‘Oh yes. Adam kept Eve in the indestructible paradise, when he kept her single with himself, like a star in its orbit.’

‘Yes — yes — ’ cried Ursula, pointing her finger at him. ‘There you are — a star in its orbit! A satellite — a satellite of Mars — that’s what she is to be! There — there — you’ve given yourself away! You want a satellite, Mars and his satellite! You’ve said it — you’ve said it — you’ve dished yourself!’

He stood smiling in frustration and amusement and irritation and admiration and love. She was so quick, and so lambent, like discernible fire, and so vindictive, and so rich in her dangerous flamy sensitiveness.

‘I’ve