Darkness is quite unnecessary, but I think it
helps one to concentrate.'
The Major lights a lamp, and though it casts shadows we see now that the
room is an artist's studio. The silent figure in the ingle-nook is the
artist. Mrs. Don is his wife, the two men are Major Armitage and an
older friend, Mr. Rogers. The girl is Laura Bell. These four are sitting
round the table, their hands touching: they are endeavouring to commune
with one who has 'crossed the gulf.'
The Major and Mr. Rogers are but passing shadows in the play, and even
nice Laura is only to flit across its few pages for a moment on her way
to happier things. We scarcely notice them in the presence of Mrs. Don,
the gracious, the beautiful, the sympathetic, whose magnetic force and
charm are such that we wish to sit at her feet at once. She is
intellectual, but with a disarming smile, religious, but so charitable,
masterful, and yet loved of all. None is perfect, and there must be a
flaw in her somewhere, but to find it would necessitate such a rummage
among her many adornments as there is now no time for.
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