And yet Lavinia had been so right. Walter's first easy taking-for-granted attitude to the visitor had changed to a host and guest relationship. It had changed imperceptibly and yet almost overnight. When and why had it changed?

然而拉维尼娅是对的。沃尔特最初对来访者的轻率、理所当然的态度已经转变为主客关系。它已经在不知不觉中发生了变化，但几乎是在一夜之间。它何时以及为何发生变化？

Hosts and guests were sitting card-playing, smoking, and talking, precisely as he had left them eleven hours earlier; the gas was burning and the curtains drawn, though it had been broad daylight for two hours out of doors.

主人和客人坐着打牌、抽烟、聊天，一如他十一小时前离开他们时的样子。煤气灯在燃烧，窗帘拉上了，尽管外面已经是光天化日了两个小时了。