When Kate had gone, Alix lay with her eyes tight shut and her head throbbing, and tried to go to sleep, so that she need no longer make her brain ache with keeping things out. But she could not go to sleep. And she could not, in the silence and dark, keep things out; not Paul; nor the war; nor Basil; nor Evie. At last Evie came. Alix, feigning sleep, lay with tight-shut eyes, face to the wall. Every movement of Evie, undressing in her frightful loveliness, was horribly clear. Alix was afraid Evie, in passing her bed, would brush against her, and that she would have to scream. If only Evie would get to bed and to sleep. Evie, after her undressing and washing, knelt in prayer for thirty seconds (what was Evie's God, who should say? One cannot tell with people like Evie, or see into their minds), then took her loveliness to bed and fell sweetly asleep. Alix knew from her breathing that she slept; then she unclenched her hands and relaxed her body and cried. CHAPTER XI ALIX AND EVIE 1 Basil had Evie on the brain. He liked her enormously. He was glad he had a month's more leave. He took to meeting her after she came out from her hat shop and seeing her home. They spent Saturday afternoons together. Alix saw them parting one Saturday evening, as she came home. Spring Hill was dim and quiet, and they stood by the door into the Park, on the opposite side of the road to Violette, chaffing and saying good-bye. Alix saw Basil suddenly kiss Evie. It might be the first time: in that case it would be an event for them both, and thrilling. Or it might be not the first time at all: in that case it would be a habit, and jolly. Anyhow Evie said, 'Oh, go along and don't be a silly.... Are you coming in to-night?' He said 'No' and laughed. Then they saw Alix turning into Violette. 'There now,' said Evie. 'She must have seen you going on. Couldn't have missed it.... Whatever will she think?' 'She won't think anything,' said Basil Doye. 'Alix is a nice person, and minds her own business.' 'I believe it's her you're in love with really,' said Evie, teasing him. He kissed her again, and said, 'Oh, do you?' After a little more of the like conversation, which will easily be imagined, they parted. Evie went into Violette. She ran upstairs and into her dark bedroom and flung off her outdoor things. Turning, she saw Alix sitting on the edge of her bed. 'Goodness, how you startled me,' said Evie. 'Sorry,' said Alix. 'Got a toothache.' She was holding her face between her hands. Evie said, 'Oh, bad luck. Try some aspirin. Or suck a clove.... I say, Al.' 'What?' 'Did you see me and Mr. Doye just now, in the road? You did, didn't you?' 'No,' said Alix. 'Oh,' said Evie, dubious, glancing at Alix's face, that was dimly wan in the faint light from the street lamps, and twisted a little with her toothache. Pity seized Evie, who was kind.