Page 132 - women-in-love

Strange set. She’ll know about Pussum and Libidnikov and
the rest—even if she doesn’t know them personally. She
was never quite that set—more conventional, in a way. I’ve
known her for two years, I suppose.’
‘And she makes money, apart from her teaching?’ asked
Gerald.
‘Some—irregularly. She can sell her models. She has a
certain reclame.’
‘How much for?’
‘A guinea, ten guineas.’
‘And are they good? What are they?’
‘I think sometimes they are marvellously good. That is
hers, those two wagtails in Hermione’s boudoir—you’ve
seen them—they are carved in wood and painted.’
‘I thought it was savage carving again.’
‘No, hers. That’s what they are—animals and birds,
sometimes odd small people in everyday dress, really rather
wonderful when they come off. They have a sort of funni-
ness that is quite unconscious and subtle.’
‘She might be a well-known artist one day?’ mused Ger-
ald.
‘She might. But I think she won’t. She drops her art if
anything else catches her. Her contrariness prevents her
taking it seriously—she must never be too serious, she
feels she might give herself away. And she won’t give her-
self away—she’s always on the defensive. That’s what I can’t
stand about her type. By the way, how did things go off with
Pussum after I left you? I haven’t heard anything.’
‘Oh, rather disgusting. Halliday turned objectionable,

132 Women in Love