Page 378 - women-in-love

‘O-oh?’ he said, looking at Birkin, then dropping his eyes
before the calm, steadily watching look of the other: ‘Was
she expecting you then?’
‘No,’ said Birkin.
‘No? I didn’t know anything of this sort was on foot—‘
Brangwen smiled awkwardly.
Birkin looked back at him, and said to himself: ‘I wonder
why it should be ‘on foot’!’ Aloud he said:
‘No, it’s perhaps rather sudden.’ At which, thinking of his
relationship with Ursula, he added—‘but I don’t know—‘
‘Quite sudden, is it? Oh!’ said Brangwen, rather baffled
and annoyed.
‘In one way,’ replied Birkin, ‘—not in another.’
There was a moment’s pause, after which Brangwen
said:
‘Well, she pleases herself—‘
‘Oh yes!’ said Birkin, calmly.
A vibration came into Brangwen’s strong voice, as he re-
plied:
‘Though I shouldn’t want her to be in too big a hurry,
either. It’s no good looking round afterwards, when it’s too
late.’
‘Oh, it need never be too late,’ said Birkin, ‘as far as that
goes.’
‘How do you mean?’ asked the father.
‘If one repents being married, the marriage is at an end,’
said Birkin.
‘You think so?’
‘Yes.’

378 Women in Love