perhaps you have seen it?’

‘No,’ said Ursula.

‘I think it is perfectly wonderful — like a flash of instinct.’

‘Her little carvings ARE strange,’ said Ursula.

‘Perfectly beautiful — full of primitive passion — ’

‘Isn’t it queer that she always likes little things? — she must always work small things, that one can put between one’s hands, birds and tiny animals. She likes to look through the wrong end of the opera glasses, and see the world that way — why is it, do you think?’

Hermione looked down at Ursula with that long, detached scrutinising gaze that excited the younger woman.