登陆注册
5159000000038

第38章

`She is both,' said Gerald.`She is a social being, as far as society is concerned.But for her own private self, she is a free agent, it is her own affair, what she does.'

`But won't it be rather difficult to arrange the two halves?' asked Ursula.

`Oh no,' replied Gerald.`They arrange themselves naturally -- we see it now, everywhere.'

`Don't you laugh so pleasantly till you're out of the wood,' said Birkin.

Gerald knitted his brows in momentary irritation.

`Was I laughing?' he said.

` If ,' said Hermione at last, `we could only realise, that in the spirit we are all one, all equal in the spirit, all brothers there -- the rest wouldn't matter, there would be no more of this carping and envy and this struggle for power, which destroys, only destroys.'

This speech was received in silence, and almost immediately the party rose from the table.But when the others had gone, Birkin turned round in bitter declamation, saying:

`It is just the opposite, just the contrary, Hermione.We are all different and unequal in spirit -- it is only the social differences that are based on accidental material conditions.We are all abstractly or mathematically equal, if you like.Every man has hunger and thirst, two eyes, one nose and two legs.We're all the same in point of number.But spiritually, there is pure difference and neither equality nor inequality counts.It is upon these two bits of knowledge that you must found a state.Your democracy is an absolute lie -- your brotherhood of man is a pure falsity, if you apply it further than the mathematical abstraction.We all drank milk first, we all eat bread and meat, we all want to ride in motor-cars -- therein lies the beginning and the end of the brotherhood of man.But no equality.

`But I, myself, who am myself, what have I to do with equality with any other man or woman? In the spirit, I am as separate as one star is from another, as different in quality and quantity.Establish a state on that.One man isn't any better than another, not because they are equal, but because they are intrinsically other , that there is no term of comparison.The minute you begin to compare, one man is seen to be far better than another, all the inequality you can imagine is there by nature.I want every man to have his share in the world's goods, so that I am rid of his importunity, so that I can tell him: "Now you've got what you want -- you've got your fair share of the world's gear.Now, you one-mouthed fool, mind yourself and don't obstruct me.'

Hermione was looking at him with leering eyes, along her cheeks.He could feel violent waves of hatred and loathing of all he said, coming out of her.It was dynamic hatred and loathing, coming strong and black out of the unconsciousness.She heard his words in her unconscious self, consciously she was as if deafened, she paid no heed to them.

`It sounds like megalomania, Rupert,' said Gerald, genially.

Hermione gave a queer, grunting sound.Birkin stood back.

`Yes, let it,' he said suddenly, the whole tone gone out of his voice, that had been so insistent, bearing everybody down.And he went away.

But he felt, later, a little compunction.He had been violent, cruel with poor Hermione.He wanted to recompense her, to make it up.He had hurt her, he had been vindictive.He wanted to be on good terms with her again.

He went into her boudoir, a remote and very cushiony place.She was sitting at her table writing letters.She lifted her face abstractedly when he entered, watched him go to the sofa, and sit down.Then she looked down at her paper again.

He took up a large volume which he had been reading before, and became minutely attentive to his author.His back was towards Hermione.She could not go on with her writing.Her whole mind was a chaos, darkness breaking in upon it, and herself struggling to gain control with her will, as a swimmer struggles with the swirling water.But in spite of her efforts she was borne down, darkness seemed to break over her, she felt as if her heart was bursting.The terrible tension grew stronger and stronger, it was most fearful agony, like being walled up.

And then she realised that his presence was the wall, his presence was destroying her.Unless she could break out, she must die most fearfully, walled up in horror.And he was the wall.She must break down the wall -- she must break him down before her, the awful obstruction of him who obstructed her life to the last.It must be done, or she must perish most horribly.

Terribly shocks ran over her body, like shocks of electricity, as if many volts of electricity suddenly struck her down.She was aware of him sitting silently there, an unthinkable evil obstruction.Only this blotted out her mind, pressed out her very breathing, his silent, stooping back, the back of his head.

A terrible voluptuous thrill ran down her arms -- she was going to know her voluptuous consummation.Her arms quivered and were strong, immeasurably and irresistibly strong.What delight, what delight in strength, what delirium of pleasure! She was going to have her consummation of voluptuous ecstasy at last.It was coming! In utmost terror and agony, she knew it was upon her now, in extremity of bliss.Her hand closed on a blue, beautiful ball of lapis lazuli that stood on her desk for a paper-weight.She rolled it round in her hand as she rose silently.Her heart was a pure flame in her breast, she was purely unconscious in ecstasy.She moved towards him and stood behind him for a moment in ecstasy.He, closed within the spell, remained motionless and unconscious.

