Chapter 1 sisters

Ursula and gudrun brangwen sat one morning in the window-bay of their father's house in beldover, working and talking. Ursula was stitching a piece of brightly-coloured embroidery,and gudrun was drawing upon a board which she held on her knees. They were mostly silent, talking as their thoughts strayed through their r minds.

'Ursula', said gudrun, 'don't you really want to get married'? Ursula laid her embroidery in her lab and looked up. Her face was calm and considerate.

'I don't know' she replied. It depends how you mean.

Gudrun was slightly taken aback. She watched her sister for some moment.

'well' she said, ironically, 'it usually means one thing! But don't you think anyhow, you'd bea€" 'sh darkened slightlya€" ' than you are now.

A shadow came over Ursula's face.

'I might', she said. 'but I'm not sure'

Again gudrun paused, slightly irritated. She wanted to be quite definite.

'you don't think one needs the EXPERIENCE of having been married?' she asked.