And she held out her hand impatiently for the wet book, to have done with the scene. Gerald gave it to her. He was not quite himself.

‘I’m so dreadfully sorry,’ repeated Hermione, till both Gerald and Gudrun were exasperated. ‘Is there nothing that can be done?’

‘In what way?’ asked Gudrun, with cool irony.

‘Can’t we save the drawings?’

There was a moment’s pause, wherein Gudrun made evident all her refutation of Hermione’s persistence.

‘I assure you,’ said Gudrun, with cutting distinctness, ‘the drawings are quite as good as ever they were, for my purpose. I want them only for reference.’