`WouldyouliketogototheReunionsaaltobeintroducedtotheotherladiesandgentlemen？\'heasked，bendingforwardandsmiling，showinghislarge，strongteeth。Hisblueeyeswentquicklyfromonetotheother——
hewasnotquitesureofhisgroundwiththeseEnglishpeople。HewasunhappytoobecausehespokenoEnglishandhewasnotsurewhethertotryhisFrench。
`ShallwegototheReunionsaal，andbeintroducedtotheotherpeople？\'
repeatedGerald，laughing。
Therewasamoment\'shesitation。
`Isupposewe\'dbetter——betterbreaktheice，\'saidBirkin。
Thewomenrose，ratherflushed。AndtheWirt\'sblack，beetle—like，broad—shoulderedfigurewentonignominiouslyinfront，towardsthenoise。Heopenedthedoorandusheredthefourstrangersintotheplay—room。
Instantlyasilencefell，aslightembarrassmentcameoverthecompany。
Thenewcomershadasenseofmanyblondfaceslookingtheirway。Then，thehostwasbowingtoashort，energetic—lookingmanwithlargemoustaches，andsayinginalowvoice:
`HerrProfessor，darfichvorstellen——\'
TheHerrProfessorwaspromptandenergetic。HebowedlowtotheEnglishpeople，smiling，andbegantobeacomradeatonce。
`NehmendieHerrschaftenteilanunsererUnterhaltung？\'hesaid，withavigoroussuavity，hisvoicecurlingupinthequestion。
ThefourEnglishpeoplesmiled，loungingwithanattentiveuneasinessinthemiddleoftheroom。Gerald，whowasspokesman，saidthattheywouldwillinglytakepartintheentertainment。GudrunandUrsula，laughing，excited，felttheeyesofallthemenuponthem，andtheyliftedtheirheadsandlookednowhere，andfeltroyal。
TheProfessorannouncedthenamesofthosepresent，sansceremonie。Therewasabowingtothewrongpeopleandtotherightpeople。Everybodywasthere，exceptthemanandwife。Thetwotall，clear—skinned，athleticdaughtersoftheprofessor，withtheirplain—cut，darkblueblousesandlodenskirts，theirratherlong，strongnecks，theirclearblueeyesandcarefullybandedhair，andtheirblushes，bowedandstoodback;thethreestudentsbowedverylow，inthehumblehopeofmakinganimpressionofextremegood—breeding;thentherewasathin，dark—skinnedmanwithfulleyes，anoddcreature，likeachild，andlikeatroll，quick，detached;
hebowedslightly;hiscompanion，alargefairyoungman，stylishlydressed，blushedtotheeyesandbowedverylow。
Itwasover。
`HerrLoerkewasgivingusarecitationintheColognedialect，\'saidtheProfessor。
`Hemustforgiveusforinterruptinghim，\'saidGerald，`weshouldlikeverymuchtohearit。\'
Therewasinstantlyabowingandanofferingofseats。GudrunandUrsula，GeraldandBirkinsatinthedeepsofasagainstthewall。Theroomwasofnakedoiledpanelling，liketherestofthehouse。Ithadapiano，sofasandchairs，andacoupleoftableswithbooksandmagazines。Initscompleteabsenceofdecoration，saveforthebig，bluestove，itwascosyandpleasant。
HerrLoerkewasthelittlemanwiththeboyishfigure，andtheround，full，sensitive—lookinghead，andthequick，fulleyes，likeamouse\'s。
Heglancedswiftlyfromonetotheotherofthestrangers，andheldhimselfaloof。
`Pleasegoonwiththerecitation，\'saidtheProfessor，suavely，withhisslightauthority。Loerke，whowassittinghunchedonthepianostool，blinkedanddidnotanswer。
`Itwouldbeagreatpleasure，\'saidUrsula，whohadbeengettingthesentenceready，inGerman，forsomeminutes。
