look on her face, that always came when she was in some false situation.

Birkin was the good angel. He came smiling to them with his affected social grace, that somehow was never QUITE right. But he took off his hat and smiled at them with a real smile in his eyes, so that Brangwen cried out heartily in relief:

‘How do you do? You’re better, are you?’

‘Yes, I’m better. How do you do, Mrs Brangwen? I know Gudrun and Ursula very well.’

His eyes smiled full of natural warmth. He had a soft, flattering manner with women, particularly with women who were not young.

‘Yes,’ said Mrs Brangwen, cool but yet gratified. ‘I have heard them speak of you often enough.’