'Are you having a good time?'
This was a direct blow for Gudrun, spoken in a level, toneless voice of
callous ease.
'Yes,' he replied, quite colourlessly.
'I'm awf'lly sorry you aren't coming round to the flat. You aren't very
faithful to your fwiends.'
'Not very,' he said.
She nodded them both 'Good-night', and went back slowly to her own set.
Gudrun watched her curious walk, stiff and jerking at the loins. They
heard her level, toneless voice distinctly.
'He won't come over;--he is otherwise engaged,' it said. There was more
laughter and lowered voices and mockery at the table.
'Is she a friend of yours?' said Gudrun, looking calmly at Gerald.
'I've stayed at Halliday's flat with Birkin,' he said, meeting her
slow, calm eyes. And she knew that the Pussum was one of his
mistresses--and he knew she knew.
She looked round, and called for the waiter. She wanted an iced
cocktail, of all things. This amused Gerald--he wondered what was up.
The Halliday party was tipsy, and malicious.
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