Then，suddenly，thesmall，unrespondingmanswungaside，towardshispreviousaudienceandbrokeforth，exactlyashehadbrokenoff;inacontrolled，mockingvoice，givinganimitationofaquarrelbetweenanoldColognewomanandarailwayguard。
Hisbodywasslightandunformed，likeaboy\'s，buthisvoicewasmature，sardonic，itsmovementhadtheflexibilityofessentialenergy，andofamockingpenetratingunderstanding。Gudruncouldnotunderstandawordofhismonologue，butshewasspell—bound，watchinghim。Hemustbeanartist，nobodyelsecouldhavesuchfineadjustmentandsingleness。TheGermansweredoubledupwithlaughter，hearinghisstrangedrollwords，hisdrollphrasesofdialect。Andinthemidstoftheirparoxysms，theyglancedwithdeferenceatthefourEnglishstrangers，theelect。GudrunandUrsulawereforcedtolaugh。Theroomrangwithshoutsoflaughter。
TheblueeyesoftheProfessor\'sdaughterswereswimmingoverwithlaughter—tears，theirclearcheekswereflushedcrimsonwithmirth，theirfatherbrokeoutinthemostastonishingpealsofhilarity，thestudentsbowedtheirheadsontheirkneesinexcessofjoy。Ursulalookedroundamazed，thelaughterwasbubblingoutofherinvoluntarily。ShelookedatGudrun。Gudrunlookedather，andthetwosistersburstoutlaughing，carriedaway。Loerkeglancedatthemswiftly，withhisfulleyes。Birkinwassniggeringinvoluntarily。
GeraldCrichsaterect，withaglisteninglookofamusementonhisface。
Andthelaughtercrashedoutagain，inwildparoxysms，theProfessor\'sdaughterswerereducedtoshakinghelplessness，theveinsoftheProfessor\'sneckwereswollen，hisfacewaspurple，hewasstrangledinultimate，silentspasmsoflaughter。Thestudentswereshoutinghalf—articulatedwordsthattailedoffinhelplessexplosions。Thensuddenlytherapidpatteroftheartistceased，therewerelittlewhoopsofsubsidingmirth，UrsulaandGudrunwerewipingtheireyes，andtheProfessorwascryingloudly。
`Daswarausgezeichnet，daswarfamos——\'
`Wirklichfamos，\'echoedhisexhausteddaughters，faintly。
`Andwecouldn\'tunderstandit，\'criedUrsula。
`Ohleider，leider！\'criedtheProfessor。
`Youcouldn\'tunderstandit？\'criedtheStudents，letlooseatlastinspeechwiththenewcomers。`Ja，dasistwirklichschade，dasistschade，gnadigeFrau。WissenSie——\'
Themixturewasmade，thenewcomerswerestirredintotheparty，likenewingredients，thewholeroomwasalive。Geraldwasinhiselement，hetalkedfreelyandexcitedly，hisfaceglistenedwithastrangeamusement。
PerhapsevenBirkin，intheend，wouldbreakforth。Hewasshyandwithheld，thoughfullofattention。
Ursulawasprevailedupontosing`AnnieLowrie，\'astheProfessorcalledit。Therewasahushofextremedeference。Shehadneverbeensoflatteredinherlife。Gudrunaccompaniedheronthepiano，playingfrommemory。
Ursulahadabeautifulringingvoice，butusuallynoconfidence，shespoiledeverything。Thiseveningshefeltconceitedanduntrammelled。Birkinwaswellinthebackground，sheshonealmostinreaction，theGermansmadeherfeelfineandinfallible，shewasliberatedintooverweeningself—confidence。
Shefeltlikeabirdflyingintheair，ashervoicesoaredout，enjoyingherselfextremelyinthebalanceandflightofthesong，likethemotionofabird\'swingsthatisupinthewind，slidingandplayingontheair，sheplayedwithsentimentality，supportedbyrapturousattention。Shewasveryhappy，singingthatsongbyherself，fullofaconceitofemotionandpower，workinguponallthosepeople，anduponherself，exertingherselfwithgratification，givingimmeasurablegratificationtotheGermans。
