Page 653 - women-in-love

Over Ursula’s mind flashed the thought: ‘Because you
never HAVE loved, you can’t get beyond it.’
Gudrun rose, came over to Ursula and put her arm round
her neck.
‘Go and find your new world, dear,’ she said, her voice
clanging with false benignity. ‘After all, the happiest voyage
is the quest of Rupert’s Blessed Isles.’
Her arm rested round Ursula’s neck, her fingers on Ur-
sula’s cheek for a few moments. Ursula was supremely
uncomfortable meanwhile. There was an insult in Gudrun’s
protective patronage that was really too hurting. Feeling her
sister’s resistance, Gudrun drew awkwardly away, turned
over the pillow, and disclosed the stockings again.
‘Ha—ha!’ she laughed, rather hollowly. ‘How we do talk
indeed—new worlds and old—!’
And they passed to the familiar worldly subjects.
Gerald and Birkin had walked on ahead, waiting for the
sledge to overtake them, conveying the departing guests.
‘How much longer will you stay here?’ asked Birkin,
glancing up at Gerald’s very red, almost blank face.
‘Oh, I can’t say,’ Gerald replied. ‘Till we get tired of it.’
‘You’re not afraid of the snow melting first?’ asked Bir-
kin.
Gerald laughed.
‘Does it melt?’ he said.
‘Things are all right with you then?’ said Birkin.
Gerald screwed up his eyes a little.
‘All right?’ he said. ‘I never know what those common
words mean. All right and all wrong, don’t they become

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