'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.
'Yes--to the Tyrol, where he used to go when he was in Germany--a
lovely place where students go, small and rough and lovely, for winter
sport!' Through Gudrun's mind went the angry thought--'they know everything.' 'Yes,' she said aloud, 'about forty kilometres from Innsbruck, isn't
it?' 'I don't know exactly where--but it would be lovely, don't you think,
high in the perfect snow--?' 'Very lovely!' said Gudrun, sarcastically.
Ursula was put out.
'Of course,' she said, 'I think Gerald spoke to Rupert so that it
shouldn't seem like an outing with a TYPE--' 'I know, of course,' said Gudrun, 'that he quite commonly does take up
with that sort.' 'Does he!' said Ursula. 'Why how do you know?' 'I know of a model in Chelsea,' said Gudrun coldly. Now Ursula was
silent. 'Well,' she said at last, with a doubtful laugh, 'I hope he has
a good time with her.' At which Gudrun looked more glum.