pause. Birkin and Ursula stood dimly, with their swinging lanterns, by the water’s edge. The world was all illusive.

‘Is that all right?’ said Gudrun to him.

‘It’ll suit ME very well,’ he said. ‘But what about you, and the rowing? I don’t see why you should pull me.’

‘Why not?’ she said. ‘I can pull you as well as I could pull Ursula.’

By her tone he could tell she wanted to have him in the boat to herself, and that she was subtly gratified that she should have power over them both. He gave himself, in a strange, electric submission.

She handed him the lanterns, whilst she went to fix the cane at the end of