Attheend，theGermanswerealltouchedwithadmiring，deliciousmelancholy，theypraisedherinsoft，reverentvoices，theycouldnotsaytoomuch。
`Wieschon，wieruhrend！Ach，dieSchottischenLieder，siehabensovielStimmung！AberdiegnadigeFrauhateinewunderbareStimme;
diegnadigeFrauistwirklicheineKunstlerin，aberwirklich！\'
Shewasdilatedandbrilliant，likeaflowerinthemorningsun。ShefeltBirkinlookingather，asifhewerejealousofher，andherbreaststhrilled，herveinswereallgolden。Shewasashappyasthesunthathasjustopenedaboveclouds。Andeverybodyseemedsoadmiringandradiant，itwasperfect。
Afterdinnershewantedtogooutforaminute，tolookattheworld。
Thecompanytriedtodissuadeher——itwassoterriblycold。Butjusttolook，shesaid。
Theyallfourwrappedupwarmly，andfoundthemselvesinavague，unsubstantialoutdoorsofdimsnowandghostsofanupper—world，thatmadestrangeshadowsbeforethestars。Itwasindeedcold，bruisingly，frighteningly，unnaturallycold。Ursulacouldnotbelievetheairinhernostrils。Itseemedconscious，malevolent，purposiveinitsintensemurderouscoldness。
Yetitwaswonderful，anintoxication，asilenceofdim，unrealisedsnow，oftheinvisibleinterveningbetweenherandthevisible，betweenherandtheflashingstars。ShecouldseeOrionslopingup。Howwonderfulhewas，wonderfulenoughtomakeonecryaloud。
Andallaroundwasthiscradleofsnow，andtherewasfirmsnowunderfoot，thatstruckwithheavycoldthroughherboot—soles。Itwasnight，andsilence。
Sheimaginedshecouldhearthestars。Sheimagineddistinctlyshecouldhearthecelestial，musicalmotionofthestars，quitenearathand。Sheseemedlikeabirdflyingamongsttheirharmoniousmotion。
AndsheclungclosetoBirkin。Suddenlysherealisedshedidnotknowwhathewasthinking。Shedidnotknowwherehewasranging。
`Mylove！\'shesaid，stoppingtolookathim。
Hisfacewaspale，hiseyesdark，therewasafaintsparkofstarlightonthem。Andhesawherfacesoftandupturnedtohim，verynear。Hekissedhersoftly。
`Whatthen？\'heasked。
`Doyouloveme？\'sheasked。
`Toomuch，\'heansweredquietly。
Sheclungalittlecloser。
`Nottoomuch，\'shepleaded。
`Fartoomuch，\'hesaid，almostsadly。
`Anddoesitmakeyousad，thatIameverythingtoyou？\'sheasked，wistful。Heheldherclosetohim，kissingher，andsaying，scarcelyaudible:
`No，butIfeellikeabeggar——Ifeelpoor。\'
Shewassilent，lookingatthestarsnow。Thenshekissedhim。
`Don\'tbeabeggar，\'shepleaded，wistfully。`Itisn\'tignominiousthatyouloveme。\'
`Itisignominioustofeelpoor，isn\'tit？\'hereplied。
`Why？Whyshoulditbe？\'sheasked。Heonlystoodstill，intheterriblycoldairthatmovedinvisiblyoverthemountaintops，foldingherroundwithhisarms。
`Icouldn\'tbearthiscold，eternalplacewithoutyou，\'hesaid。`I
couldn\'tbearit，itwouldkillthequickofmylife。\'
Shekissedhimagain，suddenly。
`Doyouhateit？\'sheasked，puzzled，wondering。
`IfIcouldn\'tcomeneartoyou，ifyouweren\'there，Ishouldhateit。Icouldn\'tbearit，\'heanswered。
`Butthepeoplearenice，\'shesaid。
`Imeanthestillness，thecold，thefrozeneternality，\'hesaid。
Shewondered。Thenherspiritcamehometohim，nestlingunconsciousinhim。
`Yes，itisgoodwearewarmandtogether，\'shesaid。
