Birkin looked at him steadily, as if somewhat taken aback.

‘Serious — or joking?’ he asked.

‘Oh, serious. Shall I? Shall Gudrun and I rush in along with you?’

‘Do by all means,’ said Birkin. ‘I didn’t know you’d got that length.’

‘What length?’ said Gerald, looking at the other man, and laughing.

‘Oh yes, we’ve gone all the lengths.’

‘There remains to put it on a broad social basis, and to achieve a high moral purpose,’ said Birkin.

‘Something like that: the length and breadth and height of it,’ replied Gerald, smiling.