‘Would she suffer?’ asked Gerald, also amused now.

Both men smiled in malice and amusement.

‘Badly, I should think; seeing how self-conscious she is.’

‘She is self-conscious, is she? Then what made her do it? For I certainly think it was quite uncalled-for, and quite unjustified.’

‘I suppose it was a sudden impulse.’

‘Yes, but how do you account for her having such an impulse? I’d done her no harm.’

Birkin shook his head.

‘The Amazon suddenly came up in her, I suppose,’ he said.

‘Well,’ replied Gerald,