She thought he seemed to acknowledge some kinship between her and him, a natural, tacit understanding, a using of the same language.

But there had been no time for the understanding to develop.

And something kept her from him, as well as attracted her to him.

There was a certain hostility, a hidden ultimate reserve in him, cold and inaccessible.
Yet she wanted to know him.
'What do you think of Rupert Birkin ?' she asked, a little reluctantly, of Gudrun.

She did not want to discuss him.
'What do I think of Rupert Birkin ?' repeated Gudrun.