daylight； and work or spend himself energetically in the open
air of the afternoon； retrieving what was left to him of the
day。
But he did not go。 Well； one might as well be hung for a
sheep as for a lamb。 If he had lost this day of his life； he had
lost it。 He gave it up。 He was not going to count his losses。
She didn't care。 She didn't care in the least。
Then why should he？ Should he be behind her in recklessness and
independence？ She was superb in her indifference。 He wanted to
be like her。
She took her responsibilities lightly。 When she spilled her
tea on the pillow； she rubbed it carelessly with a handkerchief；
and turned over the pillow。 He would have felt guilty。 She did
not。 And it pleased him。 It pleased him very much to see how
these things did not matter to her。
When the meal was over； she wiped her mouth on her
handkerchief quickly； satisfied and happy； and settled down on
the pillow again； with her fingers in his close； strange；
fur…like hair。
The evening began to fall； the light was half alive； livid。
He hid his face against her。
〃I don't like the twilight；〃 he said。
〃I love it；〃 she answered。
He hid his face against her； who was warm and like sunlight。
She seemed to have sunlight inside her。 Her heart beating seemed
like sunlight upon him。 In her was a more real day than the day
could give： so warm and steady and restoring。 He hid his face
against her whilst the twilight fell； whilst she lay staring out
with her unseeing dark eyes； as if she wandered forth
untrammelled in the vagueness。 The vagueness gave her scope and
set her free。
To him； turned towards her heart…pulse； all was very still
and very warm and very close； like noon…tide。 He was glad to
know this warm； full noon。 It ripened him and took away his
responsibility； some of his conscience。
They got up when it was quite dark。 She hastily twisted her
hair into a knot； and was dressed in a twinkling。 Then they went
downstairs； drew to the fire； and sat in silence； saying a few
words now and then。
Her father was ing。 She bundled the dishes away； flew
round and tidied the room； assumed another character； and again
seated herself。 He sat thinking of his carving of Eve。 He loved
to go over his carving in his mind； dwelling on every stroke；
every line。 How he loved it now！ When he went back to his
Creation…panel again； he would finish his Eve； tender and
sparkling。 It did not satisfy him yet。 The Lord should labour
over her in a silent passion of Creation； and Adam should be
tense as if in a dream of immortality； and Eve should take form
glimmeringly； shadowily； as if the Lord must wrestle with His
own soul for her； yet she was a radiance。
〃What are you thinking about？〃 she asked。
He found it difficult to say。 His soul became shy when he
tried to municate it。
〃I was thinking my Eve was too hard and lively。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I don't know。 She should be more；〃 he made a
gesture of infinite tenderness。
There was a stillness with a little joy。 He could not tell
her any more。 Why could he not tell her any more？ She felt a
pang of disconsolate sadness。 But it was nothing。 She went to
him。
Her father came； and found them both very glowing； like an
open flower。 He loved to sit with them。 Where there was a
perfume of love； anyone who came must breathe it。 They were both
very quick and alive； lit up from the other…world； so that it
was quite an experience for them； that anyone else could
exist。
But still it troubled Will Brangwen a little； in his orderly；
conventional mind； that the established rule of things had gone
so utterly。 One ought to get up in the morning and wash oneself
and be a decent social being。 Instead； the two of them stayed in
bed till nightfall； and then got up； she never washed her face；
but sat there talking to her father as bright and shameless as a
daisy opened out of the dew。 Or she got up at ten o'clock； and
quite blithely went to bed again at three； or at half…past four；
stripping him naked in the daylight； and all so gladly and
perfectly； oblivious quite of his qualms。 He let her do as she
liked with him； and shone with strange pleasure。 She was to
dispose of him as she would。 He was translated with gladness to
be in her hands。 And dos； his
rules； his smaller beliefs； she scattered them like an expert
skittle…player。 He was very much astonished and delighted to see
them scatter。
He stood and gazed and grinned with wonder whilst his Tablets
of Stone went bounding and bumping and splintering down the
hill； dislodged for ever。 Indeed； it was true as they said； that
a man wasn't born before he was married。 What a change
indeed！
He surveyed the rind of the world： houses； factories； trams；
the discarded rind； people scurrying about； work going on； all
on the discarded surface。 An earthquake had burst it all from
inside。 It was as if the surface of the world had been broken
away entire： Ilkeston； streets； church； people； work；
rule…of…the…day； all intact； and yet peeled away into unreality；
leaving here exposed the inside； the reality： one's own being；
strange feelings and passions and yearnings and beliefs and
aspirations； suddenly bee present； revealed； the permanent
bedrock； knitted one rock with the woman one loved。 It was
confounding。 Things are not what they seem！ When he was a child；
he had thought a woman was a woman merely by virtue of her
skirts and petticoats。 And now； lo； the whole world could be
divested of its garment； the garment could lie there shed away
intact； and one could stand in a new world； a new earth； naked
in a new； naked universe。 It was too astounding and
miraculous。
This then was marriage！ The old things didn't matter any
more。 One got up at four o'clock； and had broth at tea…time and
made toffee in the middle of the night。 One didn't put on one's
clothes or one did put on one's clothes。 He still was not quite
sure it was not criminal。 But it was a discovery to find one
might be so supremely absolved。 All that mattered was that he
should love her and she should love him and they should live
kindled to one another； like the Lord in two burning bushes that
were not consumed。 And so they lived for the time。
She was less hampered than he； so she came more quickly to
her fulness； and was sooner ready to enjoy again a return to the
outside world。 She was going to give a tea…party。 His heart
sank。 He wanted to go on； to go on as they were。 He wanted to
have done with the outside world； to declare it finished for
ever。 He was anxious with a deep desire and anxiety that she
should stay with him where they were in the timeless universe of
free； perfect limbs and immortal breast； affirming that the old
outward order was finished。 The new order was begun to last for
ever； the living life； palpitating from the gleaming core； to
action； without crust or cover or outward lie。 But no； he could
not keep her。 She wanted the dead world again…she wanted to walk
on the outside once more。 She was going to give a tea…party。 It
made him frightened and furious and miserable。 He was afraid all
would be lost that he had so newly e into： like the youth in
the fairy tale； who was king for one d