Ursula was somewhat taken aback, rather attracted. It pleased her almost like a wickedness. There was some delightful naked irony in Hermione.

‘Well,’ replied Ursula, ‘HE wants to, awfully, but I’m not so sure.’

Hermione watched her with slow calm eyes. She noted this new expression of vaunting. How she envied Ursula a certain unconscious positivity! even her vulgarity!

‘Why aren’t you sure?’ she asked, in her easy sing song. She was perfectly at her ease, perhaps even rather happy in this conversation. ‘You don’t really love him?’

Ursula flushed a little at the mild impertinence of this question. And yet she could not definitely take offence.