Sons and Lovers

drink nor gamble. Yet he somehow contrived to get into endless scrapes, always through some hot-headed thoughtlessness. Either he went rabbiting in the woods, like a poacher, or he stayed

many months when again he

Arthur is?" asked

" replied

e simply can't come away from a game of whist, or else he must see a girl home

any better if he did something to ma

respect him mo

ubt it," said h

on with

fond of him?" Pau

you ask t

woman always like

t I don't. No,

tually rather

owed some of a ma

d his mother very often. She saw the sunsh

ostman with a letter from Derby. Mrs. Morel

!" exclaimed her son, sn

and almost bo

our son, Art

!" cried M

me back from here. I came with Jack Bredon yesterday, instead of going to work, and enlisted. He said

. I was a fool when I did it. I don't want to be in the army. My dear mother, I am nothing but a trou

t down in her

she cried, "l

Paul, "let

at with her hands folded in her

K!" she cried s

wn, "you're not going to worry you

t as a blessing," she fl

unt it up to a tragedy,

he young foo

in uniform," said

urned on him

she cried. "N

ent; he'll have the time of his l

hty swell idea indee

l, "what am I bu

y boy!" cried h

ha

AN, and not a thi

r dark blue, that would suit me better-

er had cease

at his job-a young nuisance-here he goes and ruins himsel

into shape beauti

bones. A SOLDIER!-a common SOLDIER!-nothing but a body tha

and why it upset

back in her chair, her chin in one hand, holding her

u go to Derby

es

no g

ee for

t you let him stop. It

the mother, "YOU

in to Derby, where she saw her son and

his dinner in the even

o go to Der

s eyes, showing the wh

ss. What too

t Ar

what's a

nly enl

knife and leaned

id, "that he

down to Alders

t, said "H'm!" and proceeded with his dinner. Suddenly his face contract

Mrs. Morel. "Say

s away for a soldier, let 'im look aft

u have done as

shamed to go to his pu

said Paul to his mot

d

ld you s

es

at did

red when I

'm

I, so you ne

ew he would not like the army. He did no

d he was perfectly proportioned-almost exactly; all his

But he doesn't fetch the g

cter. He's a good deal like

n exhibition of students' work in the Castle he had two studies, a landscape in water-col

other?" he asked, coming home one evening. She

hould I kno

ze for those

'm

for that sketch u

h fi

es

'm

ght look about her, t

" he said,

t

praise me up

laug

ouble of dragging you

good specimen-and warm and generous, and probably would do well in the end. But Paul was going to distinguish himself. She had a great belief in him, the more because he wa

ood. But they had not in them a certain something which she demanded for her satisfaction. Some made her jealous, they were so good. She looked at them a long tim

Morel-Fir

y, where in her lifetime she had seen so many pictures. And she glanced

met well-dressed ladies going home

I wonder if YOUR son has tw

in Nottingham. And Paul felt he had done something

riking woman, blonde, with a sullen expression, and a defiant carriage. It was strange how Miriam, in her bowed, meditative bearing, looked dwarfed beside this w

u didn't tell me you

pologetically. "I drove in t

at her c

" said Miriam huskily; she was n

did not know whether it was raised in scorn of all men or out of eagerness to be kissed, but which believed the former. She carried her head back, as if she had drawn away in contempt, perhaps from men al

seen me?" Paul a

if she would not tr

Louie Traver

e of the "Sp

u know her?

nswer. He tur

you going

he Ca

are you go

I wish you could come too

till eight to-

the two wom

se her husband, Baxter Dawes, was smith for the factory, making the irons for cripple instruments, and so on. Through her Miriam felt she got into direct contact with Jordan'

e same white skin, with a clear, golden tinge. His hair was of soft brown, his moustache was golden. And he had a similar defiance in his bearing and manner. But then came the difference. His eyes, dark brown and quick-shifting, were dissolute. They protruded

ng the lad's impersonal, deliberate gaze of

okin' at?" he sn

leworth. His speech was dirty, with a kind of rottenness. Again he found the youth with h

at, three hap'orth

ged his shoul

-!" shou

at insinuating voice which means, "He's only o

rough with the same curious criticism, glancing away before he met th

odged with his sister. In the same house was a sister-in-law, and somehow Paul knew that this girl, Louie Travers, was now Dawes's woman.

so the two had the parlour together. It was a long, low, warm room. There were three of Paul's small sketches on the wall, and his photo was on the mantelpiece. On the table and on the high old ro

k of Mrs. Dawes?"

ook very amiab

k she's a fine woman?"

