know anything; except that this transfiguration burned between
him and her; connecting them; like a secret power。
Since she had e to the house he went about in a daze;
scarcely seeing even the things he handled; drifting; quiescent;
in a state of metamorphosis。 He submitted to that which was
happening to him; letting go his will; suffering the loss of
himself; dormant always on the brink of ecstasy; like a creature
evolving to a new birth。
She came twice with her child to the farm; but there was this
lull between them; an intense calm and passivity like a torpor
upon them; so that there was no active change took place。 He was
almost unaware of the child; yet by his native good humour he
gained her confidence; even her affection; setting her on a
horse to ride; giving her corn for the fowls。
Once he drove the mother and child from Ilkeston; picking
them up on the road。 The child huddled close to him as if for
love; the mother sat very still。 There was a vagueness; like a
soft mist over all of them; and a silence as if their wills were
suspended。 Only he saw her hands; ungloved; folded in her lap;
and he noticed the wedding…ring on her finger。 It excluded him:
it was a closed circle。 It bound her life; the wedding…ring; it
stood for her life in which he could have no part。 Nevertheless;
beyond all this; there was herself and himself which should
meet。
As he helped her down from the trap; almost lifting her; he
felt he had some right to take her thus between his hands。 She
belonged as yet to that other; to that which was behind。 But he
must care for her also。 She was too living to be neglected。
Sometimes her vagueness; in which he was lost; made him
angry; made him rage。 But he held himself still as yet。 She had
no response; no being towards him。 It puzzled and enraged him;
but he submitted for a long time。 Then; from the accumulated
troubling of her ignoring him; gradually a fury broke out;
destructive; and he wanted to go away; to escape her。
It happened she came down to the Marsh with the child whilst