Her look of confidence and diffidence contrasted with Ursula's sensitive expectancy.

The provincial people, intimidated by Gudrun's perfect sang-froid and exclusive bareness of manner, said of her: 'She is a smart woman.' She had just come back from London, where she had spent several years, working at an art-school, as a student, and living a studio life.
'I was hoping now for a man to come along,' Gudrun said, suddenly catching her underlip between her teeth, and making a strange grimace, half sly smiling, half anguish.

Ursula was afraid.
'So you have come home, expecting him here ?' she laughed.
'Oh my dear,' cried Gudrun, strident, 'I wouldn't go out of my way to look for him.

But if there did happen to come along a highly attractive individual of sufficient means--well--' she tailed off ironically.

Then she looked searchingly at Ursula, as if to probe her.