Page 245 - sons-and-lovers

ness. For many hours she sat still, slightly conscious of him
labouring away, whilst she worked or read her book. And
he, with all his soul’s intensity directing his pencil, could
feel her warmth inside him like strength. They were both
very happy so, and both unconscious of it. These times, that
meant so much, and which were real living, they almost ig-
nored.
He was conscious only when stimulated. A sketch fin-
ished, he always wanted to take it to Miriam. Then he was
stimulated into knowledge of the work he had produced
unconsciously. In contact with Miriam he gained insight;
his vision went deeper. From his mother he drew the life-
warmth, the strength to produce; Miriam urged this
warmth into intensity like a white light.
When he returned to the factory the conditions of work
were better. He had Wednesday afternoon off to go to the
Art School— Miss Jordan’s provision—returning in the
evening. Then the factory closed at six instead of eight on
Thursday and Friday evenings.
One evening in the summer Miriam and he went over
the fields by Herod’s Farm on their way from the library
home. So it was only three miles to Willey Farm. There was
a yellow glow over the mowing-grass, and the sorrel-heads
burned crimson. Gradually, as they walked along the high
land, the gold in the west sank down to red, the red to crim-
son, and then the chill blue crept up against the glow.
They came out upon the high road to Alfreton, which ran
white between the darkening fields. There Paul hesitated. It
was two miles home for him, one mile forward for Miriam.

Sons and Lovers