RELATIONS OF DOMINANCE AND EQUALITY IN D. H. LAWRENCE

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to see the strange glow in his face, his cheeks
with their delicate fine hair, and his ruddy
skin that was quite dull and yet which seemed
to burn with a curious heat of life. It made
her feel a little ill to look at him: the
quality of his physical presence was too
penetrating, too hot (ibid).
She also feels that there must be something going on between
March and Henry because "She kept moving and looking round and
listening to the wind, and glancing secretly from one to the
other of her companions" (p.110).
This same night March seems to be far away from Banford
and Henry.
Her mind seems to be wandering through her unknown
and half-awakened femininity:
Her whole figure was absorbed in its bearings as
if she herself was miles away. In a sort of semidream
she seemed to be hearing the fox singing
round the house, in the wind, singing wildly and
sweetly and like a madness (ibid).
Banford, unable to cope with the silent room, tries to interfere
in March's thoughts.
She wants to know what March is thinking.
The latter "looked round with big, startled black eyes, and went
pale as if with terror.
She has been listening to the fox
singing, so tenderly, as he wandered round the house" (p.111).
The atmosphere in the room seems so heavy as if ready to fall
down.
March's answer is vague, distant and then she returns to
her dream.
The effect of this waking dream is so vivid that
March suddenly lifted her great dark eyes from her
crocheting and saw [the fox]. She started, giving
a little exclamation.
'There he isj' shecried involuntarily, as if
terribly startled (p.112).
March is so disturbed by her fantasy that she is no longer able
to distinguish in herself the difference between fantasy and
reality: "'Whatever has got you Nellie?' [Banford] cried...
'Nothing! Nothing!' she cried crossly.
'Can't anyone speak?'"