The whole soul of him shrank with an almost angry repugnance from discussing the matter with her.

No discussion could make any difference at this stage.
Again for a second he saw her slight frown.

Then she leaned back in her chair, stretching up her arms as if weary of the matter.

"In fact you avoid all things feminine," she said.

"How discreet of you!" A large white moth floated suddenly in and began to beat itself against the lamp-shade.