Women in Love by D H Lawrence Chapter 5 Page 14

‘What do you think is the aim and object of your life, Gerald?’ he asked.

Again Gerald was taken aback. He could not think what his friend was getting at. Was he poking fun, or not?

‘At this moment, I couldn’t say off-hand,’ he replied, with faintly ironic humour.

‘Do you think love is the be-all and the end-all of life?’ Birkin asked, with direct, attentive seriousness.

‘Of my own life?’ said Gerald.

‘Yes.’

There was a really puzzled pause.

‘I can’t say,’ said Gerald. ‘It hasn’t been, so far.’