and he ebbs with the stream, the sewer stream.’

Meanwhile Gudrun and Ursula waited for the next opportunity to talk to Loerke. It was no use beginning when the men were there. Then they could get into no touch with the isolated little sculptor. He had to be alone with them. And he preferred Ursula to be there, as a sort of transmitter to Gudrun.

‘Do you do nothing but architectural sculpture?’ Gudrun asked him one evening.

‘Not now,’ he replied. ‘I have done all sorts — except portraits — I never did portraits. But other things — ’

‘What kind of things?’ asked Gudrun.

He paused a moment, then rose, and went out of