Women in Love

Every year Mr Crich gave a more or less public water-party on the lake.

There was a little pleasure-launch on Willey Water and several rowing

boats, and guests could take tea either in the marquee that was set up

in the grounds of the house, or they could picnic in the shade of the

great walnut tree at the boat-house by the lake. This year the staff of

the Grammar-School was invited, along with the chief officials of the

firm. Gerald and the younger Criches did not care for this party, but

it had become customary now, and it pleased the father, as being the

only occasion when he could gather some people of the district together

in festivity with him. For he loved to give pleasures to his dependents

and to those poorer than himself. But his children preferred the

company of their own equals in wealth. They hated their inferiors'

humility or gratitude or awkwardness.

Nevertheless they were willing to attend at this festival, as they had

done almost since they were children, the more so, as they all felt a

little guilty now, and unwilling to thwart their father any more, since

he was so ill in health. Therefore, quite cheerfully Laura prepared to

take her mother's place as hostess, and Gerald assumed responsibility

for the amusements on the water.

Birkin had written to Ursula saying he expected to see her at the

party, and Gudrun, although she scorned the patronage of the Criches,

would nevertheless accompany her mother and father if the weather were

fine.

The day came blue and full of sunshine, with little wafts of wind. The

sisters both wore dresses of white crepe, and hats of soft grass. But

Gudrun had a sash of brilliant black and pink and yellow colour wound

broadly round her waist, and she had pink silk stockings, and black and

pink and yellow decoration on the brim of her hat, weighing it down a

little. She carried also a yellow silk coat over her arm, so that she

looked remarkable, like a painting from the Salon. Her appearance was a

sore trial to her father, who said angrily: 'Don't you think you might as well get yourself up for a Christmas

cracker, an'ha' done with it?' But Gudrun looked handsome and brilliant, and she wore her clothes in

pure defiance. When people stared at her, and giggled after her, she

made a point of saying loudly, to Ursula: 'Regarde, regarde ces gens-la! Ne sont-ils pas des hiboux incroyables?'

And with the words of French in her mouth, she would look over her

shoulder at the giggling party.