rain of taste. I like her for so

so. I think she

t wi

ike to be tied for li

then, if she was to ha

he!" repeated

she had enough fight in h

bowed h

atirically. "What m

the very setback of her throat-" He thre

wed a lit

" she

or some moments, whil

things you liked ab

r-I don't know-there's a sort of fierceness somewher

es

hed there brooding in that s

like her, do you?"

with her great,

," sh

you can't-n

?" she ask

you like her because she's

had come into his forehead a knitting of the brows which was becoming habitual with him, particularly when he was with Mir

mong the leaves in the bowl. He r

said, "why would you look like some witc

ith a naked,

know,"

ds were playing excit

aughter. You only laugh when something is odd or i

ead as if he we

r one minute-just for one minute. I f

with eyes frightened and stru

could always cry; it seems as if it shows up your suffering.

ook her head

don't want t

iritual with YOU

you be otherwise." But he saw her crouching, br

said, "and everybody feels l

them thrilled her soul. He seemed so beautiful with his eyes

!" he lamented. "And I do

aked in her great dark eyes, and there was the same yearning appeal upon her. If he could have kissed her in abstract p

a brie

that French and we'll

and kiss her. But then be dared not-or could not. There was something prevented him. His kisses were wrong for her. They continued the reading till ten o'clock, when

for his bicycle he found

owl," he said to her. "I shall b

watching. She loved to see his hands doing things. He was slim and vigorous, with a kind of easiness even in his most hasty movements. And busy at his work he

suddenly. "Now, could y

she la

towards her. She put her two hands o

so FINE!"

flame by her hands. She did not seem to realise HIM in all this.

machine on the barn floor to see that the

ll right!

e brakes, that sh

e them mende

N

y didn'

one goes

t's no

use m

ad them mended,

me to tea tomor

all

r. I'll come

y we

hrough the uncurtained window of the kitchen the heads of Mr. and Mrs. Leivers in the

he said, jumpin

are, won't you

es

ors. Orion was wheeling up over the wood, his dog twinkling after him, half smothered. For the rest the world was full of darkness, and silent, save for the brea

Here goes!" he said. It was risky, because of the curve in the darkness at the bottom, and because of the brewers' waggons with drunken waggoners asleep. His bicycle seemed to

sshoppers, silver upon the blackness, as he s

he threw her the berries

em, then away again. She sat re

they p

es

s with him. After a

am are coming t

d not

don't

e did no

u?" he

hether I mi

u should. I have pl

u d

you begrudg

udge wh

you so h

sked her to tea, it's quit

ew it was merely Miriam she objected to.

e was clean and still for Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Morel sat in her black dress and black apron. She rose to meet the visitors. With E

ushions were cosy; the pictures were prints in good taste; there was a simplicity in everything, and plenty of books. He was never ashamed in the least of his home, nor was Miriam of hers, because both were what they should be, and warm. And then he was proud o

her unfailing topic. But Mrs. Morel was

me people had sat in the same places ever since he was a boy. It was wonderfully sweet and soothing to sit there for an hour and a half, next to Miriam, and near to his mother, uniting his two loves under the spell of the place of worship. Then he felt warm and happy and religious at once. And after chapel he walked home with Miriam, whilst Mrs. Morel spent

t was so far, and there were so many rainy Sundays. Then, often very late indeed, she came in, with her long stride, her head bowed, her face hidden under her hat of dark green velvet. Her face, as she sat opposite, was always in shadow. But it gave him a very keen feelin

shing her beliefs. Edgar enjoyed it. He was by nature critical and rather dispassionate. But Miriam suffered exquisite pain, as, with an intellect like a knife, the man she loved examined her religion in which sh

man, who can leave me my share in him. She wants to absorb him. She wants to draw him out and absorb him till there is nothing left of h

in the lowest trough of the night, a flare of the pit. It was all weird and dreadful. Why was he torn so, almost bewildered, and unable to move? Why did his mother sit at home and suffer? He knew she suffered badly. But why should she? And why did he hate Miriam, and feel so cruel towards her, at the thought of his mother. If M

e marks of some agony, and she said nothing. But he had to make her

e her, mother?" he

usly. "I'm sure I've tried to like her. I

ry and hopeless

ther watched him growing restless. He could not go on with his work. He could do nothing. It was as if something were drawing his soul out towards Willey Farm. Then he put

in the old grass, looking up. He could not bear to look at Miriam. She seemed to want him, and he resisted. He resisted all the time. He wanted now to give her passion and tenderness, and he could not. He felt that she wanted the soul out of his body, and not him. All his strength a

