wanted to touch the other； to touch her； to feel her。
〃I will race you； Ursula；〃 came the well…modulated voice。
Ursula started violently。 She turned to see the warm；
unfolded face of her mistress looking at her； to her。 She was
acknowledged。 Laughing her own beautiful； startled laugh； she
began to swim。 The mistress was just ahead； swimming with easy
strokes。 Ursula could see the head put back； the water
flickering upon the white shoulders； the strong legs kicking
shadowily。 And she swam blinded with passion。 Ah； the beauty of
the firm； white； cool flesh！ Ah； the wonderful firm limbs。 Ah；
if she did not so despise her own thin； dusky fragment of a
body； if only she too were fearless and capable。
She swam on eagerly； not wanting to win； only wanting to be
near her mistress； to swim in a race with her。 They neared the
end of the bath； the deep end。 Miss Inger touched the pipe；
swung herself round； and caught Ursula round the waist in the
water； and held her for a moment。
〃I won；〃 said Miss Inger； laughing。
There was a moment of suspense。 Ursula's heart was beating so
fast； she clung to the rail； and could not move。 Her dilated；
warm； unfolded； glowing face turned to the mistress； as if to
her very sun。
〃Good…bye；〃 said Miss Inger； and she swam away to the other
pupils； taking professional interest in them。
Ursula was dazed。 She could still feel the touch of the
mistress's body against her own……only this； only this。 The
rest of the swimming time passed like a trance。 When the call
was given to leave the water； Miss Inger walked down the bath
towards Ursula。 Her rust…red； thin tunic was clinging to her；
the whole body was defined； firm and magnificent； as it seemed
to the girl。
〃I enjoyed our race； Ursula； did you？〃 said Miss Inger。
The girl could only laugh with revealed； open； glowing
face。
The love was now tacitly confessed。 But it was some time
before any further progress was made。 Ursula continued in
suspense； in inflamed bliss。
Then one day； when she was alone； the mistress came near to
her； and touching her cheek with her fingers； said with some
difficulty。
〃Would you like to e to tea with me on Saturday；
Ursula？〃
The girl flushed all gratitude。
〃We'll go to a lovely little bungalow on the Soar； shall we？
I stay the week…ends there sometimes。〃
Ursula was beside herself。 She could not endure till the
Saturday came； her thoughts burned up like a fire。 If only it
were Saturday； if only it were Saturday。
Then Saturday came； and she set out。 Miss Inger met her in
Sawley； and they walked about three miles to the bungalow。 It
was a moist； warm cloudy day。
The bungalow was a tiny； two…roomed shanty set on a steep
bank。 Everything in it was exquisite。 In delicious privacy； the
two girls made tea； and then they talked。 Ursula need not be
home till about ten o'clock。
The talk was led； by a kind of spell； to love。 Miss Inger was
telling Ursula of a friend； how she had died in childbirth； and
what she had suffered； then she told of a prostitute； and of
some of her experiences with men。
As they talked thus； on the little verandah of the bungalow；
the night fell； there was a little warm rain。
〃It is really stifling；〃 said Miss Inger。
They watched a train； whose lights were pale in the lingering
twilight； rushing across the distance。
〃It will thunder；〃 said Ursula。
The electric suspense continued； the darkness sank； they were
eclipsed。
〃I think I shall go and bathe；〃 said Miss Inger； out of the
cloud…black darkness。
〃At night？〃 said Ursula。
〃It is best at night。 Will you e？〃
〃I should like to。〃
〃It is quite safe……the grounds are private。 We had
better undress in the bungalow； for fear of the rain； then run
down。〃
Shyly； stiffly； Ursula went into the bungalow； and began to
remove her clothes。 The lamp was turned low； she stood in the
shadow。 By another chair Winifred Inger was undressing。
Soon the naked； shadowy figure of the elder girl came to the
younger。
〃Are you ready？〃 she said。
〃One moment。〃
Ursula could hardly speak。 The other naked woman stood by；
stood near； silent。 Ursula was ready。
They ventured out into the darkness； feeling the soft air of
night upon their skins。
〃I can't see the path；〃 said Ursula。
〃It is here；〃 said the voice； and the wavering； pallid figure
was beside her； a hand grasping her arm。 And the elder held the
younger close against her； close； as they went down； and by the
side of the water； she put her arms round her； and kissed her。
And she lifted her in her arms； close； saying； softly：
〃I shall carry you into the water。〃
＇Ursula lay still in her mistress's arms； her forehead against the
beloved； maddening breast。
〃I shall put you in；〃 said Winifred。
But Ursula twined her body about her mistress。＇
After awhile the rain came down on their flushed； hot limbs；
startling； delicious。 A sudden； ice…cold shower burst in a great
weight upon them。 They stood up to it with pleasure。 Ursula
received the stream of it upon her breasts and her limbs。 It
made her cold； and a deep； bottomless silence welled up in her；
as if bottomless darkness were returning upon her。
So the heat vanished away； she was chilled； as if from a
waking up。 She ran indoors； a chill； non…existent thing； wanting
to get away。 She wanted the light； the presence of other people；
the external connection with the many。 Above all she wanted to
lose herself among natural surroundings。
She took her leave of her mistress and returned home。 She was
glad to be on the station with a crowd of Saturday…night people；
glad to sit in the lighted； crowded railway carriage。 Only she
did not want to meet anybody she knew。 She did not want to talk。
She was alone； immune。
All this stir and seethe of lights and people was but the
rim； the shores of a great inner darkness and void。 She wanted
very much to be on the seething； partially illuminated shore；
for within her was the void reality of dark space。
For a time Miss Inger； her mistress； was gone； she was only a
dark void； and Ursula was free as a shade walking in an
underworld of extinction； of oblivion。 Ursula was glad； with a
kind of motionless； lifeless gladness； that her mistress was
extinct； gone out of her。
In the morning； however； the love was there again； burning；
burning。 She remembered yesterday； and she wanted more； always
more。 She wanted to be with her mistress。 All separation from
her mistress was a restriction from living。 Why could she not go
to her to…day； to…day？ Why must she pace about revoked at
Cossethay whilst her mistress was elsewhere？ She sat down and
wrote a burning； passionate love…letter： she could not help
it。
The two women became intimate。 Their lives seemed suddenly to
fuse into one； inseparable。 Ursula went to Winifred's lodging；
she spent there her only living hours。 Winifred was very fond of
water；……of swimming； of rowing。 She belonged to various
athletic clubs。 Many delicious afternoons the two girls spent in
a light boat on the river； Winifred always rowing。 Indeed；
Winifred seemed to delight in having Ursula in her charge； in
giving things to the girl； in filling a