Women in Love

'What are they?' she asked.

'Sort of petunia, I suppose,' he answered. 'I don't really know them.' 'They are quite strangers to me,' she said.

They stood together in a false intimacy, a nervous contact. And he was

in love with her.

She was aware of Mademoiselle standing near, like a little French

beetle, observant and calculating. She moved away with Winifred, saying

they would go to find Bismarck.

Gerald watched them go, looking all the while at the soft, full, still

body of Gudrun, in its silky cashmere. How silky and rich and soft her

body must be. An excess of appreciation came over his mind, she was the

all-desirable, the all-beautiful. He wanted only to come to her,

nothing more. He was only this, this being that should come to her, and

be given to her.

At the same time he was finely and acutely aware of Mademoiselle's

neat, brittle finality of form. She was like some elegant beetle with

thin ankles, perched on her high heels, her glossy black dress

perfectly correct, her dark hair done high and admirably. How repulsive

her completeness and her finality was! He loathed her.

Yet he did admire her. She was perfectly correct. And it did rather

annoy him, that Gudrun came dressed in startling colours, like a macaw,

when the family was in mourning. Like a macaw she was! He watched the

lingering way she took her feet from the ground. And her ankles were

pale yellow, and her dress a deep blue. Yet it pleased him. It pleased

him very much. He felt the challenge in her very attire-she challenged

the whole world. And he smiled as to the note of a trumpet.

Gudrun and Winifred went through the house to the back, where were the

stables and the out-buildings. Everywhere was still and deserted. Mr

Crich had gone out for a short drive, the stableman had just led round

Gerald's horse. The two girls went to the hutch that stood in a corner,

and looked at the great black-and-white rabbit.

'Isn't he beautiful! Oh, do look at him listening! Doesn't he look

silly!' she laughed quickly, then added 'Oh, do let's do him listening,

do let us, he listens with so much of himself;-don't you darling

Bismarck?' 'Can we take him out?' said Gudrun.

'He's very strong. He really is extremely strong.' She looked at

Gudrun, her head on one side, in odd calculating mistrust.

'But we'll try, shall we?' 'Yes, if you like. But he's a fearful kicker!' They took the key to unlock the door. The rabbit exploded in a wild

rush round the hutch.