‘not about anything, in particular, that is. The day was dismal, and I thought you wouldn’t mind if I called in.’

‘It HAS been a depressing day,’ said Mrs Brangwen sympathetically. At that moment the voices of the children were heard calling from upstairs: ‘Mother! Mother!’ She lifted her face and answered mildly into the distance: ‘I shall come up to you in a minute, Doysie.’ Then to Birkin: ‘There is nothing fresh at Shortlands, I suppose? Ah,’ she sighed, ‘no, poor things, I should think not.’

‘You’ve been over there today, I suppose?’ asked the father.

‘Gerald came round to tea with me, and I walked back with him. The house is overexcited and unwholesome, I thought.’