At length Hermione rose and came near to her.

‘Your sister has come home?’ she said.

‘Yes,’ said Ursula.

‘And does she like being back in Beldover?’

‘No,’ said Ursula.

‘No, I wonder she can bear it. It takes all my strength, to bear the ugliness of this district, when I stay here. Won’t you come and see me? Won’t you come with your sister to stay at Breadalby for a few days? — do — ’

‘Thank you very much,’ said Ursula.

‘Then I will write to you,’ said Hermione. ‘You think your sister will come? I should be so glad. I think she is wonderful. I think some of her work is really wonderful. I have two water-wagtails, carved in wood, and painted —