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.''Isn't there? But let me see, will you?'Women in Love 93/371 Women in LoveGudrun reached out the sketch-book, Gerald stretched from the boat to take it.And as he did so, heremembered Gudrun's last words to him, and her face lifted up to him as he sat on the swerving horse.Anintensification of pride went over his nerves, because he felt, in some way she was compelled by him.Theexchange of feeling between them was strong and apart from their consciousness.And as if in a spell, Gudrun was aware of his body, stretching and surging like the marsh-fire, stretchingtowards her, his hand coming straight forward like a stem.Her voluptuous, acute apprehension of him madethe blood faint in her veins, her mind went dim and unconscious.And he rocked on the water perfectly, likethe rocking of phosphorescence.He looked round at the boat.It was drifting off a little.He lifted the oar tobring it back.And the exquisite pleasure of slowly arresting the boat, in the heavy-soft water, was completeas a swoon.'THAT'S what you have done,' said Hermione, looking searchingly at the plants on the shore, and comparingwith Gudrun's drawing.Gudrun looked round in the direction of Hermione's long, pointing finger.'That is it,isn't it?' repeated Hermione, needing confirmation.'Yes,' said Gudrun automatically, taking no real heed.'Let me look,' said Gerald, reaching forward for the book.But Hermione ignored him, he must not presume,before she had finished.But he, his will as unthwarted and as unflinching as hers, stretched forward till hetouched the book.A little shock, a storm of revulsion against him, shook Hermione unconsciously.Shereleased the book when he had not properly got it, and it tumbled against the side of the boat and bounced intothe water.'There!' sang Hermione, with a strange ring of malevolent victory.'I'm so sorry, so awfully sorry.Can't youget it, Gerald?'This last was said in a note of anxious sneering that made Gerald's veins tingle with fine hate for her.Heleaned far out of the boat, reaching down into the water.He could feel his position was ridiculous, his loinsexposed behind him.'It is of no importance,' came the strong, clanging voice of Gudrun.She seemed to touch him.But he reachedfurther, the boat swayed violently.Hermione, however, remained unperturbed.He grasped the book, under thewater, and brought it up, dripping.'I'm so dreadfully sorry--dreadfully sorry,' repeated Hermione.'I'm afraid it was all my fault.''It's of no importance--really, I assure you--it doesn't matter in the least,' said Gudrun loudly, with emphasis,her face flushed scarlet.And she held out her hand impatiently for the wet book, to have done with the scene.Gerald gave it to her.He was not quite himself.'I'm so dreadfully sorry,' repeated Hermione, till both Gerald and Gudrun were exasperated.'Is there nothingthat can be done?''In what way?' asked Gudrun, with cool irony.'Can't we save the drawings?'There was a moment's pause, wherein Gudrun made evident all her refutation of Hermione's persistence.Women in Love 94/371 Women in Love'I assure you,' said Gudrun, with cutting distinctness, 'the drawings are quite as good as ever they were, for mypurpose.I want them only for reference.''But can't I give you a new book? I wish you'd let me do that.I feel so truly sorry.I feel it was all my fault.''As far as I saw,' said Gudrun, 'it wasn't your fault at all.If there was any FAULT, it was Mr Crich's.But thewhole thing is ENTIRELY trivial, and it really is ridiculous to take any notice of it.'Gerald watched Gudrun closely, whilst she repulsed Hermione.There was a body of cold power in her.Hewatched her with an insight that amounted to clairvoyance.He saw her a dangerous, hostile spirit, that couldstand undiminished and unabated.It was so finished, and of such perfect gesture, moreover.'I'm awfully glad if it doesn't matter,' he said; 'if there's no real harm done.'She looked back at him, with her fine blue eyes, and signalled full into his spirit, as she said, her voice ringingwith intimacy almost caressive now it was addressed to him:'Of course, it doesn't matter in the LEAST.'The bond was established between them, in that look, in her tone.In her tone, she made the understandingclear--they were of the same kind, he and she, a sort of diabolic freemasonry subsisted between them.Henceforward, she knew, she had her power over him.Wherever they met, they would be secretly associated.And he would be helpless in the association with her.Her soul exulted.'Good-bye! I'm so glad you forgive me.Gooood-bye!'Hermione sang her farewell, and waved her hand.Gerald automatically took the oar and pushed off.But hewas looking all the time, with a glimmering, subtly-smiling admiration in his eyes, at Gudrun, who stood onthe shoal shaking the wet book in her hand.She turned away and ignored the receding boat.But Geraldlooked back as he rowed, beholding her, forgetting what he was doing.'Aren't we going too much to the left?' sang Hermione, as she sat ignored under her coloured parasol.Gerald looked round without replying, the oars balanced and glancing in the sun.'I think it's all right,' he said good-humouredly, beginning to row again without thinking of what he wasdoing.And Hermione disliked him extremely for his good-humoured obliviousness, she was nullified, shecould not regain ascendancy.CHAPTER XI.AN ISLANDMeanwhile Ursula had wandered on from Willey Water along the course of the bright little stream.Theafternoon was full of larks' singing.On the bright hill-sides was a subdued smoulder of gorse.A fewforget-me-nots flowered by the water.There was a rousedness and a glancing everywhere.She strayed absorbedly on, over the brooks [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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