d little click.

'It's bad for him, teaching him to eat at table,' said Birkin.

'Yes,' said Hermione, easily assenting.

Then, looking down at the cat, she resumed her old, mocking, humorous
sing-song.

'Ti imparano fare brutte cose, brutte cose--'

She lifted the Mino's white chin on her forefinger, slowly. The young
cat looked round with a supremely forbearing air, avoided seeing
anything, withdrew his chin, and began to wash his face with his paw.
Hermione grunted her laughter, pleased.

'Bel giovanotto--' she said.

The cat reached forward again and put his fine white paw on the edge of
the saucer. Hermione lifted it down with delicate slowness. This
deliberate, delicate carefulness of movement reminded Ursula of Gudrun.

'No! Non e permesso di mettere il zampino nel tondinetto. Non piace al
babbo. Un signor gatto cosi selvatico--!'

And she kept her finger on the softly planted paw of the cat, and her
voice had the same whimsical, humorous note of bullying.

Ursula had her nose out of joint. She wanted to go away now. It all
seemed no good. Hermione was established for ever, she herself was
ephemeral and had not yet even arrived.

'I will go now,' she said suddenly.

Birkin looked at her almost in fear--he so dreaded her anger. 'But
there is no need for such hurry,' he said.

'Yes,' she answered. 'I will go.' And turning to Hermione, before there
was time to say any more, she held out her hand and said 'Good-bye.'

'Good-bye--' sang Hermione, detaining the band. 'Must you really go
now?'

'Yes, I think I'll go,' said Ursula, her face set, and averted from
Hermione's eyes.

'You think you will--'

But Ursula had got her hand free. She turned to Birkin with a quick,
almost jeering: 'Good-bye,' and she was opening the door before he had
time to do it for her.

When she got outside the house she ran down the road in fury and
agitation. It was strange, the unreasoning rage and violence Hermione
roused in her, by her very presence. Ursula knew she gave herself away
to the other woman, she knew she looked ill-bred, uncouth, exaggerated.
But she did not care. She only ran up the road, lest she should go back
and jeer in the faces of the two she had left behind. For they outraged
her.

CHAPTER XXIII.

EXCURSE

Next day Birkin sought Ursula out. It happened to be the half-day at
the Grammar School. He appeared towards the end of the morning, and
asked her, would she drive with him in the