just it,’ said Gudrun.

‘I believe in love, in a real ABANDON, if you’re capable of it,’ said Gerald.

‘So do I,’ said she.

‘And so does Rupert, too — though he is always shouting.’

‘No,’ said Gudrun. ‘He won’t abandon himself to the other person. You can’t be sure of him. That’s the trouble I think.’

‘Yet he wants marriage! Marriage — ET PUIS?’

‘Le paradis!’ mocked Gudrun.

Birkin, as he drove, felt a creeping of the spine, as if somebody was threatening his neck. But he shrugged with indifference. It began to rain. Here was a change. He stopped the car and got down to put up the hood.