‘I wouldn’t, Ursula.’

‘It all seems so NOTHING — their two lives — there’s no meaning in it. Really, if they had NOT met, and NOT married, and not lived together — it wouldn’t have mattered, would it?’

‘Of course — you can’t tell,’ said Gudrun.

‘No. But if I thought my life was going to be like it — Prune,’ she caught Gudrun’s arm, ‘I should run.’

Gudrun was silent for a few moments.

‘As a matter of fact, one cannot contemplate the ordinary life — one cannot contemplate it,’ replied Gudrun. ‘With you, Ursula, it is quite different. You will be out of it all, with Birkin. He’s