Page 128 - women-in-love

see how Gudrun clung with heavy, desperate passion to Ur-
sula, yet smiled with subtle malevolence against her, how
Ursula accepted silently, unable to provide any more either
for herself or for the other, but dangerous and indomitable,
refuting her grief.
Hermione loved to watch. She could see the Contessa’s
rapid, stoat-like sensationalism, Gudrun’s ultimate but
treacherous cleaving to the woman in her sister, Ursula’s
dangerous helplessness, as if she were helplessly weighted,
and unreleased.
‘That was very beautiful,’ everybody cried with one ac-
cord. But Hermione writhed in her soul, knowing what she
could not know. She cried out for more dancing, and it was
her will that set the Contessa and Birkin moving mockingly
in Malbrouk.
Gerald was excited by the desperate cleaving of Gudrun
to Naomi. The essence of that female, subterranean reck-
lessness and mockery penetrated his blood. He could not
forget Gudrun’s lifted, offered, cleaving, reckless, yet withal
mocking weight. And Birkin, watching like a hermit crab
from its hole, had seen the brilliant frustration and help-
lessness of Ursula. She was rich, full of dangerous power.
She was like a strange unconscious bud of powerful wom-
anhood. He was unconsciously drawn to her. She was his
future.
Alexander played some Hungarian music, and they all
danced, seized by the spirit. Gerald was marvellously ex-
hilarated at finding himself in motion, moving towards
Gudrun, dancing with feet that could not yet escape from

128 Women in Love