The essence of that female, subterranean recklessness and mockery penetrated his blood.

He could not forget Gudrun's lifted, offered, cleaving, reckless, yet withal mocking weight.

And Birkin, watching like a hermit crab from its hole, had seen the brilliant frustration and helplessness of Ursula.

She was rich, full of dangerous power.

She was like a strange unconscious bud of powerful womanhood.