The porter reflected a moment, and was just going to answer, when Ursula caught sight of Gudrun sauntering down the stairs, wearing her dark glossy coat, with grey fur.

`Gudrun! Gudrun!' she called, waving up the well of the staircase. `Shu-hu!'

Gudrun looked over the rail, and immediately lost her sauntering, diffident air. Her eyes flashed.

`Really -- Ursula!' she cried. And she began to move downstairs as Ursula ran up. They met at a turn and kissed with laughter and exclamations inarticulate and stirring.

`But!' cried Gudrun, mortified. `We thought it was tomorrow you were coming! I wanted to come to the station.'

`No, we've come today!' cried Ursula. `Isn't it lovely here!'

`Adorable!' said Gudrun. `Gerald's just gone out to get something. Ursula, aren't you fearfully tired?'

`No, not so very. But I look a filthy sight, don't I!'

`No, you don't. You look almost perfectly fresh. I like that fur cap immensely!' She glanced over Ursula, who wore a big soft coat with a collar of deep, soft, blond fur, and a soft blond cap of fur.

`And you!' cried Ursula. `What do you think you look like!'

Gudrun assumed an unconcerned, expressionless face.

`Do you like it?' she said.

`It's very fine!' cried Ursula, perhaps with a touch of satire.

`Go up -- or come down,' said Birkin. For there the sisters stood, Gudrun with her hand on Ursula's arm, on the turn of the stairs half way to the first landing, blocking the way and affording full entertainment to the whole of the hall below, from the door porter to the plump Jew in black clothes.

The two young women slowly mounted, followed by Birkin and the waiter.

`First floor?' asked Gudrun, looking back over her shoulder.

`Second Madam -- the lift!' the waiter replied. And he darted to the elevator to forestall the two women. But they ignored him, as, chattering without heed, they set to mount the second flight. Rather chagrined, the waiter followed.

It was curious, the delight of the sisters in each other, at this meeting. It was as if they met in exile, and united their solitary forces against all the world. Birkin looked on with some mistrust and wonder.

When they had bathed and changed, Gerald came in. He looked shining like the sun on frost.

`Go with Gerald and smoke,' said Ursula to Birkin. `Gudrun and I want to talk.'

Then the sisters sat in Gudrun's bedroom, and talked clothes, and experiences. Gudrun told Ursula the experience of the Birkin letter in the cafe. Ursula was shocked and frightened.

`Where is the letter?' she asked.

`I kept it,' said Gudrun.

`You'll give it me, won't you?' she said.