandexcited，thefloorofthehostelranghollow，thepassagewaswetwithsnow，itwasareal，warminterior。
Thenew—comerstrampedupthebarewoodenstairs，followingtheservingwoman。GudrunandGeraldtookthefirstbedroom。Inamomenttheyfoundthemselvesaloneinabare，smallish，close—shutroomthatwasallofgolden—colouredwood，floor，walls，ceiling，door，allofthesamewarmgoldpanellingofoiledpine。Therewasawindowoppositethedoor，butlowdown，becausetheroofsloped。Undertheslopeoftheceilingwerethetablewithwash—handbowlandjug，andacross，anothertablewithmirror。Oneithersidethedoorweretwobedspiledhighwithanenormousblue—checkedoverbolster，enormous。
Thiswasall——nocupboard，noneoftheamenitiesoflife。Heretheywereshutuptogetherinthiscellofgolden—colouredwood，withtwobluecheckedbeds。Theylookedateachotherandlaughed，frightenedbythisnakednearnessofisolation。
Amanknockedandcameinwiththeluggage。Hewasasturdyfellowwithflattishcheek—bones，ratherpale，andwithcoarsefairmoustache。Gudrunwatchedhimputdownthebags，insilence，thentrampheavilyout。
`Itisn\'ttoorough，isit？\'Geraldasked。
Thebedroomwasnotverywarm，andsheshiveredslightly。
`Itiswonderful，\'sheequivocated。`Lookatthecolourofthispanelling——it\'swonderful，likebeinginsideanut。\'
Hewasstandingwatchingher，feelinghisshort—cutmoustache，leaningbackslightlyandwatchingherwithhiskeen，undauntedeyes，dominatedbytheconstantpassion，thatwaslikeadoomuponhim。
Shewentandcroucheddowninfrontofthewindow，curious。
`Oh，butthis——！\'shecriedinvoluntarily，almostinpain。
Infrontwasavalleyshutinunderthesky，thelasthugeslopesofsnowandblackrock，andattheend，likethenaveloftheearth，awhite—foldedwall，andtwopeaksglimmeringinthelatelight。Straightinfrontranthecradleofsilentsnow，betweenthegreatslopesthatwerefringedwithalittleroughnessofpine—trees，likehair，roundthebase。Butthecradleofsnowranontotheeternalclosing—in，wherethewallsofsnowandrockroseimpenetrable，andthemountainpeaksabovewereinheavenimmediate。
Thiswasthecentre，theknot，thenaveloftheworld，wheretheearthbelongedtotheskies，pure，unapproachable，impassable。
ItfilledGudrunwithastrangerapture。Shecrouchedinfrontofthewindow，clenchingherfaceinherhands，inasortoftrance。Atlastshehadarrived，shehadreachedherplace。Hereatlastshefoldedherventureandsettleddownlikeacrystalinthenavelofsnow，andwasgone。
Geraldbentaboveherandwaslookingoutoverhershoulder。Alreadyhefelthewasalone。Shewasgone。Shewascompletelygone，andtherewasicyvapourroundhisheart。Hesawtheblindvalley，thegreatcul—de—sacofsnowandmountainpeaks，undertheheaven。Andtherewasnowayout。
Theterriblesilenceandcoldandtheglamorouswhitenessoftheduskwrappedhimround，andsheremainedcrouchingbeforethewindow，asatashrine，ashadow。
`Doyoulikeit？\'heasked，inavoicethatsoundeddetachedandforeign。
Atleastshemightacknowledgehewaswithher。Butsheonlyavertedhersoft，mutefacealittlefromhisgaze。Andheknewthatthereweretearsinhereyes，herowntears，tearsofherstrangereligion，thatputhimtonought。
Quitesuddenly，heputhishandunderherchinandliftedupherfacetohim。Herdarkblueeyes，intheirwetnessoftears，dilatedasifshewasstartledinherverysoul。Theylookedathimthroughtheirtearsinterrorandalittlehorror。Hislightblueeyeswerekeen，small—pupilledandunnaturalintheirvision。Herlipsparted，asshebreathedwithdifficulty。
Thepassioncameupinhim，strokeafterstroke，liketheringingofabronzebell，sostrongandunflawedandindomitable。Hiskneestightenedtobronzeashehungabovehersoftface，whoselipspartedandwhoseeyesdilatedinastrangeviolation。Inthegraspofhishandherchinwasunutterablysoftandsilken。Hefeltstrongaswinter，hishandswerelivingmetal，invincibleandnottobeturnedaside。Hisheartranglikeabellclanginginsidehim。
Hetookherupinhisarms。Shewassoftandinert，motionless。Allthewhilehereyes，inwhichthetearshadnotyetdried，weredilatedasifinakindofswoonoffascinationandhelplessness。Hewassuperhumanlystrong，andunflawed，asifinvestedwithsupernaturalforce。
Heliftedhercloseandfoldedheragainsthim。Hersoftness，herinert，relaxedweightlayagainsthisownsurcharged，bronze—likelimbsinaheavinessofdesirabilitythatwoulddestroyhim，ifhewerenotfulfilled。Shemovedconvulsively，recoilingawayfromhim。Hisheartwentuplikeaflameofice，heclosedoverherlikesteel。Hewoulddestroyherratherthanbedenied。