Andtheyturnedhomeagain。Theysawthegoldenlightsofthehotelglowingoutinthenightofsnow—silence，smallinthehollow，likeaclusterofyellowberries。Itseemedlikeabunchofsun—sparks，tinyandorangeinthemidstofthesnow—darkness。Behind，wasahighshadowofapeak，blottingoutthestars，likeaghost。
Theydrewneartotheirhome。Theysawamancomefromthedarkbuilding，withalightedlanternwhichswunggolden，andmadethathisdarkfeetwalkedinahaloofsnow。Hewasasmall，darkfigureinthedarkenedsnow。
Heunlatchedthedoorofanouthouse。Asmellofcows，hot，animal，almostlikebeef，cameoutontheheavilycoldair。Therewasaglimpseoftwocattleintheirdarkstalls，thenthedoorwasshutagain，andnotachinkoflightshowed。IthadremindedUrsulaagainofhome，oftheMarsh，ofherchildhood，andofthejourneytoBrussels，and，strangely，ofAntonSkrebensky。
Oh，God，couldonebearit，thispastwhichwasgonedowntheabyss？
Couldshebear，thatiteverhadbeen！Shelookedroundthissilent，upperworldofsnowandstarsandpowerfulcold。Therewasanotherworld，likeviewsonamagiclantern;TheMarsh，Cossethay，Ilkeston，litupwithacommon，unreallight。TherewasashadowyunrealUrsula，awholeshadow—playofanunreallife。Itwasasunreal，andcircumscribed，asamagic—lanternshow。Shewishedtheslidescouldallbebroken。Shewisheditcouldbegoneforever，likealantern—slidewhichwasbroken。Shewantedtohavenopast。Shewantedtohavecomedownfromtheslopesofheaventothisplace，withBirkin，nottohavetoiledoutofthemurkofherchildhoodandherupbringing，slowly，allsoiled。Shefeltthatmemorywasadirtytrickplayeduponher。Whatwasthisdecree，thatsheshould`remember\'！
Whynotabathofpureoblivion，anewbirth，withoutanyrecollectionsorblemishofapastlife。ShewaswithBirkin，shehadjustcomeintolife，hereinthehighsnow，againstthestars。Whathadshetodowithparentsandantecedents？Sheknewherselfnewandunbegotten，shehadnofather，nomother，noanteriorconnections，shewasherself，pureandsilvery，shebelongedonlytotheonenesswithBirkin，aonenessthatstruckdeepernotes，soundingintotheheartoftheuniverse，theheartofreality，whereshehadneverexistedbefore。
EvenGudrunwasaseparateunit，separate，separate，havingnothingtodowiththisself，thisUrsula，inhernewworldofreality。Thatoldshadow—world，theactualityofthepast——ah，letitgo！Sherosefreeonthewingsofhernewcondition。
GudrunandGeraldhadnotcomein。Theyhadwalkedupthevalleystraightinfrontofthehouse，notlikeUrsulaandBirkin，ontothelittlehillattheright。Gudrunwasdrivenbyastrangedesire。Shewantedtoplungeonandon，tillshecametotheendofthevalleyofsnow。Thenshewantedtoclimbthewallofwhitefinality，climbover，intothepeaksthatspranguplikesharppetalsintheheartofthefrozen，mysteriousnaveloftheworld。Shefeltthatthere，overthestrangeblind，terriblewallofrockysnow，thereinthenavelofthemysticworld，amongthefinalclusterofpeaks，there，intheinfoldednavelofitall，washerconsummation。Ifshecouldbutcomethere，alone，andpassintotheinfoldednavelofeternalsnowandofuprising，immortalpeaksofsnowandrock，shewouldbeaonenesswithall，shewouldbeherselftheeternal，infinitesilence，thesleeping，timeless，frozencentreoftheAll。
Theywentbacktothehouse，totheReunionsaal。Shewascurioustoseewhatwasgoingon。Thementheremadeheralert，rousedhercuriosity。
Itwasanewtasteoflifeforher，theyweresoprostratebeforeher，yetsofulloflife。
