And when we've got all the coal we want,
and all the plush furniture, and pianofortes, and the rabbits are all
stewed and eaten, and we're all warm and our bellies are filled and
we're listening to the young lady performing on the pianoforte--what
then? What then, when you've made a real fair start with your material
things?'
Gerald sat laughing at the words and the mocking humour of the other
man. But he was cogitating too.
'We haven't got there yet,' he replied. 'A good many people are still
waiting for the rabbit and the fire to cook it.'
'So while you get the coal I must chase the rabbit?' said Birkin,
mocking at Gerald.
'Something like that,' said Gerald.
Birkin watched him narrowly. He saw the perfect good-humoured
callousness, even strange, glistening malice, in Gerald, glistening
through the plausible ethics of productivity.
'Gerald,' he said, 'I rather hate you.'
'I know you do,' said Gerald. 'Why do you?'
Birkin mused inscrutably for some minutes.
'I should like to know if you are conscious of hating me,' he said at
last.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123