of life, as she heard him. It gave her deepest satisfaction. And in the end it frightened her. There he lay in the white

e pleaded softly, laying

t unable to move. His bod

? Are yo

it wears

shortly,

s make me like

h to," she s

ou can't bear it. But your unconscious self a

, in his d

ME, and not want what

ly-"I! Why, when woul

o talk trivialities. He felt insubstantial. In a vague way he hated her for it. And h

ood, unable to part. As the stars came out the clouds closed. They had glimpses of their own constellation, Orion, towa

rs. This evening Paul had been moody and perverse. Orion had seemed just an ordinary constellation to him. He had fought against his glamour and fascination. Miriam was watching her lover's mood c

ty at his house the next day

me and meet

not very nice out,"

ay I care more for you than for them. And you und

w in her face as she walked along the road. She was hurt deep down; and she despised him for being blown about by any wind of authority. And i

t to set up a business of his own, and Paul remained with Mr. Jordan as Spiral overseer

lley Farm, and she grieved at the thought of her education's coming to end; moreover, they both loved t

the stall-either in the New Inn at Bretty or in his own house, according as his fellow-

again. She was still a tomboy; and she was en

r the women to absent themselves while the men reckoned. Women were not supposed to spy into such a masculine privacy as the butties' reckoning, nor were they to know the ex

-er!" bawled M

it behind her

'e thy jaw rattle," he threatened from the midst of h

e scullery, with the soapy water dr

he said. "Whe

ise he would have bullied and blustered. He squatted o

, pretending to s

e such a kid!" said Mrs

flesh i' that scullery," said the miner, as

make that fuss,"

ff, as dead as a door-kn

ader than anything els

"But there's that much draught i' yon scullery, as it b

iculty in blowing throug

down ruefully

wt b'r a skinned rabbit. My

o know where," r

I'm nobbut a s

scars, like tattoo-marks, where the coal-dust remained under the skin, and that his chest was too hairy. But he put his hand on his side ruefully. It was his fixed belief that, because he did not get fat, he was as thi

to his father, "you h

, glancing round, startle

dn't hurtle himself up as if he was tryin

a good figure! I wor niver

wife, "don't be s

knowed me but what I looked as if

t and

t, if it was body that counted. You should have seen him as a young man," she cried

oment. He was shy, rather scared, and humble. Yet again he felt his old glow. And then immediatel

bit of a wesh,

d flannel and clapped it on h

tle 'ussy!" he cri

shing his back. It was very rarely she would do anythi

t be half hot enough

ha'lt see as it's

When he was dried he struggled into his shirt. Then, ruddy and shiny, with hair on end, and his flannelette shirt hanging over hi

cried Mrs. More

hysen into britches as cowd

lack. He did all this on the hearthrug, as he would have

orked it to the proper shape, and dropped it into a tin. As she was doing so Barker knocked and entered. He was a quiet, compact little man, who loo

ed to Mrs. Morel, and he s

g," she repl

hy heels crac

I have," s

s did in Morel's kitchen

is?" she as

d her some

' us third just

ing his head, "she keeps

when?" aske

n't be surprise

she's kep

, ti

ing, for she's

done another

t's

rker wouldn't do a

e-out th' m

an hav

be wantin' th

take a string

es and meat on the Friday nights, and she admired him. "Barker's l

with a boyish ingenuousness and a slightly foolish smile, des

d me," he said, smi

replied

and his big woollen muffler.

cold, Mr. Wesson,

t nippy,"

me to th

'll do wh

d not be induced to come on to the hea

h' armchair," cri

er; I'm very

course," insi

armchair awkwardly. It was too great a famil

hest of yours?" d

with his blue e

ery middlin

like a kettle-drum,"

dly with her tongue. "Did you h

t," he

didn't you?

ome," he

msday!" excl

nt of Wesson. But, then, they were

ready he pushed the

boy," he as

s a five-pound bag of silver, sovereigns and loose money. He counted quickly, referred to the checks

master of the house, sat in his armchair, with his back to the hot fi

nd the butties cavilled for a minute over the d

ill Na

so was taken

eading was stopped, Barker and Wesson took four shillings each. Then it was plain sailing. Morel gave each of them a sovereign till there were no more sovereigns; each half a cr

ose, and descended. She looked hastily at the bread in the oven. Then, glancing on the table, she saw her money ly

t!" went

ot work when she was c

llings!" she exclaimed. "

id Paul irritably. He d

ow him. He thinks because YOU'RE earning he needn't keep the house any long

r, don't!"

