What's more, her feelings towards Gudrun are quite profound, Winifred accepts Gudrun as they "[meet] in a kind of make-belief world". She takes notice right away of the similar nature of Gudrun's character to her own, thus they form a bond almost immediately. The notion of this artistic bond is further ascertained through Winifred's and Gudrun's first project. Gudrun suggests they draw a portrait of Winifred's little Pekinese dog. The younger girl squeals in sardonic delight and manages to create a cruel, waggish likeness of the animal. Gudrun approves notably: "It was a grotesque little diagram of a grotesque little animal, so wicked and so comical; a slow smile came over Gudrun's face, unconsciously". Here Winifred has managed to reduce the meaning of her dog's existence to nothing more than a diagram. Correspondingly Gudrun's art does much the same, diminishing the subject's reality into something small and insignificant. Clearly there is a strong bond between pupil and teacher. It is not until the question of Thomas Crich's death arises that there is a notable separation between the two. Winifred is very close to her father and although she is a child, she realizes the consequences of his illness: ".in her remoter soul, she knew as well as the adults knew: perhaps better". When Winifred probes Gudrun as to whether she thinks her father will die, Gudrun is very honest and replies that he is very ill. Although Winifred knows Gudrun speaks the truth, she immediately opposes her reply, "triumphantly" mocking Gudrun. It seems that Gudrun is overwhelmed with a discomforting feeling of distance between herself and Winifred.
Another example of bonding and detaching occurs frequently between the character of Ursula and her would be rival Hermione. Like her sister at the Crichs' wedding, Ursula became attracted to Gerald's confidant Rupert Birkin, the former lover of Hermione. Indeed, just as Gudrun responds to Gerald, Birkin kindles a burning interest in Ursula.
