第90部分(第2/7 頁)

population

in　India；　her　soul　was　locked　and　would　not　budge。　She　had　very

little　feeling　about　it：　only　there　was　a　deadlock。

Skrebensky　waited；　she　waited；　everybody　waited　for　the

decision。　When　Anton　talked　to　her；　and　seemed　insidiously　to

suggest　himself　as　a　husband　to　her；　she　knew　how　utterly　locked

out　he　was。　On　the　other　hand；　when　she　saw　Dorothy；　and

discussed　the　matter；　she　felt　she　would　marry　him　promptly；　at

once；　as　a　sharp　disavowal　of　adherence　with　Dorothy's

views。

The　situation　was　almost　ridiculous。

〃But　do　you　love　him？〃　asked　Dorothy。

〃It　isn't　a　question　of　loving　him；〃　said　Ursula。　〃I　love　him

well　enough……certainly　more　than　I　love　anybody　else　in　the

world。　And　I　shall　never　love　anybody　else　the　same　again。　We

have　had　the　flower　of　each　other。　But　I　don't　care　about　love。

I　don't　value　it。　I　don't　care　whether　I　love　or　whether　I

don't；　whether　I　have　love　or　whether　I　haven't。　What　is　it　to

me？〃

And　she　shrugged　her　shoulders　in　fierce；　angry　contempt。

Dorothy　pondered；　rather　angry　and　afraid。

〃Then　what　do　you　care　about？〃　she　asked；

exasperated。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Ursula。　〃But　something　impersonal。

Love……love……love……what　does　it　mean……what

does　it　amount　to？　So　much　personal　gratification。　It　doesn't

lead　anywhere。〃

〃It　isn't　supposed　to　lead　anywhere；　is　it？〃　said　Dorothy；

satirically。　〃I　thought　it　was　the　one　thing　which　is　an　end　in

itself。〃

〃Then　what　does　it　matter　to　me？〃　cried　Ursula。　〃As　an　end　in

itself；　I　could　love　a　hundred　men；　one　after　the　other。　Why

should　I　end　with　a　Skrebensky？　Why　should　I　n