Thepartywasboisterous;theyweredancingalltogether，dancingtheSchuhplatteln，theTyrolesedanceoftheclappinghandsandtossingthepartnerintheairatthecrisis。TheGermanswereallproficient——theywerefromMunichchiefly。Geraldalsowasquitepassable。Therewerethreezitherstwangingawayinacorner。Itwasasceneofgreatanimationandconfusion。TheProfessorwasinitiatingUrsulaintothedance，stamping，clapping，andswingingherhigh，withamazingforceandzest。WhenthecrisiscameevenBirkinwasbehavingmanfullywithoneoftheProfessor\'sfresh，strongdaughters，whowasexceedinglyhappy。Everybodywasdancing，therewasthemostboisterousturmoil。
Gudrunlookedonwithdelight。Thesolidwoodenfloorresoundedtotheknockingheelsofthemen，theairquiveredwiththeclappinghandsandthezithermusic，therewasagoldendustaboutthehanginglamps。
Suddenlythedancefinished，Loerkeandthestudentsrushedouttobringindrinks。Therewasanexcitedclamourofvoices，aclinkingofmug—lids，agreatcryingof`Prosit——Prosit！\'Loerkewaseverywhereatonce，likeagnome，suggestingdrinksforthewomen，makinganobscure，slightlyriskyjokewiththemen，confusingandmystifyingthewaiter。
HewantedverymuchtodancewithGudrun。Fromthefirstmomenthehadseenher，hewantedtomakeaconnectionwithher。Instinctivelyshefeltthis，andshewaitedforhimtocomeup。Butakindofsulkinesskepthimawayfromher，soshethoughthedislikedher。
`Willyouschuhplatteln，gnadigeFrau？\'saidthelarge，fairyouth，Loerke\'scompanion。Hewastoosoft，toohumbleforGudrun\'staste。Butshewantedtodance，andthefairyouth，whowascalledLeitner，washandsomeenoughinhisuneasy，slightlyabjectfashion，ahumilitythatcoveredacertainfear。Sheacceptedhimasapartner。
Thezitherssoundedoutagain，thedancebegan。Geraldledthem，laughing，withoneoftheProfessor\'sdaughters。Ursuladancedwithoneofthestudents，BirkinwiththeotherdaughteroftheProfessor，theProfessorwithFrauKramer，andtherestofthemendancedtogether，withquiteasmuchzestasiftheyhadhadwomenpartners。
BecauseGudrunhaddancedwiththewell—built，softyouth，hiscompanion，Loerke，wasmorepettishandexasperatedthanever，andwouldnotevennoticeherexistenceintheroom。Thispiquedher，butshemadeuptoherselfbydancingwiththeProfessor，whowasstrongasamature，well—seasonedbull，andasfullofcoarseenergy。Shecouldnotbearhim，critically，andyetsheenjoyedbeingrushedthroughthedance，andtossedupintotheair，onhiscoarse，powerfulimpetus。TheProfessorenjoyedittoo，heeyedherwithstrange，largeblueeyes，fullofgalvanicfire。Shehatedhimfortheseasoned，semi—paternalanimalismwithwhichheregardedher，butsheadmiredhisweightofstrength。
Theroomwaschargedwithexcitementandstrong，animalemotion。LoerkewaskeptawayfromGudrun，towhomhewantedtospeak，asbyahedgeofthorns，andhefeltasardonicruthlesshatredforthisyounglove—companion，Leitner，whowashispennilessdependent。Hemockedtheyouth，withanacidridicule，thatmadeLeitnerredinthefaceandimpotentwithresentment。
Gerald，whohadnowgotthedanceperfectly，wasdancingagainwiththeyoungeroftheProfessor\'sdaughters，whowasalmostdyingofvirginexcitement，becauseshethoughtGeraldsohandsome，sosuperb。Hehadherinhispower，asifshewereapalpitatingbird，afluttering，flushing，bewilderedcreature。Anditmadehimsmile，assheshrankconvulsivelybetweenhishands，violently，whenhemustthrowherintotheair。Attheend，shewassoovercomewithprostrateloveforhim，thatshecouldscarcelyspeaksensiblyatall。
