Birkinwasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom，whenshewasshowninbythelandlady。Hetoowasmovedoutsidehimself。Shesawhimagitatedandshaken，afrail，unsubstantialbodysilentlikethenodeofsomeviolentforce，thatcameoutfromhimandshookheralmostintoaswoon。
`Youarealone？\'hesaid。
`Yes—Gudruncouldnotcome。\'
Heinstantlyguessedwhy。
Andtheywerebothseatedinsilence，intheterribletensionoftheroom。Shewasawarethatitwasapleasantroom，fulloflightandveryrestfulinitsform——awarealsoofafuchsiatree，withdanglingscarletandpurpleflowers。