同类推荐
  • 海阳十咏·玄览亭

    海阳十咏·玄览亭

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绝命辞

    绝命辞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大虚空藏菩萨念诵法

    大虚空藏菩萨念诵法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 云峰集

    云峰集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神仙传

    神仙传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我们为什么会发胖

    我们为什么会发胖

    为什么有的人吃再多也不胖,有的人喝凉水也发胖?为什么严格、认真节食的人依旧会遭遇反弹的痛苦?美国最佳医学科普作者盖里陶比斯决心为公众找到答案。他花费整整10年,全面调查了一百多年来减肥科学的文献和最前沿的实验,终于发现了肥胖的惊人真相和科学减肥的唯一做法:肥胖者比普通人需要更多的营养来滋养身体,此时盲目少吃,可能会给身体带来不可逆的伤害。要想一次性彻底减肥,必须先优化营养结构,不在于吃多少,而在于吃什么、怎么吃。本书一出,立刻震惊国际医学界,美国数千个减肥中心和研究所更新减肥方案,全球数千万肥胖者因此重返健康。最终,美国政府决定重新制定健康减肥新标准,陶比斯也因此三度获得美国国家科学作者奖。
  • 开店创业必读手册

    开店创业必读手册

    本书内容系统全面,从开店的选址、开业策划到店面设计、商品管理、日常营运等十四个方面,对店铺经营的各个步骤进行详细分析,指导投资者一步一个脚印,从零开始成功创建、经营一家赚钱的旺铺。
  • 漠里寒阳

    漠里寒阳

    (女扮男装)第一次见面,夜色太黑,没看清脸,不要紧。第二次见面,美色误人,之前的不愉快统统忘掉。见面就开撩,君北漠无奈,最后把人按在床上“九九,撩够了吗?来点实际的吧。”九爷邪魅一笑,“美人,你总算从了我了。”
  • 吾皇大人威武

    吾皇大人威武

    命运……究竟由天定还是由自己书写。偶然的相遇,播种下的种子,都一定能长成参天大树吗?“我们熟吗?”“你是我捡来的,怎么不熟了。”“我明明过得好好的,谁让你捡我了?”命运的齿轮重新并拢,那些尘封多年的往事浮出水面,最初的阴谋,最后的结局。“欧阳玥,不论结果如何你都会陪着我的…是吧?”“对,无论如何我也不会让你离开。”
  • 雅言

    雅言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 家庭理财好帮手

    家庭理财好帮手

    你不理财,财不理你。对于普通百姓而言,只有通过合理地规划自己的收入,谨慎地投资理财才能走上一条充满希望的致富之路。那么,如何设计自己家庭的致富之路?怎样才能在家庭生活和经济压力等问题中做到平衡呢?如何选择适合自己家庭的投资理财的方法和途径呢?本书根据中国家庭的实际情况,详细讲述了家庭理财的基本方法和技巧,是我们家庭理财的好帮手。本书根据中国家庭的实际情况,详细讲述了家庭理财的基本方法和技巧,让人们从生活中获取智慧,从而使每个家庭在生活和经济收入之间有一个合理的缓冲区,从而保证家庭生活朝着稳定、和睦、健康的方向发展。
  • 星光:利川市国税局离休干部施星灿的奉献人生

    星光:利川市国税局离休干部施星灿的奉献人生

    书中的主人公施星灿同志是湖北省利川市国税局离休干部——全国税务系统党的群众路线教育实践活动先进典型、湖北省创先争优优秀共产党员、湖北省恩施土家族苗族自治州(后简称恩施州)道德模范,被誉为“信念老人”。《人民日报》、《中国税务报》、《湖北日报》、《解放军报》、人民网、新浪网、搜狐网等国内30多家媒体曾报道过他的事迹。本书通过许多真实、朴实和生动的故事及珍贵的图片反映了全国税务系统群众路线教育活动先进个人、全国税务系统我身边的好税官、湖北省创先争优先进人个人、湖北省道德模范、湖北省离退休干部先进个人、恩施州老有所为先进个人、利川市优秀共产党员施星灿的一生。
  • 8种成功心态

    8种成功心态

    本书综合了人生中一些成功的经验和失败的教训,归纳出成功必备的八种心态:自信心、归零心、进取心、施予心、平常心、包容心、诚信心和持久心,并引用大量生动有趣的故事,从理论和实践上探讨和综述了这八种心态。
  • 我家影后超萌哒

    我家影后超萌哒

    新书《季先生,别无赖》已发!甜宠无虐,喜欢的小可爱们,请多支持,么么哒!——灰白色调的简约办公室里。帝爵单手撑着额头,慵懒的坐在沙发上。
  • 离笼

    离笼

    秦淮其人,一生唯有传奇。丰神俊朗,文采飞扬,更是家财万贯,后院清白。就是后院太过清白,牵连了两位备受看重的皇室子弟也沾染了这洁身自好的“坏毛病”,传出的断袖之论,肆意统领着帝都的八卦,百姓们议论纷纷,贵女们在不肯相信之余又不免忐忑。三公主对其更是一见倾心,只可惜落花有意,流水无心,为了推掉这尊大佛,也为了打散令皇帝无法容忍的断袖之论,秦淮便只能冒出来一个定亲多年的“未婚妻”。意外的笑容,铭刻在心,于是,原计划取消,米小七便成了秦夫人。