RELATIONS OF DOMINANCE AND EQUALITY IN D. H. LAWRENCE

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Then Henry invites March to go out with him: "'I think I'll go
and look if I can see the she-fox, she may he creeping round.
Won't you come as well for a minute, Nellie, and see if we can
see something?'" (p.135).
The way March answers shows her
indecisiveness when the young man addresses her: "'Me!' cried
March, looking up with her startled, wondering face" (ibid).
March's surprise implies that she was not expecting the
invitation.
The 'she-fox' Henry says is no other than March
herself who now dresses as a woman.
It is interesting to notice
that except for the surprising 'Me!' March does not say anything
anymore.
Banford is the one who questions Henry as if she were
March's proprietor: "'I should think you're never going out at
this time at night, Nellie!'" (ibid).
Henry takes March's turn
to answer in a declared fight with Banford.
March is as if she
had no voice, no will, nothing:
'Yes, just for a minute,' said the boy, looking
round on her and speaking with an odd, sharp yelp
in his voice.
March looked from one to another, as if confused,
vague. Banford rose to her feet for battle.
'Why, it's ridiculous. It's bitter cold.
You'll catch your death in that frock. And in those
slippers. You're not going to do any such thing.'
There was a moment's pause. Banford turtled up
like a little fighting cock, facing March and the
boy.
'Oh, I don't think you need worry yourself,'
he replied. 'A moment under the stars won't do
any damage, I'll get the rug off the sofa in the
dining room. You're coming, Nellie' (ibid).
Banford and Henry act as if they were competing owners of March's
will.
It is as if she were dumb or a little child whose parents
are arguing about it, trying to decide whether the child must
or must not play: "His voice had so much anger and contempt and
fury in it as he spoke to Banford: and so much tenderness and
proud authority as he spoke to March, that the latter answered:
'Yes, I'm coming' .(pp.135-6).