I guess we are ready to move on; if anything was missed from the last section of text, feel free to post those comments anytime.
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"I find a lucky pebble. I think, now I'll throw it over my left shoulder, and wish. So I spit over my little finger, and throw the white pebble behind me, and then, when I want to wish, I'm done. I say to myself: 'Wish,' and myself says back: 'I don't want anything.' I say again: 'Wish, you fool,' but I'm as dumb of wishes as a newt. And then, because it rather frightens me, I say in a hurry: 'A million of money.' Do you know what to wish for when you see the new moon?"
What does everyone think of the significance of this paragraph? My impression of that Coutts says is that he really doesn’t want for anything. He is being truly honest? This tone seems to me to be cynical or maybe careless in someway.
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She laughed quickly.
"I think so," she said. [b]"But my wish varies."[b]
"I wish mine did," he said, whimsically lugubrious.
She took his hand in a little impulse of love.
I does seem to be that his statement sets up opposing thoughts between the two and the continue to go on speaking in a code to be interpreted by each about one another. When she takes up his hand it is an impulsive gesture and the text says of love. Therefore does she really love Coutts?
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They walked hand in hand on the ridge of the down, bunches of lights shining below, the big radiance of London advancing like a wonder in front.
This sets the scene of a very magical romantic night, with more references to the light as in the words ‘shining’, ‘radiance’, and ‘wonder’….much like Quark pointed out before, as it they are thrown into this world of night and fantasy as in “Midsummer’s Nights Dream.” Note that they now are joined ‘hand in hand’.
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"You know . . ." he began, then stopped.
"I don't . . ." she ironically urged.
"Do you want to?" he laughed.
"Yes; one is never at peace with oneself till one understands."
"Understands what?" he asked brutally. He knew she meant that she wanted to understand the situation he and she were in.
"How to resolve the discord," she said, balking the issue. He would have liked her to say: "What you want of me."
Interesting passage and was not sure what to make of the key words entirely such as ‘ironically’…also what was he about to say when he began “You know…..?” Why exactly did she say “I don’t…” Did she wish things to remain mysterious between them? She admits then that one is never at peace until they resolve the discord and he knew she wanted to understand their position at this time. He holds back from saying “What you want of me.” – both seem afraid to actually come out and say what is on their minds. Why can’t they openly confront each other? Would that ruin the magic and mystery of the evening?
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"Your foggy weather of symbolism, as usual," he said.
"The fog is not of symbols," she replied, in her metallic voice of displeasure. "It may be symbols are candles in a fog."
"I prefer my fog without candles. I'm the fog, eh? Then I'll blow out your candle, and you'll see me better. Your candles of speech, symbols and so forth, only lead you more wrong. I'm going to wander blind, and go by instinct, like a moth that flies and settles on the wooden box his mate is shut up in."
This is one of my favorite passages, and these images, but I am not sure I clearly understand what he is saying when he says “I prefer my fog without candles, then asks, “I’m the fog, eh?” Is he then saying that all this symbolism just leads him astray and makes him blind to any truth? If she says that symbols may be candles in a fog and he wishes to do away with them, then I suppose this means he would like to be straightforward with her and not play these symbolic games, as she would have these symbols be interpreted by each.
The last line seems to indicate that he is thinking instinctively and wandering blindly or employing Lawrence’s idea of blood-consciousness and Winifred is using mind games. He would therefore be attracted to her wooden box of mystery, yet she is shut tight within herself. The moth was mentioned earlier as being attracted to the flame and now it is mentioned again as settling on a ‘wooden box’ his mate, would be ‘shut up’ within. I like the analogies in this particular passage and how they relate back to the earlier mention of the moth and flame. Also, does his reference to himself as a fog indictate his proceeding blindly or by instinct (blood-consciously)?
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"Isn't it an ignis fatuus you are flying after, at that rate?" she said.
"Maybe, for if I breathe outwards, in the positive movement towards you, you move off. If I draw in a vacant sigh of soulfulness, you flow nearly to my lips."
"This is a very interesting symbol," she said, with sharp sarcasm.
I especially like that middle line, as has been already made mention to earlier. It is so specific and the meaning quite clear. If he holds back, then Winifred comes towards him and the opposite. It seems this clearly states the game they are playing or the game that Winifred is leading him along in playing with her. I think by acting in this way she is building suspense and also tantalizing Coutts further. He knows how to keep him interested and yet at bay at nearly the same time.
What exactly is the translation of "ignis fatuus" - Virgil, you are good at these Latin/Greek phrases. It is 'fatal'... something..or....flame? duh, help...I never had Latin in school.
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He hated her, truly. She hated him. Yet they held hands fast as they walked.
"We are just the same as we were a year ago," he laughed. But he hated her, for all his laughter.
When, at the "Swan and Sugar-Loaf", they mounted the car, she climbed to the top, in spite of the sharp night. They nestled side by side, shoulders caressing, and all the time that they ran under the round lamps neither spoke.
Clearly and honestly stated is the fact, that they both truly hate each other. I think there is a fine line between love and hate; both are strong emotions. Even though, they feel this strong impulse of hate towards each other, they hold fast their hands and can’t seem let go; true of their relationship to each other as well. He makes it clear he feels they are no more advanced, than they were when they were together, a year ago. Then he laughs and yet hates her for her laughter as a reaction to his. In the car they continue to stay close, ‘nestled side by side, shoulders caressing.’ I wondered what the significance of her going to the top of the car was, and 'in spite of the sharp night'? Any ideas on that, anyone?
