〃I want to;〃 he said as he drew her closer and closer in。 She
was soothed by the stress of his embrace; and remained quite
still; relaxed against him; mingling in to him。 And he let
himself go from past and future; was reduced to the moment with
her。 In which he took her and was with her and there was nothing
beyond; they were together in an elemental embrace beyond their
superficial foreignness。 But in the morning he was uneasy again。
She was still foreign and unknown to him。 Only; within the fear
was pride; belief in himself as mate for her。 And she;
everything forgotten in her new hour of ing to life; radiated
vigour and joy; so that he quivered to touch her。
It made a great difference to him; marriage。 Things became so
remote and of so little significance; as he knew the powerful
source of his life; his eyes opened on a new universe; and he
wondered in thinking of his triviality before。 A new; calm
relationship showed to him in the things he saw; in the cattle
he used; the young wheat as it eddied in a wind。
And each time he returned home; he went steadily;
expectantly; like a man who goes to a profound; unknown
satisfaction。 At dinner…time; he appeared in the doorway;
hanging back a moment from entering; to see if she was there。 He
saw her setting the plates on the white…scrubbed table。 Her arms
were slim; she had a slim body and full skirts; she had a dark;
shapely head with close…banded hair。 Somehow it was her head; so
shapely and poignant; that revealed her his woman to him。 As she
moved about clothed closely; full…skirted and wearing her little
silk apron; her dark hair smoothly parted; her head revealed
itself to him in all its subtle; intrinsic beauty; and he knew
she was his woman; he knew her essence; that it was his to
possess。 And he seemed to live thus in contact with her; in
contact with the unknown; the unaccountable and
incalculable。
They did not take much notice of each other; consciously。
〃Im betimes;〃 he said。
〃Yes;〃 she answered。
He turned to the dogs; or to the child if she was there。 The
little Anna played about the farm; flitting constantly in to
call something to her mother; to fling her arms round her
mothers skirts; to be noticed; perhaps caressed; then;