BirkinwasdancingwithUrsula。Therewereoddlittlefiresplayinginhiseyes，heseemedtohaveturnedintosomethingwickedandflickering，mocking，suggestive，quiteimpossible。Ursulawasfrightenedofhim，andfascinated。Clear，beforehereyes，asinavision，shecouldseethesardonic，licentiousmockeryofhiseyes，hemovedtowardsherwithsubtle，animal，indifferentapproach。Thestrangenessofhishands，whichcamequickandcunning，inevitablytothevitalplacebeneathherbreasts，and，liftingwithmocking，suggestiveimpulse，carriedherthroughtheairasifwithoutstrength，throughblackmagic，madeherswoonwithfear。Foramomentsherevolted，itwashorrible。Shewouldbreakthespell。Butbeforetheresolutionhadformedshehadsubmittedagain，yieldedtoherfear。Heknewallthetimewhathewasdoing，shecouldseeitinhissmiling，concentratedeyes。
Itwashisresponsibility，shewouldleaveittohim。
Whentheywerealoneinthedarkness，shefeltthestrange，licentiousnessofhimhoveringuponher。Shewastroubledandrepelled。Whyshouldheturnlikethis？
`Whatisit？\'sheaskedindread。
Buthisfaceonlyglistenedonher，unknown，horrible。Andyetshewasfascinated。Herimpulsewastorepelhimviolently，breakfromthisspellofmockingbrutishness。Butshewastoofascinated，shewantedtosubmit，shewantedtoknow。Whatwouldhedotoher？
Hewassoattractive，andsorepulsiveatone。Thesardonicsuggestivitythatflickeredoverhisfaceandlookedfromhisnarrowedeyes，madeherwanttohide，tohideherselfawayfromhimandwatchhimfromsomewhereunseen。
`Whyareyoulikethis？\'shedemandedagain，rousingagainsthimwithsuddenforceandanimosity。
Theflickeringfiresinhiseyesconcentratedashelookedintohereyes。Thenthelidsdroopedwithafaintmotionofsatiriccontempt。Thentheyroseagaintothesameremorselesssuggestivity。Andshegaveway，hemightdoashewould。Hislicentiousnesswasrepulsivelyattractive。
Buthewasself—responsible，shewouldseewhatitwas。
Theymightdoastheyliked——thissherealisedasshewenttosleep。
Howcouldanythingthatgaveonesatisfactionbeexcluded？Whatwasdegrading？
Whocared？Degradingthingswerereal，withadifferentreality。Andhewassounabashedandunrestrained。Wasn\'titratherhorrible，amanwhocouldbesosoulfulandspiritual，nowtobeso——shebalkedatherownthoughtsandmemories:thensheadded——sobestial？Sobestial，theytwo！
——sodegraded！Shewinced。Butafterall，whynot？Sheexultedaswell。
Whynotbebestial，andgothewholeroundofexperience？Sheexultedinit。Shewasbestial。Howgooditwastobereallyshameful！Therewouldbenoshamefulthingshehadnotexperienced。Yetshewasunabashed，shewasherself。Whynot？Shewasfree，whenshekneweverything，andnodarkshamefulthingsweredeniedher。
Gudrun，whohadbeenwatchingGeraldintheReunionsaal，suddenlythought:
`Heshouldhaveallthewomenhecan——itishisnature。Itisabsurdtocallhimmonogamous——heisnaturallypromiscuous。Thatishisnature。\'
Thethoughtcametoherinvoluntarily。Itshockedhersomewhat。ItwasasifshehadseensomenewMene！Mene！uponthewall。Yetitwasmerelytrue。Avoiceseemedtohavespokenittohersoclearly，thatforthemomentshebelievedininspiration。
`Itisreallytrue，\'shesaidtoherselfagain。
