Let me! Nobody'll see!" Quite well understanding that this was all part of her grandmother's passion for putting the best face upon things, and having no belief in her eyebrows, Nedda bent forward; but in a sudden flutter of fear lest the Bigwigs might observe the operation, she drew back, murmuring: "Oh, Granny, darling! Not just now!" At that moment the men came in, and, under cover of the necessary confusion, she slipped away into the window.
It was pitch-black outside, with the moon not yet up.

The bloomy, peaceful dark out there! Wistaria and early roses, clustering in, had but the ghost of color on their blossoms.

Nedda took a rose in her fingers, feeling with delight its soft fragility, its coolness against her hot palm.

Here in her hand was a living thing, here was a little soul! And out there in the darkness were millions upon millions of other little souls, of little flame-like or coiled-up shapes alive and true.
A voice behind her said: "Nothing nicer than darkness, is there ?" She knew at once it was the one who was going to bite; the voice was proper for him, having a nice, smothery sound.

And looking round gratefully, she said: "Do you like dinner-parties ?" It was jolly to watch his eyes twinkle and his thin cheeks puff out.