Page 676 - women-in-love

round the flame of some invisible declaration. He want-
ed it, but was held back by some inevitable reluctance. She
wanted it also, but she wanted to put it off, to put it off indef-
initely, she still had some pity for Gerald, some connection
with him. And the most fatal of all, she had the reminis-
cent sentimental compassion for herself in connection with
him. Because of what HAD been, she felt herself held to him
by immortal, invisible threads-because of what HAD been,
because of his coming to her that first night, into her own
house, in his extremity, because—
Gerald was gradually overcome with a revulsion of
loathing for Loerke. He did not take the man seriously, he
despised him merely, except as he felt in Gudrun’s veins the
influence of the little creature. It was this that drove Ger-
ald wild, the feeling in Gudrun’s veins of Loerke’s presence,
Loerke’s being, flowing dominant through her.
‘What makes you so smitten with that little vermin?’ he
asked, really puzzled. For he, man-like, could not see any-
thing attractive or important AT ALL in Loerke. Gerald
expected to find some handsomeness or nobleness, to ac-
count for a woman’s subjection. But he saw none here, only
an insect-like repulsiveness.
Gudrun flushed deeply. It was these attacks she would
never forgive.
‘What do you mean?’ she replied. ‘My God, what a mercy
I am NOT married to you!’
Her voice of flouting and contempt scotched him. He
was brought up short. But he recovered himself.
‘Tell me, only tell me,’ he reiterated in a dangerous nar-

676 Women in Love