Sheknewquitewellshehadbelieveditallalong。Sheknewitimplicitly。
Butshemustkeepitdark——almostfromherself。Shemustkeepitcompletelysecret。Itwasknowledgeforheralone，andscarcelyeventobeadmittedtoherself。
Thedeepresolveformedinher，tocombathim。Oneofthemmusttriumphovertheother。Whichshoulditbe？Hersoulsteeleditselfwithstrength。
Almostshelaughedwithinherself，atherconfidence。Itwokeacertainkeen，halfcontemptuouspity，tendernessforhim:shewassoruthless。
Everybodyretiredearly。TheProfessorandLoerkewentintoasmallloungetodrink。TheybothwatchedGudrungoalongthelandingbytherailingupstairs。
`EinschonesFrauenzimmer，\'saidtheProfessor。
`Ja！\'assertedLoerke，shortly。
Geraldwalkedwithhisqueer，longwolf—stepsacrossthebedroomtothewindow，stoopedandlookedout，thenroseagain，andturnedtoGudrun，hiseyessharpwithanabstractsmile。Heseemedverytalltoher，shesawtheglistenofhiswhitisheyebrows，thatmetbetweenhisbrows。
`Howdoyoulikeit？\'hesaid。
Heseemedtobelaughinginsidehimself，quiteunconsciously。Shelookedathim。Hewasaphenomenontoher，notahumanbeing:asortofcreature，greedy。
`Ilikeitverymuch，\'shereplied。
`Whodoyoulikebestdownstairs？\'heasked，standingtallandglisteningaboveher，withhisglisteningstiffhairerect。
`WhodoIlikebest？\'sherepeated，wantingtoanswerhisquestion，andfindingitdifficulttocollectherself。`WhyIdon\'tknow，Idon\'tknowenoughaboutthemyet，tobeabletosay。Whodoyoulikebest？\'
`Oh，Idon\'tcare——Idon\'tlikeordislikeanyofthem。Itdoesn\'tmatteraboutme。Iwantedtoknowaboutyou。\'
`Butwhy？\'sheasked，goingratherpale。Theabstract，unconscioussmileinhiseyeswasintensified。
`Iwantedtoknow，\'hesaid。
Sheturnedaside，breakingthespell。Insomestrangeway，shefelthewasgettingpoweroverher。
`Well，Ican\'ttellyoualready，\'shesaid。
Shewenttothemirrortotakeoutthehairpinsfromherhair。Shestoodbeforethemirroreverynightforsomeminutes，brushingherfinedarkhair。Itwaspartoftheinevitableritualofherlife。
Hefollowedher，andstoodbehindher。Shewasbusywithbenthead，takingoutthepinsandshakingherwarmhairloose。Whenshelookedup，shesawhimintheglassstandingbehindher，watchingunconsciously，notconsciouslyseeingher，andyetwatching，withfinepupilledeyesthatseemedtosmile，andwhichwerenotreallysmiling。
Shestarted。Ittookallhercourageforhertocontinuebrushingherhair，asusual，forhertopretendshewasatherease。Shewasfar，farfrombeingathereasewithhim。Shebeatherbrainswildlyforsomethingtosaytohim。
`Whatareyourplansfortomorrow？\'sheaskednonchalantly，whilstherheartwasbeatingsofuriously，hereyesweresobrightwithstrangenervousness，shefelthecouldnotbutobserve。Butsheknewalsothathewascompletelyblind，blindasawolflookingather。Itwasastrangebattlebetweenherordinaryconsciousnessandhisuncanny，black—artconsciousness。
`Idon\'tknow，\'hereplied，`whatwouldyouliketodo？\'
Hespokeemptily，hismindwassunkaway。
`Oh，\'shesaid，witheasyprotestation，`I\'mreadyforanything——anythingwillbefineforme，I\'msure。\'
Andtoherselfshewassaying:`God，whyamIsonervous——whyareyousonervous，youfool。IfheseesitI\'mdoneforforever——youknowyou\'redoneforforever，ifheseestheabsurdstateyou\'rein。\'
