Chapter 4

           TheliftwascrowdedwithmenfromtheAlphaChangingRooms,andLenina’sentrywarsgreetedbymanyfriendlynodsandsmiles.Shewasapopulargirland,atonetimeoranother,hadspentanightwithalmostallofthem.

           Theyweredearboys,shethought,asshereturnedtheirsalutations.Charmingboys!Still,shedidwishthatGeorgeEdzel’searsweren’tquitesobig(perhapshe’dbeengivenjustaspottoomuchparathyroidatMetre328?).AndlookingatBenitoHoover,shecouldn’thelprememberingthathewasreallytoohairywhenhetookhisclothesoff.

           Turning,witheyesalittlesaddenedbytherecollection,ofBenito’scurlyblackness,shesawinacornerthesmallthinbody,themelancholyfaceofBernardMarx.

           "Bernard!"shesteppeduptohim."Iwaslookingforyou."Hervoicerangclearabovethehumofthemountinglift.Theotherslookedroundcuriously."IwantedtotalktoyouaboutourNewMexicoplan."OutofthetailofhereyeshecouldseeBenitoHoovergapingwithastonishment.Thegapeannoyedher."SurprisedIshouldn’tbebeggingtogowithhimagain!"shesaidtoherself.Thenaloud,andmorewarmlythanever,"I’dsimplylovetocomewithyouforaweekinJuly,"shewenton.(Anyhow,shewaspubliclyprovingherunfaithfulnesstoHenry.Fannyoughttobepleased,eventhoughitwasBernard.)"Thatis,"Leninagavehimhermostdeliciouslysignificantsmile,"ifyoustillwanttohaveme."

           Bernard’spalefaceflushed.