mb beast, panting, his teeth chattering, his arms inert, his
head like a seal's head.

They came to the landing-stage. Wet and naked-looking, Gerald climbed
up the few steps. There stood his father, in the night.

'Father!' he said.

'Yes my boy? Go home and get those things off.'

'We shan't save them, father,' said Gerald.

'There's hope yet, my boy.'

'I'm afraid not. There's no knowing where they are. You can't find
them. And there's a current, as cold as hell.'

'We'll let the water out,' said the father. 'Go home you and look to
yourself. See that he's looked after, Rupert,' he added in a neutral
voice.

'Well father, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm afraid it's my fault. But it
can't be helped; I've done what I could for the moment. I could go on
diving, of course--not much, though--and not much use--'

He moved away barefoot, on the planks of the platform. Then he trod on
something sharp.

'Of course, you've got no shoes on,' said Birkin.

'His shoes are here!' cried Gudrun from below. She was making fast her
boat.

Gerald waited for them to be brought to him. Gudrun came with them. He
pulled them on his feet.

'If you once die,' he said, 'then when it's over, it's finished. Why
come to life again? There's room under that water there for thousands.'

'Two is enough,' she said murmuring.

He dragged on his second shoe. He was shivering violently, and his jaw
shook as he spoke.

'That's true,' he said, 'maybe. But it's curious how much room there
seems, a whole universe under there; and as cold as hell, you're as
helpless as if your head was cut off.' He could scarcely speak, he
shook so violently. 'There's one thing about our family, you know,' he
continued. 'Once anything goes wrong, it can never be put right
again--not with us. I've noticed it all my life--you can't put a thing
right, once it has gone wrong.'

They were walking across the high-road to the house.

'And do you know, when you are down there, it is so cold, actually, and
so endless, so different really from what it is on top, so endless--you
wonder how it is so many are alive, why we're up here. Are you going? I
shall see you again, shan't I? Good-night, and thank you. Thank you
very much!'

The two girls waited a while, to see if there were any hope. The moon
shone clearly overhead, with almost impertinent brightness, the small
dark boats clustered on the water, there were voices and subdued
shouts. But it was all to no purpose.