Page 544 - sons-and-lovers

‘But what do you always want to be kissing and embrac-
ing for?’ he said. ‘Surely there’s a time for everything.’
She looked up at him, and the hate came into her eyes.
‘DO I always want to be kissing you?’ she said.
‘Always, even if I come to ask you about the work. I don’t
want anything to do with love when I’m at work. Work’s
work—-‘
‘And what is love?’ she asked. ‘Has it to have special
hours?’
‘Yes; out of work hours.’
‘And you’ll regulate it according to Mr. Jordan’s closing
time?’
‘Yes; and according to the freedom from business of any
sort.’
‘It is only to exist in spare time?’
‘That’s all, and not always then—not the kissing sort of
love.’
‘And that’s all you think of it?’
‘It’s quite enough.’
‘I’m glad you think so.’
And she was cold to him for some time—she hated him;
and while she was cold and contemptuous, he was uneasy
till she had forgiven him again. But when they started afresh
they were not any nearer. He kept her because he never sat-
isfied her.
In the spring they went together to the seaside. They had
rooms at a little cottage near Theddlethorpe, and lived as
man and wife. Mrs. Radford sometimes went with them.
It was known in Nottingham that Paul Morel and Mrs.