Women in Love

'No more wrong than any of the rest of us,' Birkin replied. 'The most

normal people have the worst subterranean selves, take them one by

one.' 'Sometimes I think it is a curse to be alive,' said Gerald with sudden

impotent anger.

'Well,' said Birkin, 'why not! Let it be a curse sometimes to be

alive--at other times it is anything but a curse. You've got plenty of

zest in it really.' 'Less than you'd think,' said Gerald, revealing a strange poverty in

his look at the other man.

There was silence, each thinking his own thoughts.

'I don't see what she has to distinguish between teaching at the

Grammar School, and coming to teach Win,' said Gerald.

'The difference between a public servant and a private one. The only

nobleman today, king and only aristocrat, is the public, the public.

You are quite willing to serve the public--but to be a private tutor--' 'I don't want to serve either--' 'No! And Gudrun will probably feel the same.' Gerald thought for a few minutes. Then he said: 'At all events, father won't make her feel like a private servant. He

will be fussy and greatful enough.' 'So he ought. And so ought all of you. Do you think you can hire a

woman like Gudrun Brangwen with money? She is your equal like

anything--probably your superior.' 'Is she?' said Gerald.

'Yes, and if you haven't the guts to know it, I hope she'll leave you

to your own devices.' 'Nevertheless,' said Gerald, 'if she is my equal, I wish she weren't a

teacher, because I don't think teachers as a rule are my equal.' 'Nor do I, damn them. But am I a teacher because I teach, or a parson

because I preach?' Gerald laughed. He was always uneasy on this score. He did not WANT to

claim social superiority, yet he WOULD not claim intrinsic personal

superiority, because he would never base his standard of values on pure

being. So he wobbled upon a tacit assumption of social standing. No,

Birkin wanted him to accept the fact of intrinsic difference between

human beings, which he did not intend to accept. It was against his

social honour, his principle. He rose to go.

'I've been neglecting my business all this while,' he said smiling.

'I ought to have reminded you before,' Birkin replied, laughing and

mocking.

'I knew you'd say something like that,' laughed Gerald, rather

uneasily.

'Did you?' 'Yes, Rupert. It wouldn't do for us all to be like you are--we should

soon be in the cart. When I am above the world, I shall ignore all

businesses.' 'Of course, we're not in the cart now,' said Birkin, satirically.