“Ah!” The elderly woman never looked at Gudrun, yet she seemed to take knowledge of her presence.
“You are inclined to take too much on yourself, Gerald,” said the mother, pulling herself to her feet, with a little difficulty.
“Will you go, mother?” he asked, politely.
“Yes, I’ll go up again,” she replied. Turning to Gudrun, she bade her “Good-night.” Then she went slowly to the door, as if she were unaccustomed to walking. At the door she lifted her face to him, implicitly. He kissed her.
“Don’t come any further with me,” she said, in her barely audible voice. “I don’t want you any further.”
He bade her good-night, watched her across to the stairs and mount slowly. Then he closed the door and came back to Gudrun. Gudrun rose also, to go.
“A queer being, my mother,” he said.
“Yes,” replied Gudrun.
“She has her own thoughts.”
“Yes,” said Gudrun.