Birkin looked back at him, and said to himself: ‘I wonder why it should be “on foot”!’ Aloud he said:

‘No, it’s perhaps rather sudden.’ At which, thinking of his relationship with Ursula, he added — ’but I don’t know — ’

‘Quite sudden, is it? Oh!’ said Brangwen, rather baffled and annoyed.

‘In one way,’ replied Birkin, ‘ — not in another.’

There was a moment’s pause, after which Brangwen said:

‘Well, she pleases herself — ’

‘Oh yes!’ said Birkin, calmly.

A vibration came into Brangwen’s