`Ursula,' she said at length, in a voice of question and detachment, `did you know that Gerald Crich had suggested our going away all together at Christmas?'
`Yes, he's spoken to Rupert.'
A deep flush dyed Gudrun's cheek.She was silent a moment, as if taken aback, and not knowing what to say.
`But don't you thing,' she said at last, `it is amazingly cool !'
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.
`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.