at least, to marry in a hurry. Can’t you be together without marriage? Can’t you go away and live somewhere without marriage? I do feel that marriage would be fatal, for both of you. I think for you even more than for him — and I think of his health — ’

‘Of course,’ said Ursula, ‘I don’t care about marriage — it isn’t really important to me — it’s he who wants it.’

‘It is his idea for the moment,’ said Hermione, with that weary finality, and a sort of SI JEUNESSE SAVAIT infallibility.

There was a pause. Then Ursula broke into faltering challenge.

‘You think I’m merely a physical woman, don’t you?’