making a tall queer, frightening figure, with her heavy fair hair slipping to her eyes. Then they moved off, as if they had been dismissed like inferiors. The four women parted.

As soon as they had gone far enough, Ursula said, her cheeks burning,

‘I do think she’s impudent.’

‘Who, Hermione Roddice?’ asked Gudrun. ‘Why?’

‘The way she treats one — impudence!’

‘Why, Ursula, what did you notice that was so impudent?’ asked Gudrun rather coldly.

‘Her whole manner. Oh, It’s impossible, the way she tries to bully one. Pure bullying. She’s an impudent woman. “You’ll come and see me,”