Women in Love

'I've not said it at all,' he replied, 'if you will give me a chance to

speak.' 'No, no!' she cried. 'I won't let you speak. You've said it, a

satellite, you're not going to wriggle out of it. You've said it.' 'You'll never believe now that I HAVEN'T said it,' he answered. 'I

neither implied nor indicated nor mentioned a satellite, nor intended a

satellite, never.' 'YOU PREVARICATOR!' she cried, in real indignation.

'Tea is ready, sir,' said the landlady from the doorway.

They both looked at her, very much as the cats had looked at them, a

little while before.

'Thank you, Mrs Daykin.' An interrupted silence fell over the two of them, a moment of breach.

'Come and have tea,' he said.

'Yes, I should love it,' she replied, gathering herself together.

They sat facing each other across the tea table.

'I did not say, nor imply, a satellite. I meant two single equal stars

balanced in conjunction--' 'You gave yourself away, you gave away your little game completely,'

she cried, beginning at once to eat. He saw that she would take no

further heed of his expostulation, so he began to pour the tea.

'What GOOD things to eat!' she cried.

'Take your own sugar,' he said.

He handed her her cup. He had everything so nice, such pretty cups and

plates, painted with mauve-lustre and green, also shapely bowls and

glass plates, and old spoons, on a woven cloth of pale grey and black

and purple. It was very rich and fine. But Ursula could see Hermione's

influence.

'Your things are so lovely!' she said, almost angrily.

'I like them. It gives me real pleasure to use things that are

attractive in themselves--pleasant things. And Mrs Daykin is good. She

thinks everything is wonderful, for my sake.' 'Really,' said Ursula, 'landladies are better than wives, nowadays.

They certainly CARE a great deal more. It is much more beautiful and

complete here now, than if you were married.' 'But think of the emptiness within,' he laughed.

'No,' she said. 'I am jealous that men have such perfect landladies and

such beautiful lodgings. There is nothing left them to desire.' 'In the house-keeping way, we'll hope not. It is disgusting, people

marrying for a home.' 'Still,' said Ursula, 'a man has very little need for a woman now, has

he?' 'In outer things, maybe--except to share his bed and bear his children.

But essentially, there is just the same need as there ever was. Only

nobody takes the trouble to be essential.' 'How essential?' she said.