Women in Love

'Where is the letter?' she asked.

'I kept it,' said Gudrun.

'You'll give it me, won't you?' she said.

But Gudrun was silent for some moments, before she replied: 'Do you really want it, Ursula?' 'I want to read it,' said Ursula.

'Certainly,' said Gudrun.

Even now, she could not admit, to Ursula, that she wanted to keep it,

as a memento, or a symbol. But Ursula knew, and was not pleased. So the

subject was switched off.

'What did you do in Paris?' asked Ursula.

'Oh,' said Gudrun laconically--'the usual things. We had a FINE party

one night in Fanny Bath's studio.' 'Did you? And you and Gerald were there! Who else? Tell me about it.' 'Well,' said Gudrun. 'There's nothing particular to tell. You know

Fanny is FRIGHTFULLY in love with that painter, Billy Macfarlane. He

was there--so Fanny spared nothing, she spent VERY freely. It was

really remarkable! Of course, everybody got fearfully drunk--but in an

interesting way, not like that filthy London crowd. The fact is these

were all people that matter, which makes all the difference. There was

a Roumanian, a fine chap. He got completely drunk, and climbed to the

top of a high studio ladder, and gave the most marvellous

address--really, Ursula, it was wonderful! He began in French--La vie,

c'est une affaire d'ames imperiales--in a most beautiful voice--he was

a fine-looking chap--but he had got into Roumanian before he had

finished, and not a soul understood. But Donald Gilchrist was worked to

a frenzy. He dashed his glass to the ground, and declared, by God, he

was glad he had been born, by God, it was a miracle to be alive. And do

you know, Ursula, so it was--' Gudrun laughed rather hollowly.

'But how was Gerald among them all?' asked Ursula.

'Gerald! Oh, my word, he came out like a dandelion in the sun! HE'S a

whole saturnalia in himself, once he is roused. I shouldn't like to say

whose waist his arm did not go round. Really, Ursula, he seems to reap

the women like a harvest. There wasn't one that would have resisted

him. It was too amazing! Can you understand it?' Ursula reflected, and a dancing light came into her eyes.

'Yes,' she said. 'I can. He is such a whole-hogger.' 'Whole-hogger! I should think so!' exclaimed Gudrun. 'But it is true,

Ursula, every woman in the room was ready to surrender to him.

Chanticleer isn't in it--even Fanny Bath, who is GENUINELY in love with

Billy Macfarlane! I never was more amazed in my life! And you know,

afterwards--I felt I was a whole ROOMFUL of women. I was no more myself

to him, than I was Queen Victoria. I was a whole roomful of women at

once. It was most astounding! But my eye, I'd caught a Sultan that

time--' Gudrun's eyes were flashing, her cheek was hot, she looked strange,

exotic, satiric. Ursula was fascinated at once--and yet uneasy.