Women in Love

In the old age, before sex was, we were mixed, each one a mixture. The

process of singling into individuality resulted into the great

polarisation of sex. The womanly drew to one side, the manly to the

other. But the separation was imperfect even them. And so our

world-cycle passes. There is now to come the new day, when we are

beings each of us, fulfilled in difference. The man is pure man, the

woman pure woman, they are perfectly polarised. But there is no longer

any of the horrible merging, mingling self-abnegation of love. There is

only the pure duality of polarisation, each one free from any

contamination of the other. In each, the individual is primal, sex is

subordinate, but perfectly polarised. Each has a single, separate

being, with its own laws. The man has his pure freedom, the woman hers.

Each acknowledges the perfection of the polarised sex-circuit. Each

admits the different nature in the other.

So Birkin meditated whilst he was ill. He liked sometimes to be ill

enough to take to his bed. For then he got better very quickly, and

things came to him clear and sure.

Whilst he was laid up, Gerald came to see him. The two men had a deep,

uneasy feeling for each other. Gerald's eyes were quick and restless,

his whole manner tense and impatient, he seemed strung up to some

activity. According to conventionality, he wore black clothes, he

looked formal, handsome and COMME IL FAUT. His hair was fair almost to

whiteness, sharp like splinters of light, his face was keen and ruddy,

his body seemed full of northern energy. Gerald really loved Birkin,

though he never quite believed in him. Birkin was too unreal;--clever,

whimsical, wonderful, but not practical enough. Gerald felt that his

own understanding was much sounder and safer. Birkin was delightful, a

wonderful spirit, but after all, not to be taken seriously, not quite

to be counted as a man among men.

'Why are you laid up again?' he asked kindly, taking the sick man's

hand. It was always Gerald who was protective, offering the warm

shelter of his physical strength.

'For my sins, I suppose,' Birkin said, smiling a little ironically.

'For your sins? Yes, probably that is so. You should sin less, and keep

better in health?' 'You'd better teach me.' He looked at Gerald with ironic eyes.

'How are things with you?' asked Birkin.

'With me?' Gerald looked at Birkin, saw he was serious, and a warm

light came into his eyes.

'I don't know that they're any different. I don't see how they could

be. There's nothing to change.' 'I suppose you are conducting the business as successfully as ever, and

ignoring the demand of the soul.' 'That's it,' said Gerald. 'At least as far as the business is

concerned. I couldn't say about the soul, I'am sure.' 'No.' 'Surely you don't expect me to?' laughed Gerald.