‘What has your life been, so far?’

‘Oh — finding out things for myself — and getting experiences — and making things GO.’

Birkin knitted his brows like sharply moulded steel.

‘I find,’ he said, ‘that one needs some one REALLY pure single activity — I should call love a single pure activity. But I DON’T really love anybody — not now.’

‘Have you ever really loved anybody?’ asked Gerald.

‘Yes and no,’ replied Birkin.

‘Not finally?’ said Gerald.

‘Finally — finally — no,’ said Birkin.