Ursula laughed.
'I like him for it,' she said.
Gudrun was silent. It was evident that, whilst she was almost mortified
by Gerald's taking the liberty of making such a suggestion to Birkin,
yet the idea itself attracted her strongly.
'There's rather lovely simplicity about Gerald, I think,' said Ursula,
'so defiant, somehow! Oh, I think he's VERY lovable.'
Gudrun did not reply for some moments. She had still to get over the
feeling of insult at the liberty taken with her freedom.
'What did Rupert say--do you know?' she asked.
'He said it would be most awfully jolly,' said Ursula.
Again Gudrun looked down, and was silent.
'Don't you think it would?' said Ursula, tentatively. She was never
quite sure how many defences Gudrun was having round herself.
Gudrun raised her face with difficulty and held it averted.
'I think it MIGHT be awfully jolly, as you say,' she replied. 'But
don't you think it was an unpardonable liberty to take--to talk of such
things to Rupert--who after all--you see what I mean, Ursula--they
might have been two men arranging an outing with some little TYPE
they'd picked up. Oh, I think it's unforgivable, quite!' She used the
French word 'TYPE.'
Her eyes flashed, her soft face was flushed and sullen. Ursula looked
on, rather frightened, frightened most of all because she thought
Gudrun seemed rather common, really like a little TYPE. But she had not
the courage quite to think this--not right out.
'Oh no,' she cried, stammering. 'Oh no--not at all like that--oh no!
No, I think it's rather beautiful, the friendship between Rupert and
Gerald. They just are simple--they say anything to each other, like
brothers.'
Gudrun flushed deeper. She could not BEAR it that Gerald gave her
away--even to Birkin.
'But do you think even brothers have any right to exchange confidences
of that sort?' she asked, with deep anger.
'Oh yes,' said Ursula. 'There's never anything said that isn't
perfectly straightforward. No, the thing that's amazed me most in
Gerald--how perfectly simple and direct he can be! And you know, it
takes rather a big man. Most of them MUST be indirect, they are such
cowards.'
But Gudrun was still silent with anger. She wanted the absolute secrecy
kept, with regard to her movements.
'Won't you go?' said Ursula. 'Do, we might all be so happy! There is
something I LOVE about Gerald--he's MUCH more lovable than I thought
him. He's free, Gudrun, he really is.'
Gudrun's mouth was still closed, sullen and ugly. She opened it at
length.
'Do you know where he proposes to go?' she asked.
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