‘I’m awfully sorry — I should love to — but I can’t — really — ’

She descended from the car in trembling haste.

‘Can’t you really!’ came Ursula’s regretful voice.

‘No, really I can’t,’ responded Gudrun’s pathetic, chagrined words out of the dusk.

‘All right, are you?’ called Birkin.

‘Quite!’ said Gudrun. ‘Good-night!’

‘Good-night,’ they called.

‘Come whenever you like, we shall be glad,’ called Birkin.

‘Thank you very