Chapter 9

           ConniewassurprisedatherownfeelingofaversionfromClifford.Whatismore,shefeltshehadalwaysreallydislikedhim.Nothate:therewasnopassioninit.Butaprofoundphysicaldislike.Almost,itseemedtoher,shehadmarriedhimbecauseshedislikedhim,inasecret,physicalsortofway.Butofcourse,shehadmarriedhimreallybecauseinamentalwayheattractedherandexcitedher.Hehadseemed,insomeway,hermaster,beyondher.

           Nowthementalexcitementhadwornitselfoutandcollapsed,andshewasawareonlyofthephysicalaversion.Itroseupinherfromherdepths:andsherealizedhowithadbeeneatingherlifeaway.

           Shefeltweakandutterlyforlorn.Shewishedsomehelpwouldcomefromoutside.Butinthewholeworldtherewasnohelp.Societywasterriblebecauseitwasinsane.Civilizedsocietyisinsane.Moneyandso-calledloveareitstwogreatmanias;moneyalongwayfirst.Theindividualassertshimselfinhisdisconnectedinsanityinthesetwomodes:moneyandlove.LookatMichaelis!Hislifeandactivitywerejustinsanity.Hislovewasasortofinsanity.

           AndCliffordthesame.Allthattalk!Allthatwriting!Allthatwildstrugglingtopushhimselfforwards!Itwasjustinsanity.Anditwasgettingworse,reallymaniacal.

           Conniefeltwashed-outwithfear.Butatleast,CliffordwasshiftinghisgripfromherontoMrsBolton.Hedidnotknowit.Likemanyinsanepeople,hisinsanitymightbemeasuredbythethingshewasnotawareofthegreatdeserttractsinhisconsciousness.

           MrsBoltonwasadmirableinmanyways.