‘No,’ she said, ‘not much.’

‘Just as well,’ he said.

She wondered what he meant. But she was all aglow with her reception, carried away by this little flattering ceremonial on her behalf.

‘Winifred,’ said the father, ‘have you a pair of shoes for Miss Brangwen? You had better change at once — ’

Gudrun went out with her bouquet in her hand.

‘Quite a remarkable young woman,’ said the father to Gerald, when she had gone.

‘Yes,’ replied Gerald briefly, as if he did not like the observation.

Mr Crich liked Gudrun to sit with him for half an hour. Usually he was ashy and wretched, with all the life gnawed out of him. But as soon as he rallied, he liked to make believe that he was just as before, quite well and in the midst of life —