Sons and Lovers (Barnes & Noble Classics - D. H. Lawrence [221]
She was curiously examining a sketch-book when he returned with the coffee.
“There’s nothing new in it,” he said, “and nothing very interesting.”
He put down the tray, and went to look over her shoulder. She turned the pages slowly, intent on examining everything.
“H’m!” he said, as she paused at a sketch. “I’d forgotten that. It’s not bad, is it?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t quite understand it.”
He took the book from her and went through it. Again he made a curious sound of surprise and pleasure.
“There’s some not bad stuff in there,” he said.
“Not at all bad,” she answered gravely.
He felt again her interest in his work. Or was it for himself? Why was she always most interested in him as he appeared in his work?
They sat down to supper.
“By the way,” he said, “didn’t I hear something about your earning your own living?”
“Yes,” she replied, bowing her dark head over her cup.
“And what of it?”
“I’m merely going to the farming college at Broughton for three months, and I shall probably be kept on as a teacher there.”
“I say—that sounds all right for you! You always wanted to be independent.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I only knew last week.”
“But I heard a month ago,” he said.
“Yes; but nothing was settled then.”
“I should have thought,” he said, “you’d have told me you were trying.”
She ate her food in the deliberate, constrained way, almost as if she recoiled a little from doing anything so publicly, that he knew so well.
“I suppose you’re glad,” he said.
“Very glad.”
“Yes—it will be something.”
He was rather disappointed.
“I think it will be a great deal,” she said, almost haughtily, resentfully.
He laughed shortly.
“Why do you think it won’t?” she asked.
“Oh, I don’t think it won’t be a great deal. Only you’ll find earning your own living isn’t everything.”
“No,” she said, swallowing with difficulty; “I don’t suppose it is.”
“I suppose work can be nearly everything to a man,” he said, “though it isn’t to me. But a woman only works with a part of herself The real and vital part is covered up.”
“But a man can give all himself to work?” she asked.
“Yes, practically.”
“And a woman only the unimportant part of herself?”
“That’s it.”
She looked up at him, and her eyes dilated with anger.
“Then,” she said, “if it’s true, it’s a great shame.”
“It is. But I don’t know everything,” he answered.
After supper they drew up to the fire. He swung her a chair facing him, and they sat down. She was wearing a dress of dark claret colour, that suited her dark complexion and her large features. Still, the curls were fine and free, but her face was much older, the brown throat much thinner. She seemed old to him, older than Clara. Her bloom of youth had quickly gone. A sort of stiffness, almost of woodenness, had come upon her. She meditated a little while, then looked at him.
“And how are things with you?” she asked.
“About all right,” he answered.
She looked at him, waiting.
“Nay,” she said, very low.
Her brown, nervous hands were clasped over her knee. They had still the lack of confidence or repose, the almost hysterical look. He winced as he saw them. Then he laughed mirthlessly. She put her fingers between her lips. His slim, black, tortured body lay quite still in the chair. She suddenly took her finger from her mouth and looked at him.
“And you have broken off with Clara?”
“Yes.”
His body lay like an abandoned thing, strewn in the chair.
“You know,” she said, “I think we ought to be married.”
He opened his eyes for the first time since many months, and attended to her with respect.
“Why?” he said.
“See,” she said, “how you waste yourself! You might be ill, you might die, and I never know—be no more then than if I had never known you.”
“And