mere presence.

‘And I don’t want to see her going back on it all,’ he said, in a clanging voice.

‘Why?’ said Birkin.

This monosyllable exploded in Brangwen’s brain like a shot.

‘Why! I don’t believe in your new-fangled ways and new-fangled ideas — in and out like a frog in a gallipot. It would never do for me.’

Birkin watched him with steady emotionless eyes. The radical antagnoism in the two men was rousing.

‘Yes, but are my ways and ideas new-fangled?’ asked Birkin.

‘Are they?’ Brangwen caught himself up. ‘I’m not speaking of you in particular,’