Lois’s voice suddenly called to them from the room behind:—
“I’m going to bed, Virginia. Shall I turn these lights out?”
“Yes, if you like. Good-night, dear.”
Now it was quite dark. Ivor could barely make out her face, a yard away from him: a dim, white thing above the soft darkness of her coat. It had not the remotest likeness to flesh, that face. It was made of some thin, white stuff....
Virginia said suddenly, into the night:—
“Let’s talk about beasts, Ivor.”
“Yes, why not?” he agreed out of his surprise.
“But I wonder if you will understand,” she murmured.
His chair creaked as he moved a leg.
“Have you ever had a beast in your life, Ivor?” And the dim, white thing grew bigger as she turned her face towards him. “A beast in your life, right in it, Ivor?” she insisted. “Have you? Think, my dear, for it’s most important....”