Andshesmiledtoherselfasifitwereallchild\'splay。Meanwhileherheartwasplunging，shewasalmostfainting。Shecouldseehim，inthemirror，ashestoodtherebehindher，tallandover—arching——blondandterriblyfrightening。Sheglancedathisreflectionwithfurtiveeyes，willingtogiveanythingtosavehimfromknowingshecouldseehim。Hedidnotknowshecouldseehisreflection。Hewaslookingunconsciously，glisteninglydownatherhead，fromwhichthehairfellloose，asshebrusheditwithwild，nervoushand。Sheheldherheadasideandbrushedandbrushedherhairmadly。Forherlife，shecouldnotturnroundandfacehim。Forherlife，shecouldnot。Andtheknowledgemadeheralmostsinktothegroundinafaint，helpless，spent。Shewasawareofhisfrightening，impendingfigurestandingclosebehindher，shewasawareofhishard，strong，unyieldingchest，closeuponherback。Andshefeltshecouldnotbearitanymore，inafewminutesshewouldfalldownathisfeet，grovellingathisfeet，andlettinghimdestroyher。
Thethoughtprickedupallhersharpintelligenceandpresenceofmind。
Shedarednotturnroundtohim——andtherehestoodmotionless，unbroken。
Summoningallherstrength，shesaid，inafull，resonant，nonchalantvoice，thatwasforcedoutwithallherremainingself—control:
`Oh，wouldyoumindlookinginthatbagbehindthereandgivingmemy——\'
Hereherpowerfellinert。`Mywhat——mywhat——？\'shescreamedinsilencetoherself。
Buthehadstartedround，surprisedandstartledthatsheshouldaskhimtolookinherbag，whichshealwayskeptsoveryprivatetoherself。
Sheturnednow，herfacewhite，herdarkeyesblazingwithuncanny，overwroughtexcitement。Shesawhimstoopingtothebag，undoingthelooselybuckledstrap，unattentive。
`Yourwhat？\'heasked。
`Oh，alittleenamelbox——yellow——withadesignofacormorantpluckingherbreast——\'
Shewenttowardshim，stoopingherbeautiful，barearm，anddeftlyturnedsomeofherthings，disclosingthebox，whichwasexquisitelypainted。
`Thatisit，see，\'shesaid，takingitfromunderhiseyes。
Andhewasbafflednow。Hewaslefttofastenupthebag，whilstsheswiftlydidupherhairforthenight，andsatdowntounfastenhershoes。
Shewouldnotturnherbacktohimanymore。
Hewasbaffled，frustrated，butunconscious。Shehadthewhiphandoverhimnow。Sheknewhehadnotrealisedherterriblepanic。Herheartwasbeatingheavilystill。Fool，foolthatshewas，togetintosuchastate！
HowshethankedGodforGerald\'sobtuseblindness。ThankGodhecouldseenothing。
Shesatslowlyunlacinghershoes，andhetoocommencedtoundress。
ThankGodthatcrisiswasover。Shefeltalmostfondofhimnow，almostinlovewithhim。
`Ah，Gerald，\'shelaughed，caressively，teasingly，`Ah，whatafinegameyouplayedwiththeProfessor\'sdaughter——didn\'tyounow？\'
`Whatgame？\'heasked，lookinground。
`Isn\'tsheinlovewithyou——ohdear，isn\'tsheinlovewithyou！\'saidGudrun，inhergayest，mostattractivemood。
`Ishouldn\'tthinkso，\'hesaid。
`Shouldn\'tthinkso！\'sheteased。`Whythepoorgirlislyingatthismomentoverwhelmed，dyingwithloveforyou。Shethinksyou\'rewonderful——ohmarvellous，beyondwhatmanhaseverbeen。Really，isn\'titfunny？\'
`Whyfunny，whatisfunny？\'heasked。
`Whytoseeyouworkingitonher，\'shesaid，withahalfreproachthatconfusedthemaleconceitinhim。`ReallyGerald，thepoorgirl——！\'
`Ididnothingtoher，\'hesaid。
`Oh，itwastooshameful，thewayyousimplysweptheroffherfeet。\'
`ThatwasSchuhplatteln，\'hereplied，withabrightgrin。
`Ha——ha——ha！\'laughedGudrun。
