Page 435 - sons-and-lovers

me there?’
‘Oh, I can trust you.’ The answer came quick and strong.
‘It’s not that—it’s not that at all—but—-‘
‘What?’
She hid her face in his neck with a little cry of misery.
‘I don’t know!’ she cried.
She seemed slightly hysterical, but with a sort of horror.
His heart died in him.
‘You don’t think it ugly?’ he asked.
‘No, not now. You have TAUGHT me it isn’t.’
‘You are afraid?’
She calmed herself hastily.
‘Yes, I am only afraid,’ she said.
He kissed her tenderly.
‘Never mind,’ he said. ‘You should please yourself.’
Suddenly she gripped his arms round her, and clenched
her body stiff.
‘You SHALL have me,’ she said, through her shut teeth.
His heart beat up again like fire. He folded her close, and
his mouth was on her throat. She could not bear it. She drew
away. He disengaged her.
‘Won’t you be late?’ she asked gently.
He sighed, scarcely hearing what she said. She waited,
wishing he would go. At last he kissed her quickly and
climbed the fence. Looking round he saw the pale blotch
of her face down in the darkness under the hanging tree.
There was no more of her but this pale blotch.
‘Good-bye!’ she called softly. She had no body, only a
voice and a dim face. He turned away and ran down the

Sons and Lovers