intimate voice。 She lifted her face with an impulsive flash to
the stranger; as if to declare a knowledge; laughing her
palpitating; excited laugh。
His eyes became confused with roused lights; his detached
attention changed to a readiness for her。 He was a young man of
twenty…one; with a slender figure and soft brown hair brushed up
on the German fashion straight from his brow。
〃Are you staying long?〃 she asked。
〃Ive got a months leave;〃 he said; glancing at Tom
Brangwen。 〃But Ive various places I must go to……put in
some time here and there。〃
He brought her a strong sense of the outer world。 It was as
if she were set on a hill and could feel vaguely the whole world
lying spread before her。
〃What have you a months leave from?〃 she asked。
〃Im in the Engineers……in the Army。〃
〃Oh!〃 she exclaimed; glad。
〃Were taking you away from your studies;〃 said her
Uncle Tom。
〃Oh; no;〃 she replied quickly。
Skrebensky laughed; young and inflammable。
〃She wont wait to be taken away;〃 said her father。 But that
seemed clumsy。 She wished he would leave her to say her own
things。
〃Dont you like study?〃 asked Skrebensky; turning to her;
putting the question from his own case。
〃I like some things;〃 said Ursula。 〃I like Latin and
French……and grammar。〃
He watched her; and all his being seemed attentive to her;
then he shook his head。
〃I dont;〃 he said。 〃They say all the brains of the army are
in the Engineers。 I think thats why I joined them……to get
the credit of other peoples brains。〃
He said this quizzically and with chagrin。 And she became
alert to him。 It interested her。 Whether he had brains or not;
he was interesting。 His directness attracted her; his
independent motion。 She was aware of the movement of his life
over against hers。
〃I dont think brains matter;〃 she said。