Chapter 5 5

She was regaining her composure as she turned the angle of the chapel, her flowers swaying off her like froth. With a raucous yell of laughter and challenge, she glanced behind herself before veering, taking a position, and vanishing beyond the grey stone buttress. The bridegroom gripped the angle of the silent stone with his hand as he bent forward and rushed in another instant. His flexible, powerful loins vanished in chase as he swung himself out of sight.

An instant later, the crowd at the gate erupted in cries and shouts of excitement. Ursula then caught sight of Mr. Crich's dark, somewhat hunched form waiting poised on the path and observing the flight to the church with an expressionless face. When it was ended, he turned around to look at Rupert Birkin standing behind him. He immediately moved forward to join him.

With a slight smile on his face, Birkin remarked, "We'll bring up the rear."

The father retorted laconically, "Ay!" And then the two men turned up the trail together.

Birkin appeared unattractive and was as frail as Mr. Crich. He had a slim, well-built frame. He moved with a slight one-foot trail that was solely caused by shyness. Although he was dressed appropriately for the occasion, there was an inherent incongruity that gave his outfit a hint of farce. Because of his bright and independent temperament, he did not fit in at all with the formal setting. However, he travestied himself by submitting to the prevailing notion.

He gave off the impression of being flawlessly, admirably, and rather average. He did it so successfully, absorbing the atmosphere around him and fast adapting to his conversation partner and the situation, that he produced a verisimilitude of everyday commonplaceness that typically placated his spectators for the time being and disarmed them from criticizing his singleness.

He played with situations like a man on a tightrope, but he was constantly on a tightrope and pretended nothing but ease as he spoke to Mr. Crich as they strolled along the route.

He was saying, "I'm sorry we are running so late." It took us a while to button our boots since we couldn't find a button-hook. However, you were in the present.

We are typically on time, Mr. Crich added.

And I'm always late, Birkin said. However, I was unintentionally late today despite being REALLY punctual. I apologize.

For the time being, nothing further could be seen because the two men had left. That left Ursula contemplating Birkin. She was bothered by and drawn to him.

She was curious about him. He had only ever been addressed by her once or twice in his formal capacity as inspector. He appeared to recognize some sort of affinity between her and him, a natural, implicit understanding, and the use of the same language, in her opinion.

But the understanding had not had time to mature. And something both pulled her to him and kept her away from him.

He had a certain level of anger and a frigid, unapproachable ultimate reserve.

But she wished to get to know him.

She questioned Gudrun, a bit reluctantly, "What do you think of Rupert Birkin?" She didn't want to talk about him.

Gudrun asked again, "What do I think of Rupert Birkin?" I find him to be attractive, definitely attractive. He treats any little fool as if she were his most important consideration, which is something I find repulsive about him. One feels so horribly sold, myself.

Why does he do it, Ursula questioned.

Gudrun said, "Because he lacks any real critical faculty-of people, at any rate." "I tell you, it's such an insult that he treats any little fool the same way he treats me or you,"

Oh, it is, Ursula said. One must discriminate, Gudrun insisted. "One MUST discriminate," she emphasized. But in other ways, he's a great guy with a fantastic personality. However, you can't rely on him.

Yes, Ursula answered hazily. Even when she did not quite agree with Gudrun's statements, she was always compelled to agree to them.

While they waited for the wedding party to emerge, the sisters sat still. Gudrun found talking to be boring. She desired to consider Gerald Crich. She was curious as to the validity of the strong impression she had of him. She desired to be prepared.

The wedding was taking place inside the church. Hermione Roddice had only Birkin on her mind. He stood close to her. She appeared to physically draw closer to him. She desired to reach out and touch him. If she didn't touch him, she would hardly be able to be certain that he was around. However, she endured the entire wedding ceremony while standing.

She was still in a trance because she had grieved so greatly when he didn't show up. She continued to feel as though she had a neuralgia at the thought of him leaving her. She had been anxiously torturing herself as she anticipated him. She was standing contemplatively, and the rapt expression on her face-which appeared spiritual, like that of angels, but was actually the result of torture-gave her a poignancy that tore at his heart with sympathy. He observed her bowed head and rapt expression, which was almost demonic in its ecstasy. She lifted her face to look into his eyes after sensing his gaze, sending a strong signal to him with her own stunning grey eyes. However, he sidestepped her gaze, and she ducked her head in agony and embarrassment as her heart continued to ache. And because he did not want to look into her eyes or acknowledge her recognition, he too was tormented by guilt, extreme hatred, and profound pity for her.

After the bride and groom were wed, the group entered the vestry. Hermione inadvertently pressed up against Birkin in an attempt to touch him. And he put up with it.

Gudrun and Ursula kept an eye out for their father's organ playing outside. He would appreciate performing a march for the wedding. The married couple arrived at this time! The sound of the bells caused the atmosphere to tremble. Ursula pondered the vibration in the air and wondered whether the flowers and trees could feel it as well as what they thought of it. On the bridegroom's arm, the bride was quite subdued as he gazed up into the sky, consciously closing and opening his eyes as if he were neither here nor there. When he was exposed to a throng, he felt emotionally violated and appeared somewhat humorous as he blinked and tried to fit into the situation. He appeared to be an ordinary navy officer-manly and competent for the job.

Hermione arrived with Birkin. Now that she was holding Birkin by the arm, she had a rapt, triumphant look, like the fallen angels had been resurrected, but it was still subtly demoniacal. Additionally, he had no expression, was rendered inert, and appeared to be completely under her control.

Gerald Crich arrived with plenty of enthusiasm and was fair, attractive, and healthy. He appeared upright and whole, with a peculiar sense of stealth shining through his friendly, almost joyful demeanor. Gudrun abruptly stood up and left. She was unable to take it. She yearned for solitude in order to investigate the weird, piercing immunization that had altered the entire temperament of her blood.