‘And did it hurt much?’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It did at the time. It’s getting better now. It crushed the fingers.’

‘Oh,’ cried Ursula, as if in pain, ‘I hate people who hurt themselves. I can FEEL it.’ And she shook her hand.

‘What do you want?’ said Birkin.

The two men carried down the slim brown boat, and set it on the water.

‘You’re quite sure you’ll be safe in it?’ Gerald asked.

‘Quite sure,’ said Gudrun. ‘I wouldn’t be so mean as to take it, if there was the slightest doubt. But I’ve had a canoe at Arundel, and I assure you I’m