Women in Love by D H Lawrence Chapter 8 Page 42

‘She might. But I think she won’t. She drops her art if anything else catches her. Her contrariness prevents her taking it seriously — she must never be too serious, she feels she might give herself away. And she won’t give herself away — she’s always on the defensive. That’s what I can’t stand about her type. By the way, how did things go off with Pussum after I left you? I haven’t heard anything.’

‘Oh, rather disgusting. Halliday turned objectionable, and I only just saved myself from jumping in his stomach, in a real old-fashioned row.’

Birkin was silent.

‘Of course,’ he said, ‘Julius is somewhat insane. On the one hand he’s had religious mania, and on the