And with trembling, excited hands she put the coveted stockings under Ursula’s pillow.

‘One gets the greatest joy of all out of really lovely stockings,’ said Ursula.

‘One does,’ replied Gudrun; ‘the greatest joy of all.’

And she sat down in the chair. It was evident she had come for a last talk. Ursula, not knowing what she wanted, waited in silence.

‘Do you FEEL, Ursula,’ Gudrun began, rather sceptically, that you are going-away-for-ever, never-to-return, sort of thing?’

‘Oh, we shall come back,’ said Ursula. ‘It isn’t a question of train-journeys.’

‘Yes, I know. But spiritually, so to speak, you are going away from us all?’