ould like to know

on again. I

nt ver

she said; "but how do you

ke it any better t

what you'd do if you

ou can have my money

ings grimly. When she was fretted he could not bear i

he said, "will be done in twen

answered; and sh

ation became unsettled. He listened for the yard-gate. At

one?" s

es

, hanging them up. It gave him a thrill. This might be their own

it?" sh

decorating stuffs,

-sightedly ove

the parlour and returned with a bundle of brownish linen. Carefully unfolding it, he spread it o

eautiful!"

so wicked-looking, lay at her feet. She went on her knees before it, her dark curls dropping. He saw

seem cruel?

ha

ling of cruelty ab

not," he replied, folding up

slowly, p

you do with i

it for my mother, but I think

touch of bitterness, and Miriam sympathis

he returned he threw to Miriam a smaller piece

t for you,

rembling hands, and did not

the bread!

e went to the scullery, wetted his hands, scooped the last white dough out of the punchion, and dropped it in

ike it?"

ure in talking about his work to Miriam. All his passion, all his wild blood, went into this intercourse with her, when he talked and conceived his work. She brought

small and pale, hollow-eyed, yet with a relentless look ab

things off,

m not s

the sofa. Miriam moved a little farther from him. The room was hot,

ee you here to-night, Miriam Le

murmured Mi

s look at

ned uncomfor

tha durs'na," l

irresolute, rather pathetic look about them, which showed how self-c

uck-heap," exclaimed Beatri

n them

aken a lot of men to ha' brought me down here to-night.

alia,"

o spout foreign languages?

in the last question, b

ngs,' I believe,"

ue between her teeth

laughs at mothers, and fathers, and sisters, and brothers, and

ed a great

one big smile

e me," she said; and she went off into a

riends delighted in taking sides against her, and he left her in

school?" asked M

es

had your n

t it at

o turn you off merely becau

w," said Bea

eacher anywhere. It seems to me ridi

eh, 'Postle?" said

ite with," replie

e had beautiful small hands. He held her wrists while she wrestled with him. At last s

led his hair straight with

ghed wi

d. "I want to s

xen," he said, nevertheless making p

his nice little moustache!" she exclaimed. She tilted his head back and combed his young moustache. "It

case from his pocket. Be

eatrice, putting the thing between her teeth. He

, darling," she

er a wick

e does it nicely,

y!" said

cigarette

id Beatrice, tilting

s full, almost sensual, mouth quivering. He was not himself, and she could not bear it. As he was now, she had no connection with him; she migh

pping up his chin and giving h

thee back, Be

umping up and going away. "

"By the way, aren't yo

ied, flinging op

ish smoke and a sm

rouched before the oven, she peered over his shoulder

ves. One was burnt black on the ho

ter!" sa

" said Beatrice. "Fetc

to a newspaper on the table. He set the doors open to blow away the smell of burned bre

u're in for it this

med Miriam

e would fix up a tale about his work making him forget, if he thought it would wash. If that old woman had co

Even Miriam laughed in spite of her

gate was he

ing Paul the scraped loaf. "

s into the fire, and sat down innocently. Annie came bursting in. She

urning!" sh

ttes," replied B

e's P

e. He had a long comic fa

you," he said. He nodded sympathetically to Mi

e, "he's gone off

five inquiring for

re him up like Solomon'

e la

nard. "And which b

eatrice. "I'll let all

ngs, like?" said Leonard,

the oven. Miriam sat

fine sight, our

stop an' look aft

o what you're reckonin

ouldn't he!" c

got plenty on ha

alk, didn't you, M

'd been in

of a change, like," in

ed. She was quite amiable. Beatrice pulled on her coat, and

l," cried Annie. "Good-night, Mir

etched the swathed loaf, unwra

mess!"

atiently, "what is it, aft

baking, and she'll take it to hear

de himself, and yet glad. For some inscrutable reason it served Miriam right. He was not going to repent. She wondered what he was thinking of as he stood suspended. His thick hair was tumbled over his forehead. Wh

iver almost with terror as he quickly pushed

aid. "We'd better buck

positions. And her diary was mostly a love-letter. He would read it now; she felt as if her soul's history were going to be desecrated by him in his present mood. He sat beside her. She watched his h

e, et tous les oiseaux du bois eclaterent dans un chanson vif et resonnant. Toute l'aube tressaillit. J'avais reve de vous. Est-ce que vous voyez a

e loved him. He was afraid of her love for him. It was too good for him, and he was inadequate. Hi

