`No.'

`Surely you don't expect me to?' laughed Gerald.

`No. How are the rest of your affairs progressing, apart from the business?'

`The rest of my affairs? What are those? I couldn't say; I don't know what you refer to.'

`Yes, you do,' said Birkin. `Are you gloomy or cheerful? And what about Gudrun Brangwen?'

`What about her?' A confused look came over Gerald. `Well,' he added, `I don't know. I can only tell you she gave me a hit over the face last time I saw her.'

`A hit over the face! What for?'

`That I couldn't tell you, either.'

`Really! But when?'

`The night of the party -- when Diana was drowned. She was driving the cattle up the hill, and I went after her -- you remember.'

`Yes, I remember. But what made her do that? You didn't definitely ask her for it, I suppose?'

`I? No, not that I know of. I merely said to her, that it was dangerous to drive those Highland bullocks -- as it is. She turned in such a way, and said -- "I suppose you think I'm afraid of you and your cattle, don't you?" So I asked her "why," and for answer she flung me a back-hander across the face.'

Birkin laughed quickly, as if it pleased him. Gerald looked at him, wondering, and began to laugh as well, saying:

`I didn't laugh at the time, I assure you. I was never so taken aback in my life.'

`And weren't you furious?'

`Furious? I should think I was. I'd have murdered her for two pins.'

`H'm!' ejaculated Birkin. `Poor Gudrun, wouldn't she suffer afterwards for having given herself away!' He was hugely delighted.

`Would she suffer?' asked Gerald, also amused now.

Both men smiled in malice and amusement.

`Badly, I should think; seeing how self-conscious she is.'

`She is self-conscious, is she? Then what made her do it? For I certainly think it was quite uncalled-for, and quite unjustified.'

`I suppose it was a sudden impulse.'

`Yes, but how do you account for her having such an impulse? I'd done her no harm.'

Birkin shook his head.

`The Amazon suddenly came up in her, I suppose,' he said.