And yet, all must be kept so dark, the consciousness must admit nothing.

“How long,” she said, “are you staying in England?”

“I am not sure — but not later than July, I believe.”

Then they were both silent.

He was here, in England, for six months. They had a space of six months between them. He waited. The same iron rigidity, as if the world were made of steel, possessed her again. It was no use turning with flesh and blood to this arrangement of forged metal.

Quickly, her imagination adjusted itself to the situation.

“Have you an appointment in India?” she asked.