ticiple conjugated with avoir agrees w

across her tawny, ruddy cheek. She was coloured like a pomegranate for richness. His breath came short as he watched her. Suddenly she looked up at him. Her dark eyes were naked with their love, afraid, and yearning. His eyes, too, were dark, and they hu

with real pain. Even the way he crouched before the oven hurt her. There seemed to be something cruel in it, something cruel in the swift way he pitched

and finished

well this w

d by her diary. It did

t sometimes," he said. "Y

with joy, then she s

ust myself,

shoul

e shook

or is it too l

can read just a l

brutal. He had a way of lifting his lips and showing his teeth, passionately and bitterly, when he was much moved. This he did now. It made Miriam feel as if he were trampling on her. She da

r singing

ary highl

er heart. So did

teous evening,

g holy quiet

And there was he, sayin

eras la beaute

g the burnt loaves at the bottom of the panchion, the good ones at

ng," he said. "It won't upset

ed, saw what books were there. She took one that had interested him. Then h

s on her knees, gloomily. On the table stood the offending loaf unswathed. Paul entered rather breathless. No one spoke. His mother was reading the little local newspaper. He took off his coat, and wen

t bread, moth

answer from

only twopence ha'penny.

le and slid them towards his mother. She tur

"you don't know how

taring glumly

" asked Paul, in h

ie. "She could s

y at his mother.

home?" he asked her, still s

sitting here," said Annie, with a

His brows were knitting, his

s. Morel, "hugging those parcels-meat, an

u hug them; you n

who

e fetch t

was I to know. You were off with Miriam,

tter with you?" aske

he replied. Certainly she lo

you felt i

ften e

told me?-and why haven

her chair, angry with

," said Annie. "You're too e

ny worse than y

at a quart

ence in the r

erly, "that she wouldn't have occupied you so

as here as

we know why the

he fl

ossed with Miriam," re

en it was NOT!" h

d. Annie, her blouse unfastened, her long ropes of hair twisted

ow what had made her ill, for he was troubled. So, instead of running away to bed, as he wo

in," said the mother harshly. "And if you're go

want an

Friday night, the night of luxury for the colliers. He was too a

e scene," said Mrs. Morel. "But you're never too tired to go if S

let her g

And why do

ause I a

come without

I DO want her

trapseing up there miles and miles in the mud, coming hom

, you'd be j

l that way?" Mrs. Morel was bitterly sarcastic. She sat still, with averted face, stroking with a

her," he

. "It seems to me you like nothing and nobody else. T

r-I-I tell you I DON'T love her-she doesn't eve

you fly to

er-I never said I didn'

obody else

f. There's a lot of things that

t th

o intense that P

ks. YOU don't care ab

reply. "And YOU

do now-and

rel flashed defiantly, "that I

t care whether a picture's decorative or

you ever try me? Do you ever talk

t matters to you, moth

n, that matters to me?" she flash

mother, and

not the interests of his. But he realised the mom

tand aside; I have nothing more to do with you. You

that he was life to her. And, after all, she was

n't, mother, yo

ed to pity

ike it," she said, half

ove her. I talk to her, but

ooped to kiss his mother, she threw her arms round his neck, hid her face on his sho

ther woman-but not her. She'd lea

ly he hated M

ow, Paul-I've never ha

r's hair, and his mo

king you from me-she's n

ng his head and hiding his eyes on her shoulder in

in a voice trembling

g, he gently s

speaking she heard her husband coming. "There's your father-now go." Suddenly she looke

o strange, Paul kis

r!" he sa

His hat was over one corner of hi

ef again?" he s

to sudden hate of the drunkard

, it is sobe

coat. Then they heard him go down three steps to the pantry. He returned with

an twenty-five shillings, I'm sure I'm not going to buy you

at-not for me?" He looked at the piece of meat and crust, and

rted to

own stuff!

, jumping up and clenching his fist

iciously, putting his he

k at something. Morel was half crouching, fists up, read

ke just past his son's face. He dared not, even though so c

is fist would have hit. He ached for that stroke. But he heard a faint moan from behind. His

Paul, so that

d, and stood

oaned the b

on the sofa, and ran upstairs for a little whisky, which at last she could sip. The tears were hopping down his face. As he kneeled in front of he

tter with 'e

" repli

'm

boots. He stumbled off to bed. His

ere, stroking h

er-don't be poorly!" h

g, my boy,"

the fire. Then he cleared the room, put everything straight,

go to bed

I'll

nnie, mother,

sleep in m

ep with hi

ep in my

ollowed her closely upstairs, carrying her

ight, m

ight!"

yet, somewhere in his soul, he was at peace because he still

conciliate him next day wer

ied to forge