Buttheoverweeningpowerofhisbodywastoomuchforher。Sherelaxedagain，andlaylooseandsoft，pantinginalittledelirium。Andtohim，shewassosweet，shewassuchblissofrelease，thathewouldhavesufferedawholeeternityoftortureratherthanforegoonesecondofthispangofunsurpassablebliss。
`MyGod，\'hesaidtoher，hisfacedrawnandstrange，transfigured，`whatnext？\'
Shelayperfectlystill，withastill，child—likefaceanddarkeyes，lookingathim。Shewaslost，fallenrightaway。
`Ishallalwaysloveyou，\'hesaid，lookingather。
Butshedidnothear。Shelay，lookingathimasatsomethingshecouldneverunderstand，never:asachildlooksatagrown—upperson，withouthopeofunderstanding，onlysubmitting。
Hekissedher，kissedhereyesshut，sothatshecouldnotlookanymore。Hewantedsomethingnow，somerecognition，somesign，someadmission。
Butsheonlylaysilentandchild—likeandremote，likeachildthatisovercomeandcannotunderstand，onlyfeelslost。Hekissedheragain，givingup。
`ShallwegodownandhavecoffeeandKuchen？\'heasked。
Thetwilightwasfallingslate—blueatthewindow。Sheclosedhereyes，closedawaythemonotonouslevelofdeadwonder，andopenedthemagaintotheevery—dayworld。
`Yes，\'shesaidbriefly，regainingherwillwithaclick。Shewentagaintothewindow。Blueeveninghadfallenoverthecradleofsnowandoverthegreatpallidslopes。Butintheheaventhepeaksofsnowwererosy，glisteningliketranscendent，radiantspikesofblossomintheheavenlyupper—world，solovelyandbeyond。
Gudrunsawalltheirloveliness，sheknewhowimmortallybeautifultheywere，greatpistilsofrose—coloured，snow—fedfireinthebluetwilightoftheheaven。Shecouldseeit，sheknewit，butshewasnotofit。Shewasdivorced，debarred，asoulshutout。
Withalastlookofremorse，sheturnedaway，andwasdoingherhair。
Hehadunstrappedtheluggage，andwaswaiting，watchingher。Sheknewhewaswatchingher。Itmadeheralittlehastyandfeverishinherprecipitation。
Theywentdownstairs，bothwithastrangeother—worldlookontheirfaces，andwithaglowintheireyes。TheysawBirkinandUrsulasittingatthelongtableinacorner，waitingforthem。
`Howgoodandsimpletheylooktogether，\'Gudrunthought，jealously。
Sheenviedthemsomespontaneity，achildishsufficiencytowhichsheherselfcouldneverapproach。Theyseemedsuchchildrentoher。
`SuchgoodKranzkuchen！\'criedUrsulagreedily。`Sogood！\'
`Right，\'saidGudrun。`CanwehaveKaffeemitKranzkuchen？\'sheaddedtothewaiter。
AndsheseatedherselfonthebenchbesideGerald。Birkin，lookingatthem，feltapainoftendernessforthem。
`Ithinktheplaceisreallywonderful，Gerald，\'hesaid;`prachtvollandwunderbarandwunderschonandunbeschreiblichandalltheotherGermanadjectives。\'
Geraldbrokeintoaslightsmile。
`Ilikeit，\'hesaid。
Thetables，ofwhitescrubbedwood，wereplacedroundthreesidesoftheroom，asinaGasthaus。BirkinandUrsulasatwiththeirbackstothewall，whichwasofoiledwood，andGeraldandGudrunsatinthecornernextthem，neartothestove。Itwasafairlylargeplace，withatinybar，justlikeacountryinn，butquitesimpleandbare，andallofoiledwood，ceilingsandwallsandfloor，theonlyfurniturebeingthetablesandbenchesgoingroundthreesides，thegreatgreenstove，andthebarandthedoorsonthefourthside。Thewindowsweredouble，andquiteuncurtained。
Itwasearlyevening。
Thecoffeecame——hotandgood——andawholeringofcake。
`AwholeKuchen！\'criedUrsula。`Theygiveyoumorethanus！Iwantsomeofyours。\'
Therewereotherpeopleintheplace，tenaltogether，soBirkinhadfoundout:twoartists，threestudents，amanandwife，andaProfessorandtwodaughters——allGermans。ThefourEnglishpeople，beingnewcomers，satintheircoignofvantagetowatch。TheGermanspeepedinatthedoor，calledawordtothewaiter，andwentawayagain。Itwasnotmeal—time，sotheydidnotcomeintothisdining—room，butbetookthemselves，whentheirbootswerechanged，totheReunionsaal。
TheEnglishvisitorscouldheartheoccasionaltwangingofazither，thestrummingofapiano，snatchesoflaughterandshoutingandsinging，afaintvibrationofvoices。Thewholebuildingbeingofwood，itseemedtocarryeverysound，likeadrum，butinsteadofincreasingeachparticularnoise，itdecreasedit，sothatthesoundofthezitherseemedtiny，asifadiminutivezitherwereplayingsomewhere，anditseemedthepianomustbeasmallone，likealittlespinet。
Thehostcamewhenthecoffeewasfinished。HewasaTyrolese，broad，ratherflat—cheeked，withapale，pock—markedskinandflourishingmoustaches。
