she cried.

‘Take your own sugar,’ he said.

He handed her her cup. He had everything so nice, such pretty cups and plates, painted with mauve-lustre and green, also shapely bowls and glass plates, and old spoons, on a woven cloth of pale grey and black and purple. It was very rich and fine. But Ursula could see Hermione’s influence.

‘Your things are so lovely!’ she said, almost angrily.

‘I like them. It gives me real pleasure to use things that are attractive in themselves — pleasant things. And Mrs Daykin is good. She thinks everything is wonderful, for my sake.’

‘Really,’ said Ursula, ‘landladies are better than wives, nowadays. They certainly CARE a great deal more. It is much more beautiful and